US EPA

8168180 

Journal Article 

Contamination assessment of heavy metal concentrations in sediments in a macrophtic lake 

Yang, X; Zhu, X; Cao, J; Zhu, M; Yang, R 

2013 

Yes 

Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
ISSN: 1459-0255 

11 

3-4 

2659-2663 

English 

Sediments collected from Liangzihu Lake, China, were analysed for Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The contamination level of heavy metals was assessed on the basis of Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) and Hakanson potential ecological Risk Index (RI). The results indicated that, in comparison with Chinese soil, sediments in Liangzihu Lake had slightly elevated metal concentrations as a whole. In horizontal distribution, the heavy metals loading were higher near the wastewater discharge point than others. According to the correlation analysis results, there are pairwise significant positive correlations in Cu, Ni, Zn and Pb. The calculated results of Igeo of heavy metals revealed that Co was the metal that presents greatest pollution risks in sediments in Liangzihu Lake and the pollution order were Co>Zn>Mn>Ni>Pb>Cu>Cr. The Igeo of Cr was low, but the distribution pattern results indicated that there were anthropogenic inputs in Liangzihu Lake. The RI value of contamination degree indicated that the potential ecological risk of the heavy metal pollution was slight. The results of this study indicated that concentrations and spatial distributions of metals in Liangzihu Lake sediments had been affected by the indiscrimination and long-term disposal of wastewater discharge. 

Contamination; Heavy metal; Liangzihu Lake; Macrophtic lake; Sediments