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Accumulation and risk of heavy metals in relation to agricultural intensification in the river sediments of agricultural regions

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Abstract

The enrichment characteristics and risk of heavy metals were studied in the sediments of Liucha River in Chao Lake Valley, where agricultural intensification has developed rapidly since the 1980s. The results revealed that Cd, Pb and Zn showed the lowest levels in the upper reaches and peak values in the lower reaches, increasing from 0.064, 7.75 and 59.75 mg/kg to 0.176, 12.33 and 96.82 mg/kg on average, respectively. Enrichment factor (EF) analysis showed that the EF values of Cd, Pb and Zn (maximum 4.76, 2.51 and 2.74, respectively) all increased from the upper reaches to the lower reaches (>1.5), while correlation analysis and cluster analysis showed that they primarily originated from the extensive use of phosphate fertilizer. In addition, the comprehensive potential ecological risk due to Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in the sediments showed low degree, but Cd showed moderate and high risk at some sites. Therefore, heavy metal pollution due to agricultural intensification in the agricultural regions of Chao Lake Valley should be given great attention during management of the water environment.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21107126) and Research Subject of the State Key Laboratory on Environmental Aquatic Chemistry (No. 10Y05ESPCR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bei**g, 10085, China

    Wenzhong Tang, Hong Zhang & Baoqing Shan

  2. Chongqing Academy of Environmental Science, Chongqing, 401147, China

    Liang Ao

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  1. Wenzhong Tang
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  2. Liang Ao
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Correspondence to Baoqing Shan.

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Tang, W., Ao, L., Zhang, H. et al. Accumulation and risk of heavy metals in relation to agricultural intensification in the river sediments of agricultural regions. Environ Earth Sci 71, 3945–3951 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2779-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2779-z

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