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. 2020 Jun 17;17(12):4315.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17124315.

Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Water Bodies around Typical Copper Mines in China

Jingchao Liu  1 , Jin Wu  1 , Weiying Feng  2   3 , Xia Li  4   5
Affiliations

Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Water Bodies around Typical Copper Mines in China

Jingchao Liu et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

In order to understand the heavy metal pollution status and ecological effect in aquatic environment around copper mine areas, seven heavy metals (Cd, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Zn, the Ni, and Pb) in aquatic environments in seven representative copper mine regions were selected from the literature in 2005-2013 for ecological risk assessment by using potential ecological risk index, geoaccumulation index, nemerow index and species sensitivity distribution method (Potential Affected Fraction (PAF) and Multi-Substance PAF (MSPAF)). The results of sediment ecological risk analysis showed that Cd, Cu and Pb were the main pollutants in sediments. The results of species sensitivity distribution analysis showed that the HC5 values (Hazardous Concentration for 5% of species) of seven heavy metals were different with order Zn > Cr > Cd > Pb > Cu > Ni > Hg. The MSPAF of seven copper mines in the following order with species sensitivity distribution method was as follows: Dabaoshan (99%) = Dahongshan (99%) = Baiyin (99%) > Dexing (97%) > Jinchuan (92%) > Tongling (39%) > Daye (24%). This study analyzes the impact of copper mining on the aquatic environment, and the results of this study will be great value for the comprehensive pollution governance of mining.

Keywords: copper mine; ecological risk; heavy metal; species sensitivity distribution.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Location of seven representative copper mines in China.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Geoaccumulation index of sediments in rivers surrounding typical copper mines.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Nemerow index of sediments in rivers surrounding typical copper mines.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Species sensitivity distribution curves of seven heavy metals to all species. (a)-SSD curve for Cd; (b)-SSD curve for Cu; (c)-SSD curve for Zn; (d)-SSD curve for Hg; (e)-SSD curve for Pb; (f)-SSD curve for Cr; (g)-SSD curve for Ni.
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