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Review
. 2021 Jun 27;18(13):6908.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18136908.

Concentrations, Distribution, and Pollution Assessment of Metals in River Sediments in China

Guoqi Lian  1   2   3   4 , Xinqing Lee  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Concentrations, Distribution, and Pollution Assessment of Metals in River Sediments in China

Guoqi Lian et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

This study conducted a review on the concentrations, spatial distribution and pollution assessment of metals including As, Hg, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in 102 river sediments in China between January 2008 and July 2020 based on the online literature. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and potential ecological risk index (RI) were used for the pollution assessment of the metals. The results showed that the ranges of metals were: 0.44 to 250.73 mg/kg for As, 0.02 to 8.67 mg/kg for Hg, 0.06 to 40 mg/kg for Cd, 0.81 to 251.58 mg/kg for Co, 4.69 to 460 mg/kg for Cr, 2.13 to 520.42 mg/kg for Cu, 39.76 to 1884 mg/kg for Mn, 1.91 to 203.11 mg/kg for Ni, 1.44 to 1434.25 mg/kg for Pb and 12.76 to 1737.35 mg/kg for Zn, respectively. The median values of these metals were descending in the order: Mn > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > Co > As > Cd > Hg. Compared with the SQGs, As and Cr manifested higher exceeding sites among the metals. Metals of river sediments manifested a significant spatial variation among different regions, which might be attributed to the natural weathering and anthropogenic activity. The mean Igeo values of the metals presented the decreasing trends in the order: Cd > Hg > Zn > Cu > As > Pb > Ni > Co > Cr > Mn. Cd and Hg manifested higher proportions of contaminated sites and contributed most to the RI, which should be listed as priority control of pollutants. Southwest River Basin, Liaohe River Basin, and Huaihe River Basin manifested higher ecological risks than other basins. The study could provide a comprehensive understanding of metals pollution in river sediments in China, and a reference of the control of pollutant discharge in the river basins for the management.

Keywords: China; distribution; metals; pollution assessment; river sediments.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart for searching and screening procedure.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The distribution of the river basins.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Spatial distribution of metals in river sediments in this study.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Box plots of Igeo values (a) and proportions of Igeo classifications of the metals (b).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Box plots of Eri and RI values (a) and the mean contribution of Eri to RI of each metal (b).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Values of the potential ecological risk index (RI) for metals in the river sediments.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The spatial distribution of Eri of Cd (a) and Hg (b) and RI (c) in river sediments in this study.
Figure 8
Figure 8
The box plots of Igeo and RI values in different river basins.
Figure 8
Figure 8
The box plots of Igeo and RI values in different river basins.
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