Distribution characteristics and toxicity assessment of heavy metals in the sediments of Lake Chaohu, China.
The concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Ni were measured in surface and core sediments to determine their distribution characteristics and toxicity in the sediments of Lake Chaohu. The results revealed that metal concentrations in the surface sediments had a tendency to increase from the estuarine mouth to the lake center. The distribution characteristics of the five target metals were similar along the sediment profiles at each site. Principal component analysis revealed that all of the measured variables were loaded in the same component, indicating that there was a strong relationship among these measured variables, which was confirmed by the correlation analysis. Two sets of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs): simultaneously extracted metal (SEM) and acid volatile sulfides (AVS) models (including ∑SEM/AVS, ∑SEM-AVS, and ∑SEM-AVS/ f (oc)) and threshold effect level and probable effect level values were used to predict the sediment toxicity. Comparison of the results obtained using these two sets of SQGs revealed that only a small portion of the entire set was identical, while the majority of the results were different and sometimes completely contradictory. These contradictory results would cause a great deal of trouble for environment managers. More accurate and universal SQGs must be developed for environmental researchers and local environmental managers and regulators.
State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China. hbyin@niglas.ac.cn
Hongbin
H
Yin
Jiancai
J
Deng
Shiguang
S
Shao
Feng
F
Gao
Junfeng
J
Gao
Chengxin
C
Fan
D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical