title: Seasonal variability and flux of particulate trace elements from the Yellow River: impacts of the anthropogenic flood event.
abstract: In this study, the suspended particulate matter (SPM) of the Yellow River (Huanghe) was collected biweekly at the outlet and analyzed for particulate trace element contents. The seasonal variations of the trace elements were primarily controlled by hydrological processes, which determined different sources of the SPM. Moreover, As, Co, Cr, and Ni primarily originated from lithogenic sources, whereas Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were influenced by anthropogenic activities. The Yellow River has suffered moderate to considerable ecological risk during the late stage of Water and Sediment Regulation (WSR). Using the discharge-weighted contents method, the annual trace element fluxes were estimated, with ca. 30% of the annual fluxes occurring within the short WSR period (6% of one year). More specifically, 75% of the Cd flux was from an anthropogenic source, which likely posed a significant threat to the estuary and the adjacent coastal ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Hydrocarbon Resources and Environmental Geology, Ministry of Land and Resources, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Qingdao 266071, China. Electronic address: bangqihu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bangqi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Hydrocarbon Resources and Environmental Geology, Ministry of Land and Resources, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Qingdao 266071, China. Electronic address: junli741001@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Geo-Marine Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
authors.forename: Naishuang
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.affiliation: College of Geo-Marine Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
authors.forename: Houjie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Hydrocarbon Resources and Environmental Geology, Ministry of Land and Resources, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: Helong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Hydrocarbon Resources and Environmental Geology, Ministry of Land and Resources, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: Jingtao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Marine Engineering and Prospecting Institute of North China Sea, Qingdao 266033, China.
authors.forename: Guogang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: Xuebo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: College of Geo-Marine Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Hydrocarbon Resources and Environmental Geology, Ministry of Land and Resources, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: College of Geo-Marine Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055868:Floods; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Ecological risk index; Element flux; Trace element variability; Water–Sediment Regulation; Yellow River