title: Contamination, Fractionation and Biological Risk Related to Metals in Surface Sediments from the Largest Deep Freshwater Lake in China.
abstract: The toxicity and mobility of metals in the environment are driven by their specific chemical forms and binding states. However, heavy metal fractionation in sediments from plateau deep lakes in China is rare. This study analyzed surface sediments collected from Fuxian Lake, the largest deep freshwater lake in China; parameters examined included total metal concentrations, chemical partitioning, and biological risk assessment. The average total concentrations (mg/kg) were 7.9 for Cd, 97.6 for Pb, 102.8 for Cr, 60.8 for Ni, 73.6 for Cu, and 112.9 for Zn; these levels were significantly higher than their corresponding background values. Cd was preferentially associated with the acid-soluble fraction; significant portions of the Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn were mainly associated with the residual fractions. Overall, surface sediments of Fuxian Lake were associated with a 21% incidence of toxicity based on the mean effects range-median quotient. Cd was mainly at high or very high risk levels, and Cu and Zn were mainly at medium or high risk levels based on the risk assessment code (RAC).
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Science, Nanjing, 210008, China.
authors.forename: Hua-Bing
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China. hydrobio@163.com.
authors.forename: Yang-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Science, Nanjing, 210008, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Science, Nanjing, 210008, China.|Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D058448:Biota / Q000187:drug effects; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical