Heavy Metal Contamination in Sediments and Floodplain Topsoils of the Lean River Catchment, China

Author： Xiao H. Y. Zhou W. B. Wu D. S. Zeng F. P.

ISSN： 1532-0383

Source： Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal, Vol.20, Iss.7, 2011-10, pp. : 810-823

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Abstract

Heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Zn) and total sulfur (TS) in both surficial sediments and adjacent floodplain topsoils of the Lean River catchment are investigated to comprehend the effects of flooding on heavy metals in soils, the evolution of the quality of sediments, and transfer of sediment metals. The results show that concentrations of metals except for Ni in soils are significantly correlated with those in sediments. At most upstream or downstream locations, sediment metal concentrations are found comparable to those in soils (sed/soil≈1). For Cu at locations close to the Dexing Copper Mine (DCM), flooding brought Cu-poor clays into the floodplain soil system and this leads to sed/soil<1, while="" at="" locations="" adjacent="" to="" the="" yinshan="" lead-zinc="" mine="" (ylm),="" suspended="" solids="" containing="" high="" concentrations="" of="" iron="" and="" magnesium="" oxide="" absorb="" large="" quantities="" of="" dissolved="" cd,="" pb,="" and="" zn="" and="" deposit="" on="" the="" floodplain="" during="" flooding="" (sed/soil="">1). In spite of an elevated Cu production of the DCM, a significant decrease in sediment Cu concentrations is found as compared to those 10 years ago. The decrease may be due to the elevated Cu ore utilizing efficiency and the use of a new modern tailing pool. At the location closest to the Yinshan Lead-zinc Mine (YLM), Pb and Zn concentrations increased in recent sediments. In the Lean River, metal contamination in sediments cannot reach the location 60 km downstream of their sources in 2005.