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Occurrence and fractionation of Cr along the Loushan River affected by a chromium slag heap in East China

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Abstract

This study investigated the chromium (Cr) occurrence and distribution along the Loushan River adjacent to a chromium slag heap. The speciation and chemical fractionation of Cr in different environmental media were determined. The potential ecological risks for the surrounding environment were assessed on the basis of both potential ecological risk index (RI) and risk assessment code (RAC). The results show that the surface soil experienced severe Cr contamination with Cr(T) and Cr(VI) values of 3220 ± 6266 and 64 ± 94 mg/kg, respectively, even though the chromium slag heap had already been removed. The chromium slag enhanced the Cr concentration level in the surface soil, water, and sediment samples more than the background level to different extents, which indicates that Cr released from the chromium slag actually affects the surrounding environment. The spatial distribution variety of Cr implies that their transport might have been affected by soil leaking, atmospheric transport, and fluvial hydraulics. The chemical fractionation results demonstrate that the residual fraction was the dominant form, accounting for 54.6 and 66.1% Cr(T) in surface soil and sediment samples, respectively. The content of bioavailable exchangeable Cr fraction correlated with the organic matter (OM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and pH value. The ecological risk assessment suggests no considerable ecological risk toward the biota despite a relatively high Cr(T) level. Nevertheless, attention should be paid to the potential long-term risks owing to the slow release of oxidizable and residual fractions.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by the Scientific Research Program of Comprehensive Regulation Project in the Downstream of Licun River and Zhangcun River (T-20150205-018). Special thanks to Weijia Lu, Xiuqing Yang, Yifan Liu, and Bin Yang at Student Research Developing Program of Ocean University of China for their valuable assistance with sample collection and analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Lab of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China

    Youyuan Chen & Jia Xin

  2. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Geological Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China

    Youyuan Chen & Jia Xin

  3. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China

    Youyuan Chen, Bingbing Dong & Jia Xin

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  1. Youyuan Chen
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  2. Bingbing Dong
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Correspondence to Jia Xin.

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Responsible editor: Céline Guéguen

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Chen, Y., Dong, B. & Xin, J. Occurrence and fractionation of Cr along the Loushan River affected by a chromium slag heap in East China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 15655–15666 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9200-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9200-5

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