Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in water body and riverbed sediments of the Yanghe River in the Bohai Sea, China

  • Thematic Issue
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Several famous beach bathing places and aquiculture areas locate in the Yanghe River coast of the Bohai Sea, which are very sensitive to the quality of water and sediment from river discharges. To assess heavy metal contamination, heavy metal in water body and riverbed sediments was investigated in the flood and dry seasons in 2013 at 8 sites along the Yanghe River. All heavy metal concentrations in water body were very low and less than the threshold value of drinking water quality standard of China. There was no significant correlation between heavy metal pollution in water body and riverbed sediments. Sediment pollution was assessed by five approaches including pollution load index (PLI), geo-accumulation index (I geo), potential ecological risk index (RI), cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA). The results of heavy metal contamination in riverbed sediments showed that: (1) the mean PLI in the range of 1.0–1.1 indicated a progressive deterioration, and the I geo revealed the pollution in the order of Cd > Cu > Zn > Pb > Cr; (2) the RI presented that the pollution in the downstream was much higher than that in the upstream; (3) the contamination decreased in the upstream due to decreased domestic wastewater where far from the development zone Funing Town, while it increased in the downstream because of dense population and tourists in the coastal zone; and (4) the PCA and FA demonstrate that domestic sewage was a major source of heavy metal contamination.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barlas N, Akbulut N, Aydoğan M (2005) Assessment of heavy metal residues in the sediment and water samples of Uluabat Lake, Turkey. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 74(2):286–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai JB, Li WQ, Liu N et al (2007) Characteristics of contaminated sediments in Yanghe Reservoir. J Agro-Environ Sci 26(3):886–893

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen JS, Liu YJ (1992) Research on heavy metals in water environment in China. Chinese Environmental Science Publishing House, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng Z, Man YB, Nie XP et al (2013) Trophic relationships and health risk assessments of trace metals in the aquaculture pond ecosystem of Pearl River Delta, China. Chemosphere 90(7):2142–2148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook JA, Andrew SM, Johnson MS (1990) Lead, zinc, cadmium and fluoride in small mammals from contaminated grass-land established on fluorspar tailings. Water Air Soil Pollut 51:43–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cui L, Li Z (2006) Characteristics of soil phosphorus export by surface runoff from gentle slope in Yanghe watershed. J Soil Water Conserv 20(3):10–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong A, Zhai S, Zabel M et al (2012) Heavy metals in Changjiang estuarine and offshore sediments: responding to human activities. Acta Oceanol Sinica 31(2):88–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fan T, Ye WL, Chen HY et al (2013) Review on contamination and remediation technology of heavy metal in agricultural soil. Ecol Environ Sci 22(10):1727–1736

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu J, Zhao C, Luo Y et al (2014) Heavy metals in surface sediments of the Jialu River, China: their relations to environmental factors. J Hazard Mater 270:102–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaur VK, Gupta SK, Pandey SD et al (2005) Distribution of heavy metals in sediment and water of river Gomti. Environ Monit Assess 102(1–3):419–433

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo R, He X (2013) Spatial variations and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments on the upper reaches of Hun River, Northeast China. Environ Earth Sci 70(3):1083–1090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakanson L (1980) An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control: a sedimentological approach. Water Res 14(8):975–1001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hebei Development and Reform Commission (2015) The land pollution source investigation and industrial structure optimization in Beidaihe area. Hebei Development and Reform Commission, Hebei

    Google Scholar 

  • Hebei Province Department of Land and Resources (2007) Marine resources investigation and evaluation in Hebei Province (Volume One). China Ocean Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou D, He J, Lü C et al (2013) Distribution characteristics and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd) in water and sediments from Lake Dalinouer, China. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 93:135–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu CF (2016) Coupling simulation and analysis of hydrodynamics and water quality in Qinhuangdao rivers, estuaries and coastal waters, master dissertation of Tongji University

  • Ip CCM, Li X, Li Y et al (2007) Trace metal distribution in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary and the surrounding coastal area, South China. Environ Pollut 147(2):311–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuang CP, He LL, Zhang Y et al (2010) Comparison of wave fields caused by four proposed beach nourishment schemes in Beidaihe, China. J Hydrodynam B 22(5):719–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuang CP, Li ZY, Gu J et al (2015) Study on spatial and temporal characteristics of the COD in estuarine and coastal waters of the Yanghe River and the Daihe River. China Environ Sci 35(12):3689–3697

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Yu J, Yang M et al (2010) Cyanobacterial population and harmful metabolites dynamics during a bloom in Yanghe Reservoir, North China. Harmful Algae 9(5):481–488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Li Y, Zhang B et al (2009) Ecological risk of heavy metals in sediments of the Luan River source water. Ecotoxicology 18(6):748–758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu SG, Lou S, Kuang CP et al (2011a) Water quality assessment by pollution-index method in the coastal waters of Hebei Province in western Bohai Sea, China. Mar Pollut Bull 62(10):2220–2229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu W, Zeng Z, Zhang R et al (2011b) Investigation report on Qinhuangdao shellfish industry development. Mod Fish Inform 26(6):10–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Loska K, Wiechula D (2003) Application of principal component analysis for the estimation of source of heavy metal contamination in surface sediments from the Rybnik Reservoir. Chemosphere 51(8):723–733

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo L, Ma Y, Zhang S et al (2009) An inventory of trace element inputs to agricultural soils in China. J Environ Manage 90(8):2524–2530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morillo J, Usero J, Gracia I (2004) Heavy metal distribution in marine sediments from the southwest coast of Spain. Chemosphere 55(3):431–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller G (1969) Index of geoaccumulation in sediments of the Rhine River. GeoJournal 2:108–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Onodera S, Saito M, Sawano M et al (2008) Effects of intensive urbanization on the intrusion of shallow groundwater into deep groundwater: examples from Bangkok and Jakarta. Sci Total Environ 404(2–3):401–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan Y, Kuang CP, Gu J et al (2014) Assessment of a measure for water exchange strengthening of artificial headland-bays based on shoreline change and flushing time. J Coastal Res 30(3):615–628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Panda UC, Sundaray SK, Rath P et al (2006) Application of factor and cluster analysis for characterization of river and estuarine water systems—a case study: Mahanadi River (India). J Hydrol 331(3–4):434–445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pekey H (2006) The distribution and sources of heavy metals in Izmit Bay surface sediments affected by a polluted stream. Mar Pollut Bull 52(10):1197–1208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phiri O, Mumba P, Moyo BHZ, Kadewa W (2005) Assessment of the impact of industrial effluents on water quality of receiving rivers in urban areas of Malawi. Int J Environ Sci Technol 2(3):237–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qi S, Leipe T, Rueckert P et al (2010) Geochemical sources, deposition and enrichment of heavy metals in short sediment cores from the Pearl River Estuary, Southern China. J Mar Syst 82:S28–S42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Segura R, Arancibia V, Zúñiga MC et al (2006) Distribution of copper, zinc, lead and cadmium concentrations in stream sediments from the Mapocho River in Santiago, Chile. J Geochem Explor 91(1–3):71–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shao DG, Song XY, Xia J et al (1999) Research on real-time optimal flood dispatching model for Yanghe Reservoir. Adv Water Sci 10(02):36–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Simeonov V, Massart DL, Andreev G et al (2000) Assessment of metal pollution based on multivariate statistical modeling of ‘hot spot’ sediments from the Black Sea. Chemosphere 41(9):1411–1417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sin SN, Chua H, Lo W et al (2001) Assessment of heavy metal cations in sediments of Shing Mun River, Hong Kong. Environ Int 26(5–6):297–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh KP, Malik A, Mohan D et al (2004) Multivariate statistical techniques for the evaluation of spatial and temporal variations in water quality of Gomti River (India)—a case study. Water Res 38(18):3980–3992

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • State Environment Protection Agency (2004) The technical specification for soil environment monitoring. HJ/T 166-2004

  • Suresh G, Ramasamy V, Meenakshisundaram V et al (2011) Influence of mineralogical and heavy metal composition on natural radionuclide concentrations in the river sediments. Appl Radiat Isot 69(10):1466–1474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suthar S, Nema AK, Chabukdhara M et al (2009) Assessment of metals in water and sediments of Hindon River, India: impact of industrial and urban discharges. J Hazard Mater 171(13):1088–1095

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The Yangtze Water Environment Monitoring Center (2013) Regulation for water environmental monitoring. SL219–98

  • Varol M (2011) Assessment of heavy metal contamination in sediments of the Tigris River (Turkey) using pollution indices and multivariate statistical techniques. J Hazard Mater 195:355–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varol M, Şen B (2009) Assessment of surface water quality using multivariate statistical techniques: a case study of Behrimaz Stream, Turkey. Environ Monit Assess 159(1–4):543–553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varol M, Şen B (2012) Assessment of nutrient and heavy metal contamination in surface water and sediments of the upper Tigris River, Turkey. Catena. 92:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang LP, Zheng BH (2013) Eutrophication development and its key affected factors in the Yanghe Reservoir. Acta Ecologica Dinica 33(3):1011–1017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward J (1963) Hierarchical grouping to optimize an objective function. J Am Stat Assoc 301(58):236–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan X, Zhang L, Li J et al (2014) Sediment properties and heavy metal pollution assessment in the river, estuary and lake environments of a fluvial plain, China. Catena 119:52–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang LY, Wang SR, Chu ZS et al (2010) Distribution characteristics of phosphorus in sediment of Yanghe Reservoir and in soil of its basin. China Environ Sci 30(11):1529–1536

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y, Xia XH, Yang ZF et al (2012) Assessment of water quality in Baiyangdian Lake using multivariate statistical techniques. Procedia Environ Sci 13:1213–1226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Xu Y, Hou H et al (2014) Source identification and health risk assessment of metals in urban soils around the Tanggu chemical industrial district, Tianjin, China. Sci Total Environ 468–469:654–662

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study is financially supported by the Marine Public Welfare Program of China (201305003) and the Science and Technology Program of the Oceanic Administration of Hebei Province of China.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Cuiping Kuang

  2. East China Electric Power Design Institute Co., LTD, Shanghai, 200063, China

    Yunchi Shan

  3. College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China

    Jie Gu

  4. Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Permoserstr. 15, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Haibing Shao

  5. Marine Environmental Monitoring Center of Hebei Province, Qinhuangdao, 066002, China

    Wanlei Zhang & Yongfeng Zhang

  6. Qinhuangdao Mineral Resource and Hydrogeological Brigade, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China

    Jiabo Zhang & Huixin Liu

Authors
  1. Cuiping Kuang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yunchi Shan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jie Gu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Haibing Shao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wanlei Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yongfeng Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jiabo Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Huixin Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Cuiping Kuang or Jie Gu.

Additional information

This article is part of a Topical Collection in Environmental Earth Sciences on “Environment and Health in China II” guest edited by Tian-Xiang Yue, Cui Chen, Bing Xu and Olaf Kolditz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kuang, C., Shan, Y., Gu, J. et al. Assessment of heavy metal contamination in water body and riverbed sediments of the Yanghe River in the Bohai Sea, China. Environ Earth Sci 75, 1105 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5902-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5902-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation