Abstract
Heavy metal elements in water and surface sediments were characterized in Hengyang river segment in Xiangjiang River basin, one of China’s most important heavy metal control and treatment region. Data of heavy metal monitoring results in water and sediment for 10 years were acquired from an environmental monitoring program in the main channel of the studied area. Descriptive and exploratory statistical procedures were performed to reveal the characteristics of the sample distributions of heavy metal elements. The sample distributions of heavy metal elements were largely skewed right. Data censoring and too severe rounding in the water monitoring data were identified to have caused discretization in the sample distributions. Temporal and spatial characteristics of the data sets were addressed. The chromium (Cr) in the sediment possessed unique behavior, and this could be caused by a rapid deposition and releasing process.
Highlights
A river forms an environmental system that is both a sink and a source for heavy metal elements, as well as a carrier for the transportation of these elements
In the data preparation process, variables that were removed once failed to meet the designated criterion of at least 70% in data validity ratio
This study showed that data censoring and too severe rounding were the two prominent factors in water monitoring data set (WAT) that led to non-normality after Box-Cox transformation
Summary
A river forms an environmental system that is both a sink and a source for heavy metal elements, as well as a carrier for the transportation of these elements. Heavy metal elements in fluvial systems are known for their potential toxicity and ecotoxicity. These elements, including chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb), are introduced into rivers by natural processes such as weathering and atmospheric deposition, and more importantly, via anthropogenic discharges from mining and smelting activities [1,2,3,4]. The control and treatment of heavy metal pollution in river and sediment has long been a serious campaign in most nations with intensive smelting activities. Much more efforts are still required in this region to achieve a desirable outcome in the control and treatment of heavy metal contamination
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
