Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals Pollution in Sediments of Beijiang River

Abstract

As a result of rapid economic development and urbanization, water pollution and degradation of aquatic ecosystems have caused massive damage to the functions and integrity of water resources. The Hakanson potential ecological risk index method for heavy metals toxicity assessment have been used to estimate the ecological risk of Heavy Metals Pollution in Sediments of Beijiang River. The results shows that the average concentration of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr, Hg in sediments is 59.72, 111.29, 218.93, 15.52, 5.70, 5.70 mg/kg, 0.32ug/kg respectively. The content of Hakanson potential ecological risk index of different heavy metals could be shown as Cd> Pb> Cu> Zn> Ni> Cr> Hg. Heavy metals in several samples of the sediments have posed a serious threat on the ecosystem.