Environmental impacts in the Jianghan plain: Evidence from lake sediments

Abstract

There is growing concern about the environmental impact of rapid economic growth in China. The problem is compounded by the scarcity of baseline data on the state of China's natural environment. As a step towards solving this problem, palaeolimnological methods have been applied to seven lakes in the Jianghan Plain, China, to evaluate recent changes in human impact. Lake sediment cores show enhanced concentrations of fossil fuel derived spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCP) and Pb at all sites across the Jianghan Plain. The distribution of these industrial contaminants shows the overwhelming influence of the industrial cities. Wuhan dominates the fossil fuel derived pollution, while the copper smelter at Daye dominates the heavy metal pollution. Analysis of sediment diatom assemblages indicates mean total phosphorus concentrations of greater than 40 μg L-1 P in the lakes of the more intensely agricultural western part of the Jianghan Plain. The sediment concentration profiles for biogenic elements at these sites indicates a post-1960 eutrophication. Evidence for eutrophication in the eastern lakes is much weaker, though some evidence is present at all sites. The tracers of industrial pollution (Pb and SCP) correlate with Mn in the many of the lake sediments. This is compatible with both soil acidification, and soil gleyification due to intensified rice production.