Temporal distribution, accumulation, speciation and ecological risk of heavy metals in the sediment of an urban Lagoon catchment at Xiamen in China

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study investigated the temporal distribution, accumulation, speciation and potential ecological risk of heavy metals in the sediment of an urban Yundang Lagoon catchment (YLC) at Xiamen in China. Total heavy metals concentration of Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb showed a significant seasonal variation in the sediment. Therefore, the average total metals concentration of Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb was 61.95, 529.95, 28.03, 64.95, 351.22, 10.29, 1.38 and 56.30 mg/kg for spring; 66.78, 501.22, 30.55, 67.72, 326.42, 10.91, 0.89 and 58.12 mg/kg for summer; 64.87, 472.80, 24.09, 66.26, 323.40, 5.51, 0.64 and 58.68 mg/kg for autumn; 82.36, 1589.05, 27.27, 82.64, 369.31, 11.79, 0.60 and 562.24 mg/kg for winter, respectively. Temporal metals speciation indicates a considerable seasonal variation of metal fraction concentrations. Igeo values have indicated considerable seasonal variation of pollution sources in the sediment of YLC. The temporal pollution load index indicates that winter sediment has the highest pollution load than other seasons.