The influence of natural weathering on the behavior of heavy metals in small basaltic watersheds: A comparative study from different regions in China

Abstract

This paper investigates the dynamics between basalt weathering and heavy metal accumulation through a comparative study of 37 small basaltic watersheds within different climate zones in the Yungui (the Pearl River Basin in southwest China), Xuyi (the Huaihe River Basin in east China) and Leiqiong regions (Hainan Island in south China). From a comprehensive sampling regime of stream water, riverbed sediments and bedrock, this study shows that the concentrations of heavy metals in river water are far below the national surface water quality standard and WHO quality standard for drinking water, indicating no significant ecological risk for water body in these basaltic areas. In contrast, the riverbed sediments exhibit varying degrees of heavy metal enrichment in the process of weathering from bedrock to sediments: without enrichment for Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn, but significant enrichment for Cd, As and Pb. Cd exhibits the largest ecological risk of all the heavy metals in the basaltic watersheds especially in the Yungui region, which can be mainly attributed to the high geological background values in this area. Comparative studies of some major basalt watersheds in the world show that temperature, runoff and elevation differences significantly affect the chemical weathering rates and thus the accumulation of heavy metals.