Ecological risk assessment and source analysis of heavy metals in sediments of Dongting Lake

LI Cong; HUANG Fengcun; WANG Zimeng; YIN Fengxiang; CAO Jian; LIAO Qi; XU Xuesheng; GUO Jun

doi:10.12029/gc20240528002

2025 Vol. 52, No. 4

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LI Cong, HUANG Fengcun, WANG Zimeng, YIN Fengxiang, CAO Jian, LIAO Qi, XU Xuesheng, GUO Jun. 2025. Ecological risk assessment and source analysis of heavy metals in sediments of Dongting Lake[J]. Geology in China, 52(4): 1381-1394. doi: 10.12029/gc20240528002

Citation:

LI Cong, HUANG Fengcun, WANG Zimeng, YIN Fengxiang, CAO Jian, LIAO Qi, XU Xuesheng, GUO Jun. 2025. Ecological risk assessment and source analysis of heavy metals in sediments of Dongting Lake[J]. Geology in China, 52(4): 1381-1394. doi: 10.12029/gc20240528002

Ecological risk assessment and source analysis of heavy metals in sediments of Dongting Lake

1.
Changsha Natural Resources Comprehensive Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Changsha 410014, Hunan, China
2.
Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
3.
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410014, Hunan, China
4.
Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Geochemical Processes and Resource Environmental Effects, Geophysical and Geochemical Survey Institute of Hunan, Changsha 410014, Hunan, China

Fund Project: Supported by the project of China Geological Survey (No.DD20230478), Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (No.2024JJ7620) and Key Research and Development Project of Hunan Province (No.2023SK2066).

More Information

Author Bio: LI Cong, male, born in 1995, assistant engineer, engaged in heavy metal pollution prevention and control; E-mail: 448557091@qq.com
Corresponding author: GUO Jun, male, born in 1989, senior engineer, engaged in environmental geochemistry; E-mail: Xiafeng8093@163.com.

Received Date: 28 May 2024

Revised Date: 06 August 2024

Publish Date: 25 July 2025

Abstract

Abstract

This paper is the result of geological survey engineering.
Objective
Dongting Lake, the second largest freshwater lake in China, has experienced increased heavy metal accumulation due to surrounding mining activities and chemical metallurgy. Understanding the characteristics and sources of heavy metal pollution in Dongting Lake is crucial for effective prevention, control and remediation efforts.
Methods
In August 2023, 37 surface sediment samples were collected from four main inflow rivers of Dongting Lake. Eight heavy metals and their physicochemical indicators were measured. The pollution characteristics were evaluated using sediment quality guidelines (SQG). The potential ecological risk index method was used to identify the ecological risk of sediments in the area. The sources and contribution rates of the heavy metals were analyzed using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model and correlation analysis. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to explore the morphological characteristics of heavy metals in sediments.
Results
The ecological risk of heavy metals in the sediments of the Dongting Lake water system is relatively high, Cd contributed the most to ecological risk (75.1%), followed by Hg (17.2%).with the Xiangjiang and Zijiang river basins exhibiting higher heavy metal pollution risks. Based on the PMF model and regional characteristics, four potential sources of heavy metal pollution in the sediments were identified: agricultural sources (42.7%), atmospheric deposition sources (16.1%), natural sources (21.8%) and metal smelting sources (19.5%). The RDA results showed that the heavy metals in the sediments of the four drainage basins were mainly Fe−Mn combined.
Conclusion
According to RDA and related analyses, it is indicated that the content of heavy metals such as Cd in the lake area sediments is mainly controlled by Fe and Mn oxides. In the next step of environmental remediation and pollution control, the oxide characteristics of iron and manganese can be utilized to effectively control and treat heavy metal pollution.
- heavy metals /
- sediment /
- Dongting Lake /
- ecological risk /
- source analysis /
- geological survey engineering

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References

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