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Distribution and risk assessment of heavy metals in overlying water, porewater, and sediments of Yongding River in a coal mine brownfield

  • Sediments, Sec 1 • Sediment Quality and Impact Assessment • Research Article
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Abstract

Purpose

Heavy metals from coal mines migrate into rivers and cause a severe impact on the health of local residents utilizing these rivers as a water source. However, current studies on coal mine brownfields have yet to thoroughly investigate river-associated heavy metals produced by coal mining. Therefore, this study aims to explore the distribution and risk assessment of heavy metals, namely Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, in overlying water, porewater, and sediments of the Yongding River, China.

Materials and methods

Overlying water, porewater, and sediments were sampled at 11 sites along the Yongding River. Heavy metal concentrations were determined through ICP-MS, and sediments were subjected to a three-step sequential extraction procedure to verify the behavior of heavy metals through principal component analysis (PCA). Sediments were separated into seven size fractions (< 4, 4–8, 8–16, 16–75, 75–150, 150–250, and 250–840 μm) with sedimentation method based on Stokes’ law. The characteristics of heavy metal distribution in different particle sizes were also explored using the Tucker 3 method. Interstitial water criteria toxic units (IWCTUs) were used to assess porewater heavy metal pollution. Risk assessment code (RAC), sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), and pollution load index (PLI) were applied to evaluate the ecological risk of heavy metals in sediments.

Results and discussion

Heavy metal concentrations increase in the following sequence: overlying water < porewater < sediment. Lead and Zn in porewater are higher than the criteria maximum concentrations (CMCs). The IWCTUs of Pb and Zn indicate their possible risk of toxicity. Principal component analysis reveals that Mn in sediments is preferentially associated with the exchangeable fraction, Cu and Zn are mainly associated with the reducible fraction, and Cr, Ni, and Pb are strongly related to the residual fractions. Heavy metals in sediments mainly accumulate in the fine fractions (< 4, 4–8, and 8–16 μm). Nickel, Pb, and Zn in sediments occasionally cause adverse biological effects. Overall, PLIs of sediments at sites 1, 4, and 10 in the Yongding River show moderate pollution due to Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn.

Conclusions

Different heavy metals possess unique partition coefficients between overlying water and sediments because these metals exhibit various properties and mobility. The chemical fractions of heavy metals also confirm the partition coefficients. Heavy metals in fine sediment fractions also enhance their migration and occasionally cause severe biological effects. Therefore, drinking water security in these areas should be ensured.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the editor and two reviewers for the constructive comments and suggestions, which have improved the manuscript obviously. We also thank Ms. Chunjing Shi for her assistance with field sampling and analysis.

Funding

The project was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41173113, 41473122) and the Hundred Talents Program of Chinese Academy of Science.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollution, School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Hongbing Ji, Hongxia Li, Yan Zhang, Huaijian Ding & Yang Gao

  2. Beijing Geo-engineering Design and Research Institute, Beijing, 101500, China

    Yuxin Xing

Authors
  1. Hongbing Ji
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  2. Hongxia Li
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  3. Yan Zhang
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  4. Huaijian Ding
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  5. Yang Gao
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Correspondence to Hongbing Ji.

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Responsible editor: Haihan Zhang

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Ji, H., Li, H., Zhang, Y. et al. Distribution and risk assessment of heavy metals in overlying water, porewater, and sediments of Yongding River in a coal mine brownfield. J Soils Sediments 18, 624–639 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-017-1833-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-017-1833-y

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