Research on the Characteristics of Heavy Metal Pollution in Lake and Reservoir Sediments in China Based on Meta-Analysis

Huancheng Dai, Mingke Luo, Xia Jiang, Xixi Li, Peng Zhang and Yong Niu ()
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Huancheng Dai: School of Ecology and Environment, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, China
Mingke Luo: National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Institute of Lake Ecology and Environment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Xia Jiang: National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Institute of Lake Ecology and Environment, School of Engineering, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Xixi Li: National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Institute of Lake Ecology and Environment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Peng Zhang: School of Ecology and Environment, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, China
Yong Niu: National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Institute of Lake Ecology and Environment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-32

Abstract: To clarify the current state of heavy metal contamination in the sediments of lakes in China, the data on six heavy metals derived from the sediment samples of 71 lakes across China from 2003 to 2022 are collected in this study through meta-analysis. Uncertainty analysis is conducted using the Monte Carlo method to evaluate the heavy metals against cumulative characteristics, potential ecological risk, and toxicity indicators. The following conclusions are reached. (1) There is severe pollution in lake sediments in China. The concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cd in lakes exceed their corresponding soil background values. Cr heavy metal contamination exceeded the soil background values in 54.5% of lakes. (2) Cd is the major pollutant in lake sediments across China, followed by Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, and Cr in descending order. Lakes with higher ecological risk are predominantly concentrated in quadrants 2 and 3, indicating an overall high ecological risk status for Chinese lakes and significant potential ecological hazards. Pb and Cr are identified as the most toxic elements in lake sediments, with the lakes of higher toxicity mainly concentrated in quadrants 3 and 4. (3) Heavy metal pollution shows a significant trend of variation by region. The sources of heavy metals in lake sediments differ between the southern, central, and northern regions of China. In the lakes located in northern China, pollution is largely attributed to mining and industrial emissions, with agriculture as a less significant factor. In the central region, surface runoff and domestic sewage are the main contributors, while industrial and agricultural emissions play a minor role. In the south, industrial emission is the major source of pollution, with agricultural emission and natural factors being less significant.

Keywords: heavy metal pollution; large-scale evaluation; lake sediments; Monte Carlo simulation; pollution indices; sources; statistical analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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