Heavy Metals in the Mainstream Water of the Yangtze River Downstream: Distribution, Sources and Health Risk Assessment

Yang Jin, Quanping Zhou, Xiaolong Wang, Hong Zhang, Guoqiang Yang, Ting Lei, Shijia Mei, Hai Yang, Lin Liu, Hui Yang, Jinsong Lv and Yuehua Jiang
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Yang Jin: Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Quanping Zhou: Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China
Xiaolong Wang: Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Hong Zhang: Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China
Guoqiang Yang: Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China
Ting Lei: Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China
Shijia Mei: Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China
Hai Yang: Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China
Lin Liu: Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Hui Yang: Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China
Jinsong Lv: Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China
Yuehua Jiang: Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: Since the mainstream of the Yangtze River lower reach is an important drinking water source for residents alongside it, it is essential to investigate the concentration, distribution characteristics and health risks of heavy metals in the water. In this study, a total of 110 water samples were collected on both the left and right banks from the upstream to the downstream. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the sources of heavy metals. Their non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were studied with health risk assessment models, and uncertainties were determined through Monte Carlo simulation. Results showed that concentrations of all heavy metals were significantly lower than the relevant authoritative standards in the studied area. From the upstream to the downstream, Ni, Cu and Cr had similar concentration distribution rules and mainly originated from human industrial activities. Pb, Cd and Zn had a fluctuating but increasing trend, which was mainly due to the primary geochemistry, traffic pollution and agricultural activities. The maximum As concentration appeared in the upstream mainly because of the carbonatite weathering or mine tail water discharge. Concentrations of Zn, As, Cd and Pb on the left bank were higher than those on the right bank, while concentrations of Cu, Ni and Cr on the right bank were higher than those on the left bank. The non-carcinogenic risk index (HI) was less than 1 (except of L11), and HI on the left bank was higher than that on the right bank. The carcinogenic risk (CR) was generally larger than 1.0 × 10 −4 , CR on the right bank overall was higher than that on the left bank, and the health risk of kids was greater than that of adults. Furthermore, Monte Carlo simulation results and the actual calculated values were basically the same.

Keywords: downstream; the Yangtze River; heavy metal; distribution; health risk; Monte Carlo (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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