Co-Effects of Hydrological Conditions and Industrial Activities on the Distribution of Heavy Metal Pollution in Taipu River, China

Qinglu Yao, Ling Chen, Lingchen Mao, Yu Ma, Fengyan Tian, Ruijie Wang, Xiang-Zhou Meng and Feipeng Li ()
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Qinglu Yao: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Ling Chen: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Lingchen Mao: School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Yu Ma: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Fengyan Tian: School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Ruijie Wang: School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Xiang-Zhou Meng: Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
Feipeng Li: School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: In Taipu River, after being transformed from a drainage channel to a drinking water supply river in 1995, heavy metals that have accumulated in sediments have become an environmental issue. Herein, we collected sediments of Taipu River in 2018, 2020, and 2021 and analyzed the distribution of Sb, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Zn to identify their sources. The results revealed that the mean concentrations of heavy metals were above the background values, except for Cr and As. During the non-flood season, the midstream of Taipu River becomes a heavy metal hotspot, with their concentrations 2–5 times higher than those in upstream sediment. There were significant correlations (r = 0.79–0.99) among drainage, precipitation and flow rate, which indicated that drainage caused by both the opening of Taipu Gate and precipitation control the flow rate and, then, possibly influenced the distribution of heavy metals. Moreover, three sources (industrial sources, particle deposition sources, and natural sources) were characterized as the determinants for the accumulation of heavy metal by the Positive Matrix Factorization model, with the contribution rates of 41.7%, 32.9%, and 25.4%, respectively. It is recommended that the influence of hydrological conditions and industrial activities should be a key consideration when developing regulations for the management of heavy metals in rivers.

Keywords: Sediment; heavy metal; hydrodynamic; industrial activity; source apportionment (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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