Heavy Metals Accumulation and its Environmental Risk in Sediments of Xihe River, Shenyang City

摘要

Heavy metal accumulation in Xihe River sediments was studied, and also its potential environmental risk was evaluated using geoaccumulation index (I_(geo)). The results showed that mean concentrations of Hg, Cd, Zn, Pb, Ba, Bi, Sn and Sb were 2.73, 18.42, 1066.1, 128.8, 366.9, 7.76, 24.70 and 8.53 mg/kg, respectively. The values of examined heavy metals, except for Ba, were higher than the reference of deep soil. There were different accumulation characteristics for heavy metals at different river sections. Cadmium and Pb concentrations in sediment dropped from upper to lower reaches along river, but Ba was quite the reverse. The potential environmental risk of heavy metals in sediments was in order: Cd > Hg > Bi > Zn > Sb > Sn > Pb > Ba. The river was subjected to a higher potential risk by Hg, Cd, Zn and Bi, a medium-high risk by Sn and Sb, and a lower risk by Pb and Ba.