ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Dissolved Heavy Metals Distribution and Risk Assessment in the Le’an River Subjected to Violent Mining Activities
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1
Key Laboratory of Education Ministry for Poyang Lake Wetland and Watershed Research, College of Geography and the Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, P.R. China
2
School of Hydraulic and Ecological Engineering, Nanchang Institute of Technology,
Nanchang 330099, P.R. China
Submission date: 2017-06-30
Final revision date: 2017-09-15
Acceptance date: 2017-09-15
Online publication date: 2018-02-21
Publication date: 2018-03-30
Corresponding author
Zhenglei Xie
School of Geography & Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, No. 99, Ziyang Road, Nanchang, 330022, People's Republic of China, Street of Ziyang road in Nanchang city of Jiangxi Province, Jiangxi Normal University, 330022 Nanchang, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2018;27(4):1559-1572
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ABSTRACT
Surface water samples were collected from 24 sampling sites throughout the Le’an River during wet
and dry seasons. The concentrations of dissolved heavy metals were determined by inductively coupled
plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The sources of dissolved heavy metals in the Le’an River were
investigated based on the seasonal and spatial variations. The results demonstrated that significant
seasonality of dissolved heavy metals concentrations were found in the Le’an River, and high concentrations
in dry season due to the precipitation dilution effect. Spatially, higher concentrations of selected dissolved
heavy metals were distributed in the mining area, which was significantly influenced by mining activities.
It was found that sites within the mining area suffered from serious pollution based on the calculated HPI
and MPI. According to human health risk assessment, it was indicated that As, Co, and Cd were the major
contributors to exposure to local inhabitants. The exposure risks of the adults were less sensitive compared
to the children, and oral ingestion was the primary exposure pathway. Multivariate statistical analyses
revealed that different groups of heavy metals were characteristics of the disparate source associated with
mineral exploration, urban and agricultural activities, and geogenic origins. Hierarchical agglomerative
CA grouped all the sampling sites into three clusters based on the data set of exposure risk to human
health and aquatic life. In cluster 2, concentrations of Cd and As were higher than drinking water quality
of WHO and Chinese standards.