ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of Environmental Factors on Arsenic
Fractions in Plateau Lakeside
Wetland Sediments
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1
Research Center of Water Science and Engineering, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
2
Research Institute of Stony Desertification, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
Submission date: 2017-05-31
Final revision date: 2017-08-07
Acceptance date: 2017-09-27
Online publication date: 2018-04-15
Publication date: 2018-05-30
Corresponding author
Yu Jing Guo
National Plateau Wetlands Research Center, Southwest Forestry University; China, BaiLong Temple 300, KunMing, YunNan Province, China, 650224 Kunming, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2018;27(5):2029-2040
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ABSTRACT
The toxicity of arsenic (As) in different polluted areas and its effects on human and animal health
is a big concern all over the world. Although a wetland ecosystem is a “green filter,” this specific function
would be impaired by high As content in wetland sediments. The distribution of As in wetland sediments
and its linkages to environmental factors have not been fully explored. In this study, sediment samples
(0-10 cm) and water samples were collected from different locations along the Yangzonghai lakeside,
located in the city of Yuxi, Yunnan province of China, and were analyzed for As fractions. Results
showed that As content in sediments ranged from 7.550 to 89.83 mg·kg-1 (with a mean value of
16.11 mg·kg-1). The As fractions were dominated by residual fraction (B4) (up to 62.67%), and the mean
contents from high to low were: B4 (10.10) > oxidizable fraction (B3) (2.600) > acid extractable fraction
(B1) (2.270) > reducible fraction (B2) (2.170). The distribution of As in sediments was mainly influenced
by point-source pollution. In addition, the lack of significant correlation between As content and the
different landscapes in the buffer zone of Yangzonghai lakeside indicated that the land use around the
lakeside wetland (mainly non-point source pollution) may not have a significant impact on As fractions.
Among environmental factors, As contents were positively (p<0.05) correlated to dicalcium phosphate
(Ca2-P) and octacalcium phosphate (Ca8-P). However, phosphorus distribution revealed that phosphorus in
sediments was mainly caused by non-point source pollution, and thus farmland fertilizer, domestic waste,
and livestock manure should be controlled. As fractions such as B1, B2, and B3 in wetland sediments were
positively correlated with dissolved oxygen (DO) and redox potential (Eh), but negatively correlated to
organic matter (OM), pH, and lime-type phosphorus (Ca10-P) when the upstream area was dominated by
agricultural lands, indicating that these parameters may affect the release of As into sediments.