Characterizing the Changes in the Source Apportionment of Metal in Surface Waters by an Integrated Approach

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Yichen Zhou - , Jinan University (Author)
  • Hao Ding - , Jinan University (Author)
  • Zhenyu Wang - , Chair of Urban Water Management (Author)
  • Mei Li - , Jinan University, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for On-line Source Apportionment System of Air Pollution, Guangzhou Hexin Instrument Ltd. (Author)
  • Jin Zhang - , Hohai University (Author)
  • Xue Li - , Jinan University, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for On-line Source Apportionment System of Air Pollution (Author)

Abstract

Based on long-term monitoring data of typical surface water from 1999 to 2016, this study evaluated the temporal, spatial, and source changes of seven trace metals. The results show that average concentrations of trace metals were Zn (248.61 μg L-1) ≫ Mn (74.27 μg L-1) > Ba (72.4 6 μg L-1) > Al (44.11 μg L-1) > As (6.36 μg L-1) > Ni (3.29 μg L-1) > Cd (2.98 μg L-1). There is a decreasing trend in the concentrations of Al, Cd, Mn, Ni, and Zn. Pollution levels in the midstream are relatively higher than in the upstream and downstream. A wavelet analysis suggested that the Al and As contamination levels exhibited clear periodic oscillations. According to the source apportionment analysis, the pollution sources of A, B, and C periods were determined, among which historical mining, industrial, agricultural, and geological natural sources were the main contributors. Anthropogenic pollution sources during stage B accounted for the largest proportion, reaching 76.54%. Historical mining source emissions remained relatively stable (43.17, 34.99, and 40.83%), but the proportion remained at the highest level. The health risk assessment shows that there is no obvious health risk, and As and Cd have certain cancer risk.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2041-2052
Number of pages12
JournalACS ES and T Water
Volume3
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - 11 Aug 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • health risk assessment, positive matrix factorization, self-organizing map, source apportionment, trace metals