WANG Xiao-lei1, 2, YANG Hao1，*, GU Zhu-jun2, ZHANG Ming-li1
（1. College of Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China；
2. College of Geographical Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China）
Abstract: Based on the results of radionuclides (210Pb and 137Cs) dating of sediment cores from Lake Fuxian, the vertical distribution and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in the past 150 years were analyzed. The results showed that the vertical distribution of heavy metals significantly varied among different sediment cores of Lake Fuxian. There was an increasing trend for Zn, As and Pb over the past years, whereas there was a microwave trend for Cr and a downward trend for Cu. The relationship between different heavy metals and nutrients demonstrated that significant positive correlations were found among Zn, As and Pb, suggesting that they are from the same pollution source, while poor correlations between Cr and Cu indicated that they are from the different pollution sources. The contents of heavy metals were significantly positively correlated with TP concentrations, but there was a poor or no correlation with TN and TOC concentrations, respectively. The Hakanson potential ecological risk index was applied for assessing the status of sediments heavy metals enrichment and the results indicated that different pollution levels were found in different parts of Lake Fuxian, and as was the main pollutant in the north and south of the lake, while Cu was the main pollutant in the middle of the lake. The comprehensive ecological risk index grades in sites FX0702 and FX0703 were within the moderate range, while the site FX0701 was from moderate to high in the late 1990s.
Key words: 210Pb and 137Cs dating; sediment; heavy metal; potential ecological risk; Lake Fuxian
EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT Vol. 42, No.6, Tot No.302, 2014, Page 764-772
