Abstract
In order to investigate the contamination levels of trace metals, surface water samples were collected from six regions along Yangtze River in Nanjing Section. The concentrations of trace metals (As, B, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, V and Zn) were determined using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Total concentrations of the metals in the water samples ranged from 825.1 to 950.4 μg/L. The result was compared with international water quality guidelines. Seven metals levels were above the permissible limit as prescribed by guidelines. A preliminary risk assessment was then carried out to determine the human health risk via calculating Hazard Quotient and carcinogenic risk of the metals. Hazard Quotients of all metals were lower than unity, except As. The carcinogenic risk of As and Cd was higher than 10−6, suggesting that those two metals have potential adverse effects on local residents.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Avani G, Rao MV (2007) Genotoxic effects in human lymphocytes exposed to arsenic and vitamin A. Toxicol Vitro 21:626–631. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2006.12.010
Bhattacharya P, Welch AH, Stollenwerk KG, McLaughlin MJ, Bundschuh J, Panaullah G (2007) Arsenic in the environment: biology and chemistry. Sci Total Environ 379:109–120. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.02.037
Chen SC, Liao CM (2006) Health risk assessment on human exposed to environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollution sources. Sci Total Environ 366:112–123. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.08.047
Chen ZY, Saito Y, Kanai Y, Wei TY, Li LQ, Yao HS, Wang ZH (2004) Low concentration of heavy metals in the Yangtze estuarine sediments, China: a diluting setting. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 60:91–100. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2003.11.021
De Miguel E, Iribarren I, Chacon E, Ordonez A, Charlesworth S (2007) Risk-based evaluation of the exposure of children to trace elements in playgrounds in Madrid (Spain). Chemosphere 66:505–513. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.05.065
Farkas A, Erratico C, Vigano L (2007) Assessment of the environmental significance of heavy metal pollution in surficial sediments of the River Po. Chemosphere 68:761–768. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.12.099
Feng H, Han XF, Zhang WG, Yu LZ (2004) A preliminary study of heavy metal contamination in Yangtze River intertidal zone due to urbanization. Mar Pollut Bull 49:910–915. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.06.014
Ip CCM, Li XD, Zhang G, Wai OWH, Li YS (2007) Trace metal distribution in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary and the surrounding coastal area, South China. Environ Pollut 147:311–323. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2006.06.028
Jing Z (1999) Heavy metal compositions of suspended sediments in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary: significance of riverine transport to the ocean. Continent Shelf Res 19:1521–1543. doi:10.1016/S0278-4343(99)00029-1
Kim EY, Little JC, Chiu N (2004) Estimating exposure to chemical contaminants in drinking water. Environ Sci Technol 38:1799–1806. doi:10.1021/es026300t
Koshikawa MK, Takamatsu T, Takada J, Zhu MY, Xu BH, Chen ZY, Murakami S, Xu KQ, Watanabe M (2007) Distributions of dissolved and particulate elements in the Yangtze estuary in 1997–2002: background data before the closure of the Three Gorges Dam. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 71:26–36. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2006.08.010
Liao CM, Chiang KC (2006) Probabilistic risk assessment for personal exposure to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Taiwanese temples. Chemosphere 63:1610–1619. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.08.051
Liu M, Yang Y, Hou L, Xu S, Ou D, Zhang B, Liu Q (2003) Chlorinated organic contaminants in surface sediments from the Yangtze Estuary and nearby coastal areas, China. Mar Environ Res 46:672–676
Liu M, Yang Y, Xu S, Hou L, Liu Q, Ou D, Jiang H (2004) Persistent organic pollutants (POPS) in intertidal surface sediments from the Yangtze Estuarine and coastal areas, China. J Coastal Res 43:162–170
Obiri S, Dodoo DK, Okai-Sam F, Essumang DK (2006) Cancer health risk assessment of exposure to arsenic by workers of AngloGold Ashanti–Obuasi Gold Mine. Bul Environ Contam Toxicol 76:195–201. doi:10.1007/s00128-006-0907-0
Olivares-Rieumont S, de la Rosa D, Lima L, Graham DW, D’ Alessandro K, Borroto J, Martinez F, Sanchez J (2005) Assessment of heavy metal levels in Almendares River sediments - Havana City, Cuba. Water Res 39:3945–3953. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2005.07.011
Pekey H, Karakas D, Bakoglu M (2004) Source apportionment of trace metals in surface waters of a polluted stream using multivariate statistical analyses. Mar Pollut Bull 49:809–818. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.06.029
State Environmental Protection Administration of China (2002) Monitoring and analysis method of water and waster water, 4th edn. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing
Shen M, Yu YJ, Zheng GJ, Yu HX, Lam PKS, Feng JF, Wei ZB (2006) Polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in surface sediments from the Yangtze River Delta. Mar Pollut Bull 50:1299–1304. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.05.023
US EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) (1989) Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund Volume I Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part A)
US EPA (2003) National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. http://www.epa.gov/safewater. EPA, office of water
US EPA (2006) Risk-based concentration table. http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/risk/human/rbc/rbc1006.pdf
Wei S, Lau RKF, Fung CN, Zheng GJ, Lam JCW, Connell DW, Fang Z, Richardson BJ, Lam PKS (2006) Trace organic contamination in biota collected from the Pearl River Estuary, China: A preliminary risk assessment. Mar Pollut Bull 52:1682–1694. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.06.009
WHO (2006) Guidelines for drinking water quality, 3rd edn. Incorporating first addendum. Recommendations, vol. I, WHO, Geneva
Woitke P, Wellmitz J, Helm D, Kube P, Lepom P, Litheraty P (2003) Analysis and assessment of heavy metal pollution in suspended solids and sediments of the river Danube. Chemosphere 51:633–642. doi:10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00217-0
Xu SY, Gao XJ, Liu M, Chen ZL (2001) China’s Yangtze estuary II. Phosphorus and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tidal flat sediments. Geomorphology 41:207–217. doi:10.1016/S0169-555X(01)00117-9
Acknowledgement
This research was financially supported by the Nanjing University Innovative Foundation (2006071009) and the International Foundation for Science (W/4215-1).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00128-009-9673-0
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wu, B., Zhao, D.Y., Jia, H.Y. et al. Preliminary Risk Assessment of Trace Metal Pollution in Surface Water from Yangtze River in Nanjing Section, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 82, 405–409 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-008-9497-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-008-9497-3