Use of pollution indices and ecological risk in the assessment of contamination from chemical elements in soils and sediments – Practical aspects

Ferreira, Sérgio L.C.; Silva, Jucelino B. da; Santos, Ivanice Ferreira dos; Oliveira, Olívia Maria Cordeiro de; Cerdà, Vı́ctor; Queiroz, Antônio F.S.

doi:10.1016/j.teac.2022.e00169

Cited by 46 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…The value of RI was computed using the following equations:

where

represents the pollution coefficient of heavy metals i ,

represents the determined concentration of heavy metals i (mg/kg),

denotes the background values of heavy metals (mg/kg),

represents the sum of pollution coefficients of different heavy metals,

denotes the potential ecological risk factor,

represents the potential ecological RIs,

denotes the toxicity coefficient of heavy metals, and i denotes the toxicity level of heavy metals and the organisms’ sensitivity to heavy metal pollution, and its values are Zn = 1, Cr = 2, Co = Ni = Cu = Pb = 5, and Cd = 30 [ 35 ]. According to the determined level of toxicity of the heavy metals, we also considered the high heavy metal content and biological activity in the study area, defining five categories of

and four categories of

( Table 2 ) [ 36 , 37 ]. However, other evaluation criteria have been used by Barcauskaite et al 2020, Wu et al 2010, Zhu et al 2012 [ 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution, Assessment, and Source of Heavy Metals in Sediments of the Qinjiang River, China

Zhang

Chen

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Heavy metals are toxic, persistent, and non-degradable. After sedimentation and adsorption, they accumulate in water sediments. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of heavy metal pollution of Qinjiang River sediments and its effects on the ecological environment and apportioning sources. The mean total concentrations of Mn, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Pb are 3.14, 2.33, 1.39, 5.79, and 1.33 times higher than the background values, respectively. Co, Ni, and Cd concentrations are lower than the background values. Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb are all primarily in the residual state, while Mn and Zn are primarily in the acid-soluble and oxidizable states, respectively. Igeo, RI, SQGs, and RAC together indicate that the pollution status and ecological risk of heavy metals in Qinjiang River sediments are generally moderate; among them, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Cr, and Pb are not harmful to the ecological environment of the Qinjiang River. Cu is not readily released because of its higher residual composition, suggesting that Cu is less harmful to the ecological environment. Mn and Zn, as the primary pollution factors of the Qinjiang River, are harmful to the ecological environment. This heavy metal pollution in surface sediments of the Qinjiang River primarily comes from manganese and zinc ore mining. Manganese carbonate and its weathered secondary manganese oxide are frequently associated with a significant amount of residual copper and Cd, as a higher pH is suitable for the deposition and enrichment of these heavy metals. Lead–zinc ore and its weathering products form organic compounds with residual Fe, Co, Cr, and Ni, and their content is related to salinity. The risk assessment results of heavy metals in sediments provide an important theoretical basis for the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in Qinjiang River.

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“…The value of RI was computed using the following equations:

where

represents the pollution coefficient of heavy metals i ,

represents the determined concentration of heavy metals i (mg/kg),

denotes the background values of heavy metals (mg/kg),

represents the sum of pollution coefficients of different heavy metals,

denotes the potential ecological risk factor,

represents the potential ecological RIs,

and four categories of

( Table 2 ) [ 36 , 37 ]. However, other evaluation criteria have been used by Barcauskaite et al 2020, Wu et al 2010, Zhu et al 2012 [ 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution, Assessment, and Source of Heavy Metals in Sediments of the Qinjiang River, China

Zhang

Chen

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…The toxicity coefficient of heavy metal are the values of Zn = 1, Cr = 2, Co = Ni = Cu = Pb = 5, Hg = 40, and Cd = 30. Since the heavy metal species in this study were different from Hakanson [ 38 ], the RI limits corresponding to each ecological risk level were adjusted according to the heavy metal species and their toxicity coefficients, and the adjusted evaluation criteria were: RI < 150 for minor potential ecological risk; 150 ≤ RI < 300 for medium potential ecological risk; 300 ≤ RI < 600 for strong potential ecological risk; where RI < 150 is a slight potential ecological risk; 150 ≤ RI < 300 is a medium potential ecological risk; 300 ≤ RI < 600 is a strong potential ecological risk; RI ≥ 600 is a very strong potential ecological risk [ 39 , 40 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Pattern, Sources Identification, and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in a Typical Soda Soil from Bayannur, Northwestern China

Zhang

Wang²,

Wang³

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Soil is an important natural resource in the agricultural areas of northwest China. The heavy metal concentration and ecological risk assessments are crucial for food safety and human health. This work collected 35 surface soil samples and focused on a typical soda soil quality of the Hetao Plain in Bayannur, which is an important grain production base in northern China. The concentration and composition of heavy metal (arsenic (As), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn)), soluble salts, total organic carbon (TOC), and minerals of the surface soils were analyzed to assess the biotoxicity, ecological risk, sources, and influencing factors of heavy metals in these soda soil from this region. The enrichment factors (EF) showed that As, Co, Cu, and Pb were not contaminated in these soils, while Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, and Zn were lightly contaminated. The index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) for the soda soils indicated that Co and Pb were uncontaminated, and Cr, Cd, Ni, Zn, Hg, Cu, and As were lightly contaminated. The potential ecological risk index (RI) indicated there were no or low risks for As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Although the concentrations of Cd and Hg in the soil were low, the two heavy metals exhibited moderate–high ecological risk because they have high biological toxicity. Cd in the soils from Hetao Plain in Bayannur is mainly exchangeable and reducible fractions. The other heavy metals in these soda soils are mainly in residue fraction, implying that their mobility is low and not easily absorbed and used by plants. Heavy metal fractions, principal component analysis (PCA), and correlation analysis showed that As, Co, Cr, Cu, and Pb were mainly from natural sources, while Ni, Cd, and Zn were mainly from anthropogenic discharge-related irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticide application, and Hg was mainly from winter snowfall in the study area. Naturally sourced metal elements have obvious sediment properties, and their adsorption by clay minerals and coupling with organic matter along with sediment transport sorting. The salinity and pH of soda soils in the study area have a highly positive correlation, hence the influence of factors on the concentrations of soil heavy metals are consistent. For anthropogenically imported heavy metals, increasing salinity and pH promote the precipitation of metallic elements in water. Cd is present as an exchangeable and reducible fraction, while Ni and Zn are mainly sequestered by organic matter and clay minerals.

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“…PIN is calculated to evaluate the overall pollution of soil and determine the most polluted parameters (Kowalska et al, 2018). Similar to PIN, PLI is used to assess the pollution levels or the levels of heavy metals in soil, which can be used to compare the soil quality between different study areas (Nazzal et al, 2021;Ferreira et al, 2022). Igeo index is employed to assess the pollution extent in soil by each heavy metal, which can compare the changes in the soil problems in the past and the present (Kowalska et al, 2018;Nazzal et al, 2021;Ferreira et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similar to PIN, PLI is used to assess the pollution levels or the levels of heavy metals in soil, which can be used to compare the soil quality between different study areas (Nazzal et al, 2021;Ferreira et al, 2022). Igeo index is employed to assess the pollution extent in soil by each heavy metal, which can compare the changes in the soil problems in the past and the present (Kowalska et al, 2018;Nazzal et al, 2021;Ferreira et al, 2022). To evaluate the potential risks to ecology by heavy metalcontaminated soils, RI is employed with the consideration of toxic level, ecological sensitivity, and synergy effects of heavy metals (Cui et al, 2021;Ferreira et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Igeo index is employed to assess the pollution extent in soil by each heavy metal, which can compare the changes in the soil problems in the past and the present (Kowalska et al, 2018;Nazzal et al, 2021;Ferreira et al, 2022). To evaluate the potential risks to ecology by heavy metalcontaminated soils, RI is employed with the consideration of toxic level, ecological sensitivity, and synergy effects of heavy metals (Cui et al, 2021;Ferreira et al, 2022). These indices are deemed effective tools to comprehensively evaluate soil contamination and predict the effects on ecology (Kowalska et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating Ecological Risk Associated with Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soil in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam

Giao

Nhien

Anh

2022

Environ. Nat. Resour. J.

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Heavy metal pollution in soil has received more attention in recent years because of an increase in human activities and its potential effects on ecology and human health. This study assessed the occurrence of heavy metals (As, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd) in different cultivated land and their ecological risk in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam. Seventeen samples collected in paddy, vegetable, perennials, and ornamental soils were measured for heavy metal concentrations and soil structure. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), Nemerow pollution index (PIN), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (RI). The results revealed that the soil structure was clay loam and silt clay loam. Heavy metal concentrations were within the national limits with the order of Zn>Cu>Pb>As>Cd. Pearson correlation and PCA indicated that heavy metals were strongly correlated, and agriculture and soil formation were responsible for their presence in soil. The sampling sites were divided into four groups using CA, in which paddy and crop soils had the highest content of heavy metals. Based on PIN values (0.82-2.92), the heavy metal pollution ranged from warning to moderate level. As had the highest accumulation potential in the soil, with the Igeo values ranging from 0.12-2.05. The risk of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soil to ecology was low to moderate. Despite that, it is recommended to annually monitor the occurrence of heavy metals in agricultural soils to have proper solutions to protect public health.

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Use of pollution indices and ecological risk in the assessment of contamination from chemical elements in soils and sediments – Practical aspects

Cited by 46 publications

References 55 publications

Distribution, Assessment, and Source of Heavy Metals in Sediments of the Qinjiang River, China

Distribution, Assessment, and Source of Heavy Metals in Sediments of the Qinjiang River, China

Spatial Pattern, Sources Identification, and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in a Typical Soda Soil from Bayannur, Northwestern China

Evaluating Ecological Risk Associated with Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soil in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam

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