For this study, 34 water samples were collected along the Wei River and its tributaries. Multivariate statistical analyses were employed to interpret the environmental data and to identify the natural and anthropogenic trace metal inputs to the surface waters of the river. Our results revealed that Zn, Se, B, Ba, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni and V were all detected in the Wei River. Compared to drinking water guidelines, the primary trace metal pollution components (B, Ni, Zn and Mn) exceeded drinking water standard levels by 47.1, 50.0, 44.1 and 26.5%, respectively. Inter-element relationships and landscape features of trace metals conducted by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) identified a uniform source of trace metals for all sampling sites, excluding one site that exhibited anomalous concentrations. Based on the patterns of relative loadings of individual metals calculated by principal component analysis (PCA), the primary trace metal sources were associated with natural/geogenic contributions, agro-chemical processes and discharge from local industrial sources. These results demonstrated the impact of human activities on metal concentrations in the Wei River.
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Research Article|
February 01 2013
Spatial distribution and sources of dissolved trace metals in surface water of the Wei River, China
Li Jing;
Li Jing
1Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
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Li Fadong;
1Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
E-mail: lifadong@igsnrr.ac.cn
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Liu Qiang;
Liu Qiang
1Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
2Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Science, 19A Yuquan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100049, China
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Song Shuai;
Song Shuai
1Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
2Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Science, 19A Yuquan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100049, China
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Zhao Guangshuai
Zhao Guangshuai
1Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
2Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Science, 19A Yuquan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100049, China
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Water Sci Technol (2013) 67 (4): 817–823.
Article history
Received:
June 27 2012
Accepted:
September 11 2012
Citation
Li Jing, Li Fadong, Liu Qiang, Song Shuai, Zhao Guangshuai; Spatial distribution and sources of dissolved trace metals in surface water of the Wei River, China. Water Sci Technol 1 February 2013; 67 (4): 817–823. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2012.608
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