Work

Assessment of surface sediment properties and heavy metal contamination in typical urban areas of the Yellow River, China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: River sediments are considered a source and sink of potential heavy metal pollutants and can provide important information for the health of aquatic ecosystems. Heavy metal pollution has become a serious problem in global river systems and adversely affects humans through the food chain.The contents of eight types of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Pb, and Cd) in the sediments of six typical urban areas in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River were analyzed to explore the spatial distribution characteristics between cities and evaluate the degree of pollution.The main research objectives of this study were as follows: (1) to analyze the distribution characteristics of heavy metals in sediments along rivers in six typical urban areas to evaluate the degree of heavy metal pollution in sediments; (2) to reveal the enrichment characteristics and pollution level of eight types of heavy metals in six typical urban areas in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River; (3) to propose the ecological risk of heavy metals in sediments of six typical urban areas in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River using the potential ecological risk index method.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-87503-9