Environmental risk assessment of the surface sediments based on trace elements analysis from the largest freshwater lake in the southern slope of the Himalaya, Nepal
{"title":"Environmental risk assessment of the surface sediments based on trace elements analysis from the largest freshwater lake in the southern slope of the Himalaya, Nepal","authors":"Binija Kaphle, Junbo Wang, Jianting Ju, Xinmiao Lü, Jinlei Kai, Leon Clarke, Binish Raj Khanal, Sima Humagain, Gaurav Srivastava, Khum Narayan Paudayal","doi":"10.1007/s10661-024-13566-2","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Freshwater ecosystems, including high-altitude lakes, can be affected by trace metal pollution derived from a mix of natural sources and anthropogenic activities. These pollutants often collect in surface sediments, with notable concentrations in the deeper areas of lakes. To evaluate the environmental risk associated with metal contaminated sediment in Rara Lake, southern Himalaya, surface sediment samples were systematically collected in November 2018, with a subsequent specific emphasis on determinations of trace element concentrations. Subsequent analysis revealed nine elements exhibiting a descending mean concentrations order: iron (Fe) > manganese (Mn) > chromium (Cr) > rubidium (Rb) > nickel (Ni) > strontium (Sr) > cobalt (Co) > copper (Cu) > cadmium (Cd), of 7205.55 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, 2290.34 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, 176.29 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, 153.78 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, 51.86 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, 44.61 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, 38.89 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, 29.11 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, and 0.10 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. Comparisons to sediment quality guidelines highlight that Mn, Cr, Cu, and Cd as significant threats to the aquatic ecosystem in Rara Lake. To assess the impact of metal pollution, enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (<i>I</i><sub>geo</sub>), pollution load index (PLI), and contamination factor (CF) were computed. All metals (except Cd) had <i>I</i><sub>geo</sub> value exceeding 5, displaying strong contamination. EF values for Mn, Cr, Co, and Ni metals were > 10, indicating severe effects of anthropogenic influences. CF and PLI values also indicated significant pollution for most of the investigated sites. Elevated trace element concentrations have the potential to adversely affect water, sediment, and aquatic life, also potentially impacting nutrient cycling and microbial activity. This study enhances our understanding of the metal compositions within Rara Lake sediments and provides a basis for more effective lake management and pollution control strategies. Urgent action by regional governing bodies is crucial to address the early stages of metals pollution, including identification and controlling of pollution sources, by appropriate regulations, optimizing industrial practices, and remediating existing pollution to prevent further contamination and protect the lake ecosystem.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":544,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Monitoring and Assessment","volume":"197 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Environmental Monitoring and Assessment","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-024-13566-2","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems, including high-altitude lakes, can be affected by trace metal pollution derived from a mix of natural sources and anthropogenic activities. These pollutants often collect in surface sediments, with notable concentrations in the deeper areas of lakes. To evaluate the environmental risk associated with metal contaminated sediment in Rara Lake, southern Himalaya, surface sediment samples were systematically collected in November 2018, with a subsequent specific emphasis on determinations of trace element concentrations. Subsequent analysis revealed nine elements exhibiting a descending mean concentrations order: iron (Fe) > manganese (Mn) > chromium (Cr) > rubidium (Rb) > nickel (Ni) > strontium (Sr) > cobalt (Co) > copper (Cu) > cadmium (Cd), of 7205.55 mg kg−1, 2290.34 mg kg−1, 176.29 mg kg−1, 153.78 mg kg−1, 51.86 mg kg−1, 44.61 mg kg−1, 38.89 mg kg−1, 29.11 mg kg−1, and 0.10 mg kg−1, respectively. Comparisons to sediment quality guidelines highlight that Mn, Cr, Cu, and Cd as significant threats to the aquatic ecosystem in Rara Lake. To assess the impact of metal pollution, enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), and contamination factor (CF) were computed. All metals (except Cd) had Igeo value exceeding 5, displaying strong contamination. EF values for Mn, Cr, Co, and Ni metals were > 10, indicating severe effects of anthropogenic influences. CF and PLI values also indicated significant pollution for most of the investigated sites. Elevated trace element concentrations have the potential to adversely affect water, sediment, and aquatic life, also potentially impacting nutrient cycling and microbial activity. This study enhances our understanding of the metal compositions within Rara Lake sediments and provides a basis for more effective lake management and pollution control strategies. Urgent action by regional governing bodies is crucial to address the early stages of metals pollution, including identification and controlling of pollution sources, by appropriate regulations, optimizing industrial practices, and remediating existing pollution to prevent further contamination and protect the lake ecosystem.
淡水生态系统,包括高海拔湖泊,可能受到自然来源和人为活动混合产生的微量金属污染的影响。这些污染物通常聚集在表层沉积物中,在湖泊较深的区域浓度显著。为了评估喜马拉雅南部拉拉湖金属污染沉积物的环境风险,于2018年11月系统收集了地表沉积物样本,随后特别强调了微量元素浓度的测定。随后的分析显示,九种元素的平均浓度依次递减:铁(Fe) >;锰(Mn) >;铬(Cr) >;铷(Rb) >;镍(Ni) >;锶(Sr) >;钴(Co) >;铜(Cu) >;镉(Cd),分别为7205.55 mg kg - 1、2290.34 mg kg - 1、176.29 mg kg - 1、153.78 mg kg - 1、51.86 mg kg - 1、44.61 mg kg - 1、38.89 mg kg - 1、29.11 mg kg - 1和0.10 mg kg - 1。与沉积物质量指南的比较突出表明,Mn、Cr、Cu和Cd是对拉拉湖水生生态系统的重大威胁。为了评价金属污染的影响,计算了富集系数(EF)、地质累积指数(Igeo)、污染负荷指数(PLI)和污染系数(CF)。所有金属(除Cd外)的Igeo值均超过5,污染严重。Mn、Cr、Co和Ni金属的EF值为10,表明人为影响的严重影响。CF和PLI值也表明大多数调查地点存在严重污染。微量元素浓度升高有可能对水、沉积物和水生生物产生不利影响,也可能影响营养循环和微生物活动。本研究提高了我们对拉腊湖沉积物中金属成分的认识,为制定更有效的湖泊管理和污染控制策略提供了依据。区域理事机构的紧急行动对解决金属污染的早期阶段至关重要,包括通过适当的条例确定和控制污染源,优化工业做法,修复现有污染,以防止进一步污染和保护湖泊生态系统。
期刊介绍:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment emphasizes technical developments and data arising from environmental monitoring and assessment, the use of scientific principles in the design of monitoring systems at the local, regional and global scales, and the use of monitoring data in assessing the consequences of natural resource management actions and pollution risks to man and the environment.