<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The distribution and extent of heavy metal accumulation in the fluvial sediment of the Beijiang River are described. The potential toxicity of this pollution was quantified using a consensus based sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) method and the Hakanson potential ecological risk index. The concentrations of Hg, As, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cr were high enough to damage the sediment biota on a frequent basis. The potential ecological risk was much higher in the downstream, urbanized reaches of the river than in the upstream reaches which are still rural, but all sections of the river posed at least a moderate level of ecological risk. Estimates of the economic loss associated with these pollutions were appreciable, and were mainly due to Hg and Cu. The Beijiang River basin is heavily polluted, posing environmental risks for the downstream reaches of the Pearl River, and economic loss to the whole watershed.</p></abstract>

The distribution and extent of heavy metal accumulation in the fluvial sediment of the Beijiang River are described. The potential toxicity of this pollution was quantified using a consensus based sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) method and the Hakanson potential ecological risk index. The concentrations of Hg, As, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cr were high enough to damage the sediment biota on a frequent basis. The potential ecological risk was much higher in the downstream, urbanized reaches of the river than in the upstream reaches which are still rural, but all sections of the river posed at least a moderate level of ecological risk. Estimates of the economic loss associated with these pollutions were appreciable, and were mainly due to Hg and Cu. The Beijiang River basin is heavily polluted, posing environmental risks for the downstream reaches of the Pearl River, and economic loss to the whole watershed.

Ecological Risk and Economic Loss Estimation of Heavy Metals Pollution in The Beijiang River

Guanghua School of Management Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

Jiangxi Provincial Center for Environment Monitoring, Nanchang 330077, China

School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241003, China

College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China, phone +86 15871384900

Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430070, China

Ecological Chemistry and Engineering S

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Ocena Ryzyka Ekologicznego I Strat Ekonomicznych Wynikających Z Zanieczyszczenia Metalami Ciężkimi Rzeki Beijiang

The distribution and extent of heavy metal accumulation in the fluvial sediment of the Beijiang River are described. The potential toxicity of this pollution...

Ecological Risk and Economic Loss Estimation of Heavy Metals Pollution in The Beijiang River

Published Online: Jul 08, 2014

Page range: 189 - 199

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eces-2014-0015

Keywords
ecological risk assessment, economic loss estimation, heavy metals, sediment, ecosystem service, Beijiang River

© 2014 Jiajun He et. al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Ecological Risk and Economic Loss Estimation of Heavy Metals Pollution in The Beijiang River

Published Online: Jul 08, 2014

Page range: 189 - 199

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eces-2014-0015

Keywordsecological risk assessment, economic loss estimation, heavy metals, sediment, ecosystem service, Beijiang River

© 2014 Jiajun He et. al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
ecological risk assessment, economic loss estimation, heavy metals, sediment, ecosystem service, Beijiang River