The assessment on the heavy metal pollution and health risks in the liujiangriver under the xijiang river region

Abstract

The research aimed to investigate on the quality of the Liujiang River in Guangxi Province.Concentrations of heavy metals, including Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, As, Ni, Sb, and Tl, in the Liujiang Riverwater were analyzed for studying the distribution and risks of heavy metal pollutants in this area. Themethods of Nemerow comprehensive index and the risk assessment model for health were used toevaluate the water quality and the health risk severity caused by heavy metals in the Liujiang River.The results demonstrated that the water quality of each of the 9 tested points met the concentrationrequirement for heavy metals in the grade II. The water samples collected on tested points on theLiujiang River were clean and proved not to be polluted by heavy metals. According to the collecteddata, the concentrations of heavy metals As and Zn were lower than Cd, Pb, and Cu in the LiujiangRiver, but still lower than the maximum acceptable level of 5.0 × 10–5 a–1. The water quality in comprehensivepollution index and health risk value of heavy metals changed consistently. The qualityof the upstream was much better based on the results. As, as the major pollutant of the health risk ofLiujiang river, should be managed more strictly for preventing and controlling environmental risk inthe Liujiang River.