Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Sediment from Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal

Sediments contaminated by heavy metals (HMS) pose detrimental effects on both the public health and ecosystem. In our study, sediment samples were collected from Hangzhou Section of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Based on heavy metals concentrations measured, the pollution status assessments were conducted adopting three methods namely the Nemerow index (PN), single factor index (Pi) and potential ecological risk index(RI). The order of concentration of heavy metals investigated is as follows: Zn>Cd>Cu≈As≈Pb≈Ni≈Cr. T2 and T7 sites had high level pollution based on PN characterized by Zn and Cd accumulation. Based on the findings of the RI assessment, site T2 reached a higher risk level toward the human and ecological environment in which Cd was the chief contributor