Open AccessDistribution and Potential Ecological Risk Assessment of Four Light Rare Earth Elements in the Anning River Located in Sichuan Province, China
Author(s) -
X. M. Wang,
Jiancheng Hu,
Chong Peng,
Wanyu Wen,
Haijun Ou
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iop conference series. earth and environmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1755-1307
pISSN - 1755-1315
DOI - 10.1088/1755-1315/849/1/012001
Subject(s) - rare earth , china , sediment , environmental science , geography , environmental chemistry , rare earth element , distribution (mathematics) , hydrology (agriculture) , ecology , mathematics , chemistry , biology , mineralogy , geology , geomorphology , archaeology , geotechnical engineering , mathematical analysis
In order to investigate the distribution of rare earth elements (REEs) in the Anning River, 48 surface water and 16 sediment samples were collected. The elements La, Ce, Pr and Nd were analyzed. Risk Quotient and Potential Ecological Risk index were used to assess the ecological risk in the Anning River. The results showed that total REEs concentrations (La, Ce, Pr, and Nd) varied from 1.43 μg/L to 24.30 μg/L in surface water, and from 74.86 mg/kg to 1542.16 mg/kg in sediments. Average RQ values displayed the order: Ce > La > Pr > Nd. The RQ values of all REEs exceeded 1 at 7 sites. In addition, the resulting RQ values for La were higher than 1 at 14 sites (87.50%). The average potential ecological risk of REEs in the Anning River indicated a high risk level (RI=44.40), mainly in sections S4-S6. The rare earth element Pr was the element that contributed the most to the Potential Ecological Risk index. Ecological risk should not be ignored. Thus, further studies are urgently required.