Pollution characteristics and ecological risks associated with heavy metals in the Fuyang river system in North China

The Fuyang River system (FRS) in north China, for a long time, is seriously polluted with organic compounds and heavy metals due to industrialization. However, the information on heavy metal pollution in this area is still limited, and health risks raised by trace elements are neglected up to now. To characterize the heavy metal pollutants and assess their potential ecological risks scientifically in FRS, surface sediments were collected from 66 sampling sites selected according to the hydrological and anthropogenic conditions along the river. A total of twelve metal pollutants (e.g., Cr, As, and Hg) in the sediments were detected among the distributaries. A combining application of geoaccumulation index (Igeo), ratio of secondary phase and primary phase (RSP), and the ecological risk factor (Eri) in this study gave systematic assessment results of single or combined pollution status raised by heavy metals in this area. The results show that Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, Co, and Sn are mainly dispersed in the river reaches of Xingtai City and pose potential health risks in midstream, as per the geoaccumulation index and Pearson’s correlation analyses. In particular, Cd accumulates strongly in sediments of Ming River and Aixinzhuang dam from Xingtai City. In upstream and downstream of FRS, the potential ecological risk is low, except in Yongnian County where high ecological risk was caused by Cd and Hg. These findings provide new insights into the pollution characteristics and assessment of the potential ecological risks induced by heavy metals along FRS, which suggest new directions should strategically tend to typical pollutants control by policy formulation and taking effective measures to prevent and manage heavy metal pollution in North China. [Display omitted] •Multiple heavy metals pollution in FRS in North China was surveyed and assessed.•Distribution and pollution status of heavy metals in the FRS were characterized.•The health risk raised by heavy metals along the FRS was systematically evaluated.•The correlations between pollution and human activities along the river was built. Heavy metal pollution in Fuyang river system in North China are systematically characterized and the ecological risks are assessed through Igeo, RSP, and Eri.