Evaluation of heavy metals contamination in sediments of Shuangqiao River, Xiaoqinling gold belt, China

The concentration and distribution of selected heavy metals in sediments of Shuangqiao River, Xiaoqinling gold belt are studied to determine the extent of anthropogenic inputs from mining activities, The analysis shows that the mean heavy-metal concentrations (mg/kg)are various : Cu(32.3-3240), Pb(51.0-218254), Zn(32.0-9000 ), Cd(0.2-90), Cr(1.4-178), As(0.8-25) and Hg(0.04-245), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Index of Geo-accumulation (Igeo) and the Enrichment Factors (EFs) for Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and Hg are high. In particular, Hg and Pb pollution is the heaviest than others; this reflects the intensity of anthropogenic inputs related to mining discharge into the area. The concentration of heavy metals reported in this paper will be useful as baselines for comparison in future sediment quality studies.