Scholarlink

Purpose <p>Himalayan river basins are crucial for water and sediment transport, supporting millions of people and influencing ecological health. However, the distribution, sources, and contamination levels of trace elements (TEs) in these regions remain poorly understood. This study assesses the spatial distribution, contamination levels, and sources of TEs in fluvial sediments of the Gandaki River Basin (GRB), Central Himalayas, Nepal.</p> Materials and methods <p>A total of 75 sediment samples from riverbed (R0), floodplain (R1), and terrace (R2) were analyzed. TE concentrations were measured, and contamination levels were evaluated using indices such as pollution load index (PLI), geo-accumulation index (I<sub>geo</sub>), and enrichment factor (E<sub>f</sub>). Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis were used to distinguish natural and anthropogenic sources of TEs.</p> Results and discussion <p>TE concentrations varied, following the order: Ti &gt; Ba &gt; Sr &gt; Rb &gt; Zn &gt; Cr &gt; V &gt; Li &gt; Y &gt; Ni &gt; Cu &gt; Pb &gt; As &gt; Sc &gt; Co &gt; Cs &gt; U &gt; Mo &gt; Tl &gt; Cd. Moderate to high contamination was observed for Cr, Cu, and Mo, with 12% of samples exceeding TEC and PEC for As and Cr, indicating potential environmental risks. Higher TE levels on the leeward (U-) side were linked to weathering of metal-rich materials and long-range transport processes.</p> Conclusions <p>The study highlighted ecological risks from TE contamination in the GRB, stressing the need for pollution control, sustainable river basin management, and further research to mitigate environmental hazards.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Trace elements in fluvial sediments of the Gandaki River Basin, Central Himalaya, Nepal: distribution, sources, and risk assessment

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月16日

查看全文
  • Ramesh Raj Pant,
  • Fan Zhang,
  • Faizan Ur Rehman Qaiser,
  • Memet Varol,
  • Diwakar Adhikari,
  • Guanxing Wang,
  • Ahmed M. Saqr,
  • Kiran Bishwakarma

摘要

Purpose

Himalayan river basins are crucial for water and sediment transport, supporting millions of people and influencing ecological health. However, the distribution, sources, and contamination levels of trace elements (TEs) in these regions remain poorly understood. This study assesses the spatial distribution, contamination levels, and sources of TEs in fluvial sediments of the Gandaki River Basin (GRB), Central Himalayas, Nepal.

Materials and methods

A total of 75 sediment samples from riverbed (R0), floodplain (R1), and terrace (R2) were analyzed. TE concentrations were measured, and contamination levels were evaluated using indices such as pollution load index (PLI), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), and enrichment factor (Ef). Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis were used to distinguish natural and anthropogenic sources of TEs.

Results and discussion

TE concentrations varied, following the order: Ti > Ba > Sr > Rb > Zn > Cr > V > Li > Y > Ni > Cu > Pb > As > Sc > Co > Cs > U > Mo > Tl > Cd. Moderate to high contamination was observed for Cr, Cu, and Mo, with 12% of samples exceeding TEC and PEC for As and Cr, indicating potential environmental risks. Higher TE levels on the leeward (U-) side were linked to weathering of metal-rich materials and long-range transport processes.

Conclusions

The study highlighted ecological risks from TE contamination in the GRB, stressing the need for pollution control, sustainable river basin management, and further research to mitigate environmental hazards.

Graphical abstract