Estimation of anthropogenic proportion of heavy metals in bed sediments of the lowermost Xiangjiang river, Hunan province, China

It is based on the result of concentrations of trace elements and Pb isotope of geochemical analysis of sediments from the lowermost Xiangjiang river. The proportions of anthropogenic heavy metals enriched in the sediments are estimated based on both the element concentrations and the Pb isotopic composition. The results show that the anthropogenic proportions of heavy metals Bi, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, Sn and Sb are 92%∼97%, 50% ∼70%, 77%∼85%, 58%∼85%, 89%∼98%, 60%∼82%, 85%∼93% and 78%∼89%. Whereas the proportion of anthropogenic Pb estimated using the lead isotopic ratios is about 58%∼60%, which is 25% to 29%. According to the correction of elemental analysis, which is the results of the estimates of the lead isotope method, the anthropogenic proportions of heavy metals Bi, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, Sn and Sb are 69%∼73%, 37%∼53%, 58%∼64%, 44%∼64%, 67%∼73%, 45%∼61%, 63%∼70% and 58%∼67% respectively. (authors)