Twenty sediment cores encompassing surface (0-20 cm) and deeper (50-60 cm) sediment layers were retrieved from the 3000 m-long Laoxiawan Channel, which receives industrial effluents from Zhuzhou City (China). Analytical results showed that cadmium (Cd) concentrations ranged between 115.7-1126.7 and 108.8-2059.3 mg/kg while lead (Pb) values ranged between 234-3000 and 145-4292 mg/kg in the surface and bottom sediments, respectively. The results also indicated that high levels of Cd and Pb were present in the vicinity of the channel mouth and confluence area. Indices for potential ecological risk and geo-accumulation were used to evaluate the environmental effects and intensity of heavy metal pollution over time. High concentrations of Cd and Pb in the bottom sediments of Laoxiawan Channel were mainly associated with wastewater discharge (10(6) m(3)/year). Thus, the Laoxiawan Channel may be an important metal contaminant source for the Xiang River.
Keywords: Cd; Geo-accumulation index; Laoxiawan Channel sediments; Pb; Potential ecological risk index.