Exploring the dynamics of Cu transported from the Yangtze River to the East China Sea

Xiaoyu Zhang; Hua Wang; Fengnian Zhou; Bao Li; Wenming Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111250

Exploring the dynamics of Cu transported from the Yangtze River to the East China Sea

Mar Pollut Bull. 2020 Jul:156:111250. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111250. Epub 2020 May 13.

Authors

Xiaoyu Zhang¹, Hua Wang², Fengnian Zhou³, Bao Li³, Wenming Zhang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
² Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China. Electronic address: wanghua543543@163.com.
³ Hydrology and Water Resources Survey Bureau of Yangtze River Estuary, Shanghai 200120, China.
⁴ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 1H9, AB, Canada.

PMID: 32510392
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111250

Abstract

We used a section-segment method to determine the copper (Cu) fluxes from the Yangtze River to the East China Sea during 2012-2016 in this study, including the maximum, minimum and mean annual fluxes of dissolved and suspended Cu. The Cu fluxes exhibited a pronounced inter-annual variability. June was characterized with the highest monthly dissolved and suspended Cu fluxes, while the lowest monthly Cu fluxes was in February. The monthly Cu concentration and Cu fluxes both increased from January to June and decreased from July to December. The monthly Cu fluxes showed a positive correlation with the water flux and monthly mean Cu concentration; however, it had a negative correlation with the ratio of tidal flux to river runoff flux. Both natural (53%) and anthropogenic inputs (32.8%) were the main sources of Cu. The discharges of industrial and domestic sewage wastewater were the main anthropogenic factors affecting the entry of Cu.

Keywords: Copper (Cu); Heavy metals; Transport; Yangtze River estuary.

MeSH terms

China
Environmental Monitoring
Rivers*
Wastewater
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

Waste Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical