How does Three Gorges Dam regulate heavy metal footprints in the largest freshwater lake of China

Hua Wang; Weihao Yuan; Yichuan Zeng; Dongfang Liang; Yanqing Deng; Xinyue Zhang; Yuanyuan Li

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118313

How does Three Gorges Dam regulate heavy metal footprints in the largest freshwater lake of China

Environ Pollut. 2022 Jan 1;292(Pt A):118313. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118313. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Authors

Hua Wang¹, Weihao Yuan², Yichuan Zeng², Dongfang Liang³, Yanqing Deng⁴, Xinyue Zhang², Yuanyuan Li²

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. Electronic address: wanghua543543@163.com.
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.
³ Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK.
⁴ Water Quality Department, Jiangxi Hydrological Bureau, Nanchang, 330000, China.

PMID: 34634400
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118313

Abstract

Herein, a two-dimensional (2-D) vertically-averaged hydrodynamic model was applied to study the heavy metal particle footprints pre- and post-Three Gorges Dam (TGD) in Poyang Lake. Two defined indexes-Reserve Impact Index (σ_RII) and Species Impact Index (η_SII) were applied to assess the potential impact of the copper footprint on nature reserves and sensitive species quantitatively. The results demonstrated that the movement speed, distribution, and trajectory of copper particle footprints differed enormously pre- and post-TGD. By contrast, the post-TGD footprints were more complex because of the dam-induced variations in hydrology and meteorology. TGD had both pros and cons for the copper footprint on the reserves based on the results of σ_RII. It had changed the way for the transport of heavy metals and altered the patterns of exposure risk in the reserves. Sustainable management of Poyang Lake could be achieved by optimizing daily monitoring works. The η_SII for Finless Porpoises do not differ significantly between scenarios, but the η_SII for Siberian White Cranes increased by 0.92 and 0.83 for the two periods pre- and post-TGD, respectively. Heavy metals in food sources and the excreta of Siberian White Cranes could be of great concern in future studies. This study provides a theoretical basis for the in-depth study of the TGD-induced impact on Poyang Lake and provides a reference for the long-term treatment of Poyang Lake and the protection of key species.

Keywords: Footprint; Heavy metal; Particle tracking; Poyang Lake; Three Gorges Dam.

MeSH terms

Animals
Birds
China
Environmental Monitoring
Hydrology
Lakes*
Metals, Heavy* / analysis

Substances

Metals, Heavy