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Abstract Suspended particulate matter (SPM) samples were collected at Kenli in the lower reach of the Huanghe daily during the water-sediment regulation event (WSRE) in June-July 2009 and monthly from April 2010 to November 2011. The concentrations of metal elements (Al, Fe, Mn, K, Na, Ca, Cr, Cu, Ni, V, Zn) were determined by ICP-AES after digestion. The chemical weathering of suspended particles and the distributions of particulate heavy metals and their pollution status in the lower reach of the Huanghe are presented in this manuscript. Chemical index of alteration (CIA) is widely used to assess the degree of silicate weathering of the particles in the drainage basin. The CIA results in the lower reach of the Huanghe indicate that the chemical weathering of the partilces is moderate and there's nosignificant variation compared with historical data. The concentrations of particulate heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, V, Zn) were higher in winter than in summer and were lower during the WSRE than the later stage. The seasonal and daily variations were mainly caused by the dilution of resuspended particulate matter and the grain-size effect. Enrichment factor (EF) results showed that Zn was moderate polluted while other heavy metals remained at natural levels. Three factors are extracted to explain the chemical composition of particulate matter, which are chemical weathering, variations of riverine runoff and human activity.
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Received: 06 February 2015
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