Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628
DOI 10.1007/s10661-016-5639-y
Heavy metal distribution and water quality characterization
of water bodies in Louisiana’s Lake Pontchartrain Basin, USA
Zengqiang Zhang & Jim J. Wang & Amjad Ali &
Ronald D. DeLaune
Received: 22 February 2016 / Accepted: 10 October 2016
# Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
Abstract The seasonal variation in physico-chemical
properties, anions, and the heavy metal (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu,
Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) concentration was evaluated in water
from nine different rivers in Lake Pontchartrain Basin,
Louisiana, USA. The water quality parameters were com-
pared with toxicity reference values (TRV), US Environ-
mental Protection Agency (USEPA) drinking/aquatic life
protection, and WHO standards. Among physico-chemical
properties, pH, DO, and turbidity were high during spring,
while, EC, temperature, and DOC were high during sum-
mer and vice versa. The anion study revealed that the
concentrations of F−, Cl−, and NO3− were higher during
summer and Br− and SO4− were higher during spring. Our
research findings showed anion concentration decreased in
the order of Cl− > SO4− > NO3− > Br− > F−, in accordance
with the global mean anion concentration. The dissolved
heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb) except Zn were
higher during spring than summer. None of the rivers
showed any Cd pollution for both seasons. Co showed
Z. Zhang (*) : A. Ali
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F
University, Taicheng Road 3#, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
e-mail: zhangzq58@126.com
J. J. Wang (*)
School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, Louisiana
State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
e-mail: JJWang@agcenter.lsu.edu
R. D. DeLaune
Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, School of
Coast and Environment, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge,
LA 70803-7511, USA
higher concentrations in Amite River, Mississippi River,
Industrial Canal, and Lacombe Bayou during summer. The
Cr concentration was higher than WHO drinking water
standards, implicating water unsuitability for drinking pur-
poses in all the rivers associated with the Lake
Pontchartrain Basin. Cu showed no pollution risk for the
study area. Mn and Co were similar to concentration in
Lacombe Bayou, Liberty Bayou, Blind River, and Indus-
trial Canal. Mn levels were greater than WHO standards
for the Tickfaw River, Tangipahoa River, and Blind River
in both seasons. Blind River, Tangipahoa River, Tickfaw
River, and Amite River will require more monitoring for
determining possible Mn pollution. Ni content in river
water during both seasons showed low pollution risk.
Liberty Bayou and Industrial Canal concentrations were
closer to the WHO regulatory standards, indicating possi-
ble risk of Pb pollution in these water bodies. The Zn
content was near the USEPA aquatic life standards in
summer for all water bodies. None of the rivers showed
any risk associated with Cd, Co, Cu, and Ni levels but
medium to higher risk to aquatic life from Cr and Zn for
both seasons for most of the rivers. Metal fractionation
revealed the decreasing order of inert > labile > organic.
The high inert fraction in the rivers under study reflects the
major contribution of natural sources in Lake Pontchartrain
Basin. The labile and organic forms of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn
pose potential higher risk to the aquatic life in the Lake
Pontchartrain Basin.
Keywords Heavy metals . Anions . Water quality . Lake
Pontchartrain
628 Page 2 of 14
Introduction
In recent years, heavy metal introduction to water bodies
has attracted global concern due to environmental risk,
high loads, and persistent nature (Islam et al. 2015;
Dhanakumar et al. 2015). Large quantities of hazardous
chemicals including heavy metals are released into
streams or water bodies due to rapid population growth
and intensive domestic activities, as well as expanding
industrial and agricultural production (Islam et al. 2015).
Aquatic ecosystems around the world have been affect-
ed by both natural and anthropogenic activities (Jain
2004; Zhang et al. 2009; Rahman et al. 2014; Nazeer
et al. 2014; Wang et al. 2015). Heavy metals are one of
the most common pollutants which have adversely im-
pacted many aquatic ecosystems (Ali et al. 2013).
Heavy metals can pose high risk to ecosystems due to
their persistent, biogeochemical effects, ecological im-
pacts, and bio-accumulative and non-biodegradable na-
ture (Jain 2004; Wang et al. 2015).
The bioavailability and toxicity of heavy metals are
affected by water chemistry. Concentration of metal
ions are strongly governed by biological processes,
redox potential, ionic strength, pH, activities of organic
and inorganic chelators, and scavenging processes
(Arain et al. 2008; Yang et al. 2012). The behavior
of heavy metals in aquatic environment depends large-
ly on their physico-chemical forms. Moreover, season-
al variation may also affect the exchange process
between sediment and water directly and indirectly
(Shomar et al. 2005). Metals are redistributed naturally
in the environment by both geologic and biologic
cycles. Many metals, especially those present in aquat-
ic environment, are known to accumulate in plant and
animal tissues to very high levels, posing a potential
risk to the organisms or even higher organisms in the
food chain including humans (Abel 1998; Islam et al.
2007). Evidence of heavy metal toxic effects has been
reported on fish and consumers of the contaminated
food (Pourang et al. 2005).
The most important trace and toxic elements from an
aquatic pollution perspective are Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn,
Ni, Pb, and Zn. Some of these metals (e.g., Co, Cr, Cu,
Ni, and Zn) are also essential trace nutrient for living
organisms to carry out their biological processes but are
toxic at high concentration (Nazeer et al. 2014). Others,
such as Cd and Pb have no known effects on biological
activity. It has been reported that Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn can
bio-accumulate in aquatic organism, leading to metal
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628
introduction in food chain (Larocque and Rasmussen
1998; Meador 2006).
Chemical, toxicological, and ecological approaches
have been used extensively in assessing impacts of
metals pollution in aquatic environments. To evaluate
the quality of the aquatic systems, toxic metals can be
determined in water, to confirm the source of toxicants.
Although most metals are naturally occurring through
biogeochemical cycles (Garrett 2000), they may also
enter the environment by anthropogenic sources, includ-
ing industrial and domestic effluents, surface water run-
off, landfill leachate, atmospheric source, and water
transport (Arain et al. 2008).
In aquatic systems, heavy metals are present in water
bodies as different species, such as dissolved ions or
complexes, suspended solid, and colloid ions. Reliable
measurements of metal fractionation are needed when
the behavior of trace metals in rivers are studied. A
number of methods are used for the metals speciation
in water system, including ion exchange (Chelex-100)
techniques for labile Amberlite XAD resins and anion
macroporous resin AG MP-1 for organic. Different
methods showed variation in the metal fractionation
using the various techniques. In the present study,
chelex-100 and AG MP-1 technique, developed by
Jiann and Presley (2002), which is a more common
method for metal fractionation in water system was
used.
Lake Pontchartrain is the largest Gulf Coast estuary
in coastal Louisiana, USA and is considered a highly
valued water resource. It is located near dense popula-
tion and industrial areas along the lower Mississippi
River, Amite River, Tickfaw River, Tangipahoa River,
Tchefuncta River, Lacombe Bayou, Liberty Bayou,
Blind River, and Industrial Canal. The water in these
rivers empties into Lake Pontchartrain, except the Mis-
sissippi River. The effects of influxes of these river
waters have created uncertainties and controversies
about its environmental impact to the estuary
(DeLaune et al. 2009). The contaminants, including
heavy metals, in these rivers water pose a potential risk
to the ecosystem in Lake Pontchartrain. But few studies
have been reported on the metal source of these rivers or
water bodies in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin.
The present study aimed to investigate the concentra-
tion of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn)
and their speciation in the main streams of Pontchartrain
Basin. Furthermore, the bioavailability and toxicity of
heavy metals were also assessed by different methods.
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628
Materials and methods
The research focuses on several water quality
parameters, including temperature, pH, electrical
conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), turbid-
ity, DOC, major anions, e.g., F−, Cl−, Br−, NO3−,
and SO42−, and eight trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr,
Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) partitioning at eight rivers in
the catchment area of Lake Pontchartrain plus the
Mississippi River adjacent to the western portion
of the Basin. The data obtained in our studies
were compared with the guideline values sug-
gested by World Health Organization (WHO
2011).
Water sampling and pretreatment
Eight sampling sites were chosen in the Lake
Pontchartrain Basin, Amite River, Tickfaw River,
Tangipahoa River, Tchefuncta River, Lacombe
Bayou, Liberty Bayou, Blind River as well as
Industrial Canal. Also, samples were collected
from the Mississippi River, which does not dis-
charge into Lake Pontchartrain, except during
major flood event in which flood water is
diverted into the Lake Pontchartrain through the
Bonnet Carre Spillway. The nine sampling loca-
tions are shown in Fig. 1. The water samples
collected on 10th February and 9th June 2009,
which represent the spring and the summer
months, respectively. The water samples were
collected and stored in two 1000 mL polypropyl-
ene bottles. Water samples collected were stored
Fig. 1 The sampling sites distribution in the associated rivers of Lake Pontchartrain
Page 3 of 14 628
in an insulated cooler containing ice and deliv-
ered to the laboratory the same day and kept at
4 °C before processing and analysis. For each
water samples, one bottle was used for heavy
metal partition analysis, another one for dissolved
heavy metal, anions, turbidity, and DOC analysis.
Water analysis
The river water sample physico-chemical parame-
ters including pH, EC, DO, and temperature were
measured in situ with a hand-held YSI (Model
556, YSI Inc. USA) at 10 cm below the water
surface, and the turbidity was analyzed using
Hach Turbidimeter in laboratory. The water sam-
ples for DOC and dissolved items measurement
was passed through a 0.45-μm pore size filter
membrane. The DOC was determined in labora-
tory using Shimadzu TOC-V vch Total Organic
Carbon Analyzer. The dissolved anions were mea-
sured using Dionex ICS 2000 Ion Chromatograph.
The dissolved heavy metals were analyzed by
ELAN9000 ICP-MS (PERKINELMER SCIEX)
after HNO3 acidification.
Heavy metal partitioning analysis
The labile and organic fractions in dissolved
phase were determined based on a partitioning
procedure using resin column (Jiann and Presley
2002), as shown in Fig. 2. Aliquots of 2.0 g of
Chelex-100 (analytical grade, 100–200 mesh, so-
dium form) and 1.0 g of AG MP-1 (analytical
628 Page 4 of 14
Packing Chelex-100 and AG MP-1 columns with dilute HNO3
Washing the two columns with NH4OH, transform the Chelex-100 and
AG MP-1 Resin to NH4+ and OH- forms respectivly.
Washing the resin columns with DI water and connecting the two
columns in series with Chelex-100 on top, AG MP-1 beneath it.
Using peristaltic pump to drive the water sample go through the
connected columns. The flow rate were controlled at 2~3ml/min.
After all the sample passed through the column set, the columns were
disconnected and washed with DI water.
Washing the columns with NH4Ac, removing the
ions(Na+,Ca2+,Mg2+,K+) from the target elements.
Washing the columns with DI water again.
The trace metals adsorbed on the Resin columns were eluted by dilute
HNO3. Counting the volume of the eluent and then analyzing the
solution with ICP-MS or ICP-AES.
Fig. 2 The process flow diagram of trace metal partition
grade, 100–200 mesh, chloride form), both weighed
out directly from original packing, were separately
slurry packed into Poly-Prep columns (Bio-Rad) in
2 N HNO3. Resins were converted to NH4+ and OH−
forms, respectively, by washing each column with
10 mL of 1 M NH4OH solution. After being washed
with distilled water, the two columns were connect-
ed with the Chelex-100 column on top. Each sample
was then connected to a column placed through a
50-cm section of silicon tube, with the sample bottle
being set 30 cm higher than the top of the column
set, flow was initiated by gravity, and flow rates
were controlled at 2–3 mL min−1 by two-way stop-
cocks. After each sample passed through the column
set, the columns were disconnected and washed with
distilled water (2 × 5 mL). Major ions (Na, Ca, Mg,
K) were separated from target elements by washing
the columns with 5 × 4 mL of 1 M ammonium
acetate at pH 5.5. After washing again with distilled
water (2 × 5 mL), trace metals were eluted by 7 mL
of 2 N HNO 3 . This procedure resulted in pre-
concentration factors of up to 150 with a 1000-mL
sample and has the advantage of one-step pre-con-
centration yielding two fractions of trace metals, in a
medium free from matrix interference.
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628
The bed volumes of the columns were 4.0 mL (ID
7 mm, length 10 cm) for Chelex-100, varying through-
out the sample passing process, and 1.56 mL (ID 7 mm,
length 4 cm) for AG MP1 (1.0-g packing amounts),
giving contact times of 10–20 s at flow rates of 2–
3 mL min−1. The species separated by the described
ion exchange method are operationally defined as labile
(Chelex-100), organic (AG MP-1), and inert (with re-
spect to Chelex-100 and AG MP1 resins). The eluent
was quantified for volume and analyzed using ICP-MS
or ICP-AES.
Analytical quality control
major
The ELAN9000 ICP-MS was used to detect the water
heavy metal concentration, and its detection limit for
Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 0.02, 0.001,
0.05, 0.005, 0.002, 0.004, 0.004, and 0.02 μg L−1, re-
spectively. The heavy metal concentration in river water
ranged within the instrumental detection limits. The
anion detection limits of Dionex ICS 2000 Ion Chro-
matograph for F−, Cl−, Br−, NO3−, and SO42− were 3,
10, 3, 10, and 10 μg L−1, respectively. All reagents for
treatment of samples during heavy metal analysis were
suprapure or ultrapure grade, supplied by Sigma-
Aldrich (USA). All solutions were prepared using
Milli-Q deionized water. For quality control, analytical
blanks and certified reference (Lab Quality Control
Standard, QC-2 and QC-4) with known concentrations
(5 and 10 ppb for every element) were prepared and
analyzed using the same procedures and reagents. The
QC-2/QC-4 was run at an interval of 15 samples, and if
the relative differences of any element were more than
20 %, the process should be stopped and cross checked.
The results of our determination were acceptable.
Results and discussions
Physico-chemical properties of water
The physico-chemical characteristics of water samples
collected from the different water bodies are summa-
rized in Tables 1 and 2.
The data showed that the pH during spring is com-
paratively higher than the summer in water samples
collected from the different rivers. The pH was slightly
acidic (6.37–7.03) and alkaline (7.20–8.07) during sum-
mer and spring, respectively. The water pH within the
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628 Page 5 of 14 628

Table 1 Physico-chemical characteristics of river water

River name pH EC (μS cm−1) Temperature (°C) DO (mg L−1) Turbidity (NTU) DOC (mg L−1)

Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer

Mississippi River 7.71 6.44 266.8 359.9 5.80 26.4 15.5 5.29 46.3 24.23 18.3 14.8
Amite River 7.69 6.68 136.3 166.9 14.8 27.7 7.77 5.80 14.3 7.71 16.3 8.27
Tickfaw River 7.78 6.67 88.60 112.5 15.9 26.0 8.14 6.30 16.7 17.2 13.8 6.21
Tangipahoa River 7.20 6.76 45.30 55.80 16.80 27.6 7.92 9.53 7.30 11.4 5.02 6.82
Tchefuncta River 7.42 7.03 2961 1976 15.6 28.6 8.26 6.77 6.24 4.32 12.2 16.7
Lacombe Bayou 7.45 6.79 4660 3941 17.8 30.0 8.41 8.24 4.42 3.72 16.7 24.8
Liberty Bayou 8.07 6.76 6590 6590 17.3 30.1 10.3 5.32 8.55 6.69 23.5 16.2
Blind River 7.99 6.37 503.0 1254 16.2 28.1 4.47 2.64 11.5 20.3 41.0 30.7
Industrial Canal 7.78 6.53 10,170 10,110 14.7 28.2 8.09 6.66 3.78 3.57 15.4 11.7
−1
Public supply 6.5–8.5 1.3 (mS cm ) NS >4
Recreation 6.5–8.5 4
Aquatic life 6.5–9.0 8–28 5.5
Irrigation 6.5–8.5 3000 >4
WHO (2011) 7.0–8.5 750 (μS cm−1) 6

NS no health-based guideline values recommended

safe limit (6.5–8.5) is acceptable for outdoor bathing
and considered safe for the skin and organs like eyes,
nose, and ears (Sharma et al. 2014). Similar trend in pH
was reported by Islam et al. (2015). Precipitation of
dissolved of Cd and other cations could be a possible
reason for the higher pH in the spring (Jain 2004). The
pH affects biochemical processes and is an important
indicator of environmental quality and pollution level in
water system (Singh et al. 2005; Kannel et al. 2007;
Nazeer et al. 2014). The acidic nature of river water
would have no detrimental effects on the water quality
and to organisms, which emphasizes the need to pay

Table 2 The concentration of anions in river water of Lake Pontchartrain Basin (mg L−1)

River name F− Cl− Br− NO3− SO42−

Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer

Mississippi river 0.1112 0.0054 34.66 19.03 1.252 0.2937 8.614 5.660 40.09 29.52
Amite River 0.0532 0.0995 37.50 35.68 0.4045 0.4702 1.111 0.1844 5.740 4.481
Tickfaw River 0.0629 ND 11.31 20.80 0.4482 0.3753 0.7023 2.466 6.680 6.649
Tangipahoa River 0.0454 0.0750 5.567 14.04 0.4348 0.3250 1.243 1.977 1.833 1.466
Tchefuncta River 0.2135 0.3270 1517 495.4 5.081 3.740 2.916 2.810 134.8 65.83
Lacombe Bayou 0.1456 0.3790 2261 954.0 7.081 6.419 0.2366 3.245 198.4 134.7
Liberty Bayou 0.2059 0.3510 2397 1542 8.977 8.891 0.0990 2.617 257.3 233.0
Blind River 0.1969 ND 170.7 301.9 1.385 4.057 1.005 2.822 9.711 17.91
Industrial Canal 0.2678 ND 4139 2961 13.98 25.66 2.560 8.891 547.1 419.1
Public supply (mg L−1) 5 10 400
Recreation (mg L−1) 400
Aquatic life (mg L−1) 120 2.93
Irrigation (mg L−1) 100–250 10 960
WHO (mg L−1) 1.5 200 0.01 11 250

ND not detectable, NA not available

628 Page 6 of 14
attention to river water in spring (Wang et al. 2015). The
alkaline pH in Liberty Bayou may possibly be attributed
to the disposal and delocalization of industrial wastes,
domestic waste water contamination, presence of chem-
ical detergent, release of bicarbonate, carbonate ions,
and limestone bed rocks (Mona and Shuchi 2012;
Vieira et al. 2013; Sharma et al. 2014). Overall, the pH
in all the rivers during both seasons is within the pre-
scribed standards. The EC was higher during summer.
Higher EC level during summer indicate higher salinity
in the rivers. High salinity can also be attributed to high
evaporation in summer, which accelerates the accumu-
lation of salts in water (Jiang et al. 2015). The EC of
Tchefuncta River, Lacombe Bayou, Liberty Bayou,
Blind River, and Industrial Canal is higher than the
standard of WHO limits (750 μS cm−1), reflecting pos-
sible higher pollution level, and/or salt water intrusion
from the lower basin and its unsuitability for drinking
purposes (WHO 2011; Mona and Shuchi 2012; Sharma
et al. 2014). The high EC could also be due to higher
concentration of prevalence of ions like Cl− shown in
Table 2. River water temperature was higher during
summer than the spring months. The longer photoperiod
in summer increases the temperature of the river water.
As a result, the rising temperature not only affects the
solubility of the ions in water bodies but also increased
EC by evaporation of river water. The temperature was
within the limit (8–28 °C), which favors aquatic life
during both seasons. The DO during spring sampling
was higher than summer months, except for the
Tangipahoa River. It is believed that the higher temper-
ature in summer contributes to the reduction of DO in
the water. DO and temperature are inversely correlated
for all sampling sites. DO concentration was lower
during summer and higher in spring months. The deple-
tion of oxygen could influence biological activities and
reduces oxygen solubility supported by the warmer
temperature. Moreover, when water temperature in-
creases, DO holding capacity of water can decrease
due to rapid saturation (Hou et al. 2013). The observed
low DO (<5 mg L−1) values, especially in Blind River
during summer and spring showed the poor water qual-
ity and unsuitability for drinking (Sharma et al. 2014).
Our results are in consensus with the work of Kong and
Ye (2014), who also reported a positive correlation
between elevated temperature and decreased DO.
The water turbidity reported in this study was gener-
ally higher during spring than the summer. Fresh water
introduction from major rainfall events might be a
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628
possible reason of high turbidity in these rivers, which
lead to high turbidity from water disturbance. The
highest turbidity (46.3 NTU) and DO (15.5 mg L−1)
reported in Mississippi River is likely due to the carriage
of the suspended sediment load of the drainage basin
(Alonso et al. 2004). The measured DOC was generally
higher during spring than summer in most rivers. Higher
temperature in summer favors the microbial degradation
of organic matter and decrease DOC in the water. The
samples collected from Tangipahoa River, Tchefuncta
River, and Lacombe Bayou showed higher DOC during
summer than in spring. A possible reason may be the
disposal of sewage and industrial wastes in these rivers
(Jain 2004).
Anions concentration in river water
The anions concentration in the water samples collected
from the Lake Pontchartrain Basin is presented in Ta-
ble 2. The anion contents were higher in case of F−, Cl−,
and NO3−, in the summer, whereas Br− and SO42− were
greater in the spring. The F− level was below the WHO
standards (1.5 mg L−1) in all the rivers for both seasons,
showed no likely adverse effects to aquatic life and the
environment (WHO 2011). The Cl− content was greater
than health-based guideline value (5 mg L−1) and fresh
water aquatic life, irrigation, and WHO standards (100–
250 mg L−1) in the Tchefuncta River, Lacombe Bayou,
Liberty Bayou, Blind River, and Industrial Canal. This
demonstrates the potential high risk of Cl− ion and salt
introduction into these rivers, which led to higher EC
values as shown in Table 1. Higher Cl− ion concentra-
tion is attributed to discharge from domestic sewage
(Sharma et al. 2014).
The NO3− concentration was lower than the WHO
permissible level (10 mg L−1) for drinking in all the
rivers during both seasons. Meanwhile, the concentra-
tion of NO3− was higher than the permissible limit for
aquatic life (2.93 mg L −1 ) in Mississippi River,
Lacombe Bayou, and Industrial Canal during spring
and summer, respectively. The SO42− concentration
was lower than international standard limit in all the
rivers, except Liberty Bayou and Industrial Canal. The
SO42− concentration was higher in these two rivers than
the WHO standards (250 mg L−1) during both seasons.
Anthropogenic activities like fertilizer use, domestic
sewage, atmospheric sources, and salt water intrusion
could be responsible for the higher concentration
(Sharma et al. 2014). A possible reason for the
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628
fluctuation is that anions can be sensitive to temperature
changes. It is obvious from Tables 1 and 2 that EC, F−,
Cl−, and NO3− was higher in the summer. As compared
with the spring, anthropogenic activities might also be a
possible source of anions in river water (Alonso et al.
2004). Klavins et al. (2000) reported seasonal changes
in water chemistry and the heavy metal fraction profile.
Our research findings showed the anion concentration
decreased in the order of Cl− > SO4− > NO3− > Br− > F−.
These findings are supported by work of Sharma et al.
(2014) on the Ganges River. Our findings are also in
consensus with the reported global mean anion concen-
trations (Jiang et al. 2015). Major ion sources are mainly
derived from atmospheric deposition, chemical
weathering of rocks, evaporation-crystallization pro-
cess, and anthropogenic input in rivers. Runoff from
the agricultural fields, domestic sewage, and salt water
intrusion from the lower basin of coastal system could
contribute to the increased level of these ions (Sharma
et al. 2014; Jiang et al. 2015; Zhang et al. 2016).
Temporal variation in concentration of dissolved heavy
metals in river water
The seasonal variation in the concentration of dissolved
heavy metals in water samples collected from nine
different rivers in Lake Pontchartrain Basin is presented
in Table 3. Frequent use of polluted river water increases
the risk to human health. WHO has reported about 80 %
of human diseases, caused by drinking contaminated
water (Sharma et al. 2014). All heavy metals (Cd, Co,
Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb) except Zn showed higher concen-
tration during the spring than summer sampling. The
concentrations of heavy metals were compared with the
international protocols, including toxicity reference val-
ue (TRV) (USEPA 1999), WHO (2011), USEPA Drink-
ing Water (2006), USEPA Aquatic Life Protection Wa-
ter Quality Standards (Nazeer et al. 2014).
The Cd concentration was higher in spring than the
summer in all the rivers except the Tchefuncta River and
Blind River. The same Cd level (0.2 μg L−1) during
spring was measured in the Mississippi River, Amite
River, Liberty Bayou, and Industrial Canal. The lowest
Cd content (0.1 μg L−1) was measured at the remaining
stations. In summer, 0.1 μg L−1 Cd was measured in
most of the rivers. The Cd concentration was lower in all
rivers than the standard values of TRV (2000 μg L−1)
and WHO (3 μg L−1), indicating low Cd pollution in the
catchment area, leading to low enrichment of Cd in Lake
Page 7 of 14 628
Pontchartrain. But the highest Cd content (0.35 μg L−1)
was measured in the Tchefuncta River. This could be
due to the lower flow rate of water leading to the
precipitation of the metals (Islam et al. 2014).
The Co concentration was higher in all the rivers
during summer as compared with the spring except for
the Tickfaw River, Tangipahoa River, and Tchefuncta
River. The lowest and highest Co content (0.2,
0.85 μg L−1) during spring was reported in Tangipahoa
and Blind River, respectively. While, in the summer
sampling, the lowest and highest Co content (0.15 and
1.25 μg L−1) were measured in the Tangipahoa and
Blind River, respectively. These findings show that
Tangipahoa and Tchefuncta River are less polluted with
Co, as compared with the other rivers in the study area.
Based on our findings, the concentration of Cr was
higher in spring than in summer, except for the
Tchefuncta River. The Cr concentration during spring
fluctuated between 6.15 and 7.3 μg L−1in the Tickfaw
River and Industrial Canal, respectively. In contrast,
only a minor decrease was measured in all the other
rivers during summer. The concentration of Cr was
higher in the Tchefuncta River during summer. The Cr
concentration during spring and summer was higher
than the reported WHO standard level (5 μg L−1) for
drinking water and lower than TRV (11 μg L−1) (WHO
2011; USEPA 1999). These finding suggest that water
of the streams associated with Lake Pontchartrain are
not suitable for drinking purpose. Similar results were
reported for the Korotoa River by Islam et al. (2015).
The discharge of untreated sewage, poultry, and indus-
trial wastes could be a possible reason for the higher
concentration of Cr in the rivers (Facetti et al. 1998;
Kansal et al. 2013).
Cu concentration was generally higher during
spring than the summer in all rivers except for the
Tangipahoa and Tichfaw rivers. The maximum con-
centration (4.05 and 4.0 μg L−1) during spring was
measured in the Tichfaw and Tangipahoa rivers, re-
spectively. The Cu concentration was generally the
same during spring and summer in the Tangipahoa
River. In summer, the concentration fluctuated
between 2.15 and 4.2 μg L −1 in the Amite and
Tangipahoa rivers. The concentration of Cu was lower
than the reported WHO and TRV levels (2000,
9000 μg L−1, respectively). These findings suggest
low pollution risk from Cu in the catchment area asso-
ciated with the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. The high Cu
content might be due to domestic sewage and runoff
 628
Page 8 of 14

Table 3 The concentration of dissolved heavy metals in river water in spring and summer (μg L−1)

Sample name Cd Co Cr Cu Mn Ni Pb Zn

Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer

Mississippi River 0.21 0.20 0.30 0.75 6.60 6.10 2.75 2.40 1.40 25.0 1.30 2.45 6.85 5.2 34.4 252
Amite River 0.20 0.05 0.45 0.80 6.50 5.75 3.10 2.15 84.8 35.0 2.60 1.9 3.8 4.45 65.0 108
Tickfaw River 0.10 0.05 0.75 0.55 6.15 6.10 4.05 3.50 131 107 1.70 1.7 5.5 2.55 145 101
Tangipahoa River 0.15 0.15 0.20 0.15 6.8 6.45 4.00 4.20 80.3 54.0 2.50 2.75 5.6 5.3 78.4 228
Tchefuncta River 0.10 0.35 0.40 0.25 6.65 7.05 2.50 2.90 42.2 11.0 3.00 2.85 6.55 5.7 40.5 117
Lacombe Bayou 0.15 0.10 0.25 0.70 7.15 6.40 3.65 3.10 28.4 31.0 2.50 2.3 5.35 4.2 31.8 120
Liberty Bayou 0.20 0.10 0.45 0.50 7.30 6.85 2.95 2.45 22.5 23.0 2.70 2.05 8.15 6.05 31.2 70.0
Blind River 0.05 0.15 0.85 1.25 6.95 6.15 3.70 3.45 285 401 2.00 3.05 6.6 3.55 33.1 528
Industrial Canal 0.20 0.10 0.40 0.75 7.30 6.55 3.20 3.20 2.60 12.0 2.10 2.15 8.45 7.4 24.7 338
TRV (mg L−1) 2 (2000) NA 11 (11,000) 9 (9000) NA 52 (52,000) 3 (3000) NA
Public supply (mg L−1) 0.05 (50) NA 0.05 (50) 1.5 (1500) NA 0.1 (100) 0.05 (50) 5 (5000)
Recreation (mg L−1) 0.01 (10) NA 0.05 (50) 1.5 (1500) NA NA 0.01 (10) 15 (15,000)
Aquatic (mg L−1) 0.001 (1) NA 0.05 (50) 0.007 (7) 0.1 (100) 0.005 (5) 0.01 (10) 0.086 (86)
Irrigation (mg L−1) 0.010 (10) NA 0.01 (10) 0.2 (200) 0.2 (200) 0.2 (200) 0.1 (100) 2 (2000)
USEPA Drinking (mg L−1) 0.005 (5) NA 0.1 (100) 1.3 (1300) NA 0.1 (100) 0.015 (15) 2 (2000)
USEPA Aquatic life protection 0.001 (1) NA 0.16 (160) 0.004 (4) 0.050 (50) 0.145 (145) 0.014 (14) 0.050 (50)
(mg L−1)
WHO (2011) (mg L−1) 0.300 (3) 0.4 (400) 0.050 (50) 2 (2000) 0.1 (100) 0.070 (70) 0.010 (10) 0.5 (500)

Values in parenthesis show the standard values in micrograms per liter. WHO (2011) drinking water standards
TRV toxicity reference value for fresh water proposed by USEPA (1999), NA not available
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628
from farmed lands (Byrne and DeLeon 1987; Flocks
et al. 2009; Islam et al. 2014).
Measured Mn content was higher during summer
than spring in most cases. Mn and Co followed the same
trends in Lacombe Bayou, Liberty Bayou, Blind River,
and Industrial Canal. The lowest and highest Mn content
(11, 401 μg L−1) was reported in Tchefuncta River and
Blind River, respectively, during the summer. In spring,
the lowest and highest Mn content (1.4, 131 μg L−1) was
measured in the Mississippi and Tichfaw rivers, respec-
tively. The low temperature (5.8 °C) might be the reason
for low solubility of Mn in Mississippi in the spring. The
Mn concentration was higher than the standard values of
WHO and USEPA Aquatic life protection standards
(50–100 μg L−1) in the Amite River, Tickfaw River,
Tangipahoa River, and Blind River (WHO 2011; Nazeer
et al. 2014). These findings show the unsuitability of the
water for drinking purpose as well as posing as a poten-
tial high risk to aquatic life in these rivers. Anthropo-
genic activities might be potential sources of Mn in the
Lake Pontchartrain Basin (Herndon and Brantley 2011).
Ni concentration was higher during spring than sum-
mer in all the rivers. The Ni concentration during spring
ranged from 1.3 to 3.0 μg L−1 in the Mississippi and
Tchefuncta rivers, respectively. In summer, the Ni level
was greater in Blind River than the highest concentra-
tion (3.0 μg L−1) during spring and remained constant in
Tickfaw River during both seasons. The Ni level was far
less than the reported TRV and WHO standards for
drinking water (70 and 52,000 μg L−1, respectively),
representing a low risk for Ni pollution in Lake
Pontchartrain Basin (USEPA 1999; WHO 2011).
Pb levels were higher during spring than summer,
excluding the Amite River. Meanwhile, Pb content in
Industrial Canal was higher (8.45 and 7.4 μg L−1) than
all other rivers for both seasons. The highest and lowest
Pb concentration (8.45, 3.8 μg L−1) was measured in
Industrial Canal and Amite River during spring, respec-
tively. The concentration of Pb in both seasons was
lower than TRV (USEPA 1999) and WHO (2011) stan-
dards (10, 3000 μg L−1, respectively) for drinking water,
showing low Pb risk from water pollution.
Only Zn level was higher during summer than spring.
This finding is obviously against the trends followed by
all other metals in the present study. The highest and
lowest (528, 70.0 μg L−1) Zn was observed in Blind
River and Liberty Bayou, respectively. Only Blind Riv-
er had a higher concentration than the WHO standard
limit (500 μg L−1) during summer. In general, the
Page 9 of 14 628
concentration of Zn was higher than CCME limit
(50 μg L−1) during summer in all the rivers (CCME
2007). This might be due to the high solubility of Zn at
higher temperatures. Similar trend in the concentration
of Zn was reported by Harguinteguy et al. (2014).
Overall, our findings reflect that the concentration of
dissolved metals in the different rivers was higher dur-
ing spring than summer due to the lower water flow in
winter, which could help to accumulate/precipitate the
heavy metals at high levels (Islam et al. 2014). The
lower levels of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cu, and Ni) during
summer might be due to the dilution effect of additional
rain water in river (Mohiuddin et al. 2012; Islam et al.
2015). Differences in the concentration of the heavy
metals during different seasons have also been reported
by Vega and Weng (2013).
Trace metal partitioning in river water
The trace metals can be categorized into three categories
namely, labile, organic, and inert forms. The speciation
pattern of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn)
in the water samples of different rivers in Lake
Pontchartrain Basin is given in Fig. 3.
The variation in the forms of Cd can be observed in
both seasons. The organic form of Cd has increased in
the Amite River, while the labile and organic forms
decrease at Tchefuncta River in summer. The highest
labile form was observed in spring in the Amite River,
which decreased in summer. On average, the inert form
(57.59 and 55.29 %) was in greater proportion followed
by labile (33.11, 35.60 %) during both summer and
spring. The organic form was the lowest fraction (9.22,
9.10 %) in both seasons. The organic speciation was
assumed to be affected by pH and temperature in the
Amite River and Tchefuncta River. In fresh water sys-
tem, the organic is the greater fraction, which is bio-
available (Perdue 1997).
The Co content is dominated by the inert form
(94.92, 96.1 %) followed by organic (3.10, 1.85 %) in
summer and spring. A slight increase was measured in
the organic fraction of Co at Tangipahoa River and
Tchefuncta River in summer. Labile was the lowest
fraction in the water (1.973, 2.049). The variation in
organic fraction is associated with pH of river water. Our
findings as confirmed by Jiann and Presley (2002), who
also reported 95 % inert fraction in Texas River system.
The Cr concentration was dominated by inert fraction
(97.01, 96.83 %), while the organic and labile fraction
628 Page 10 of 14 Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628

120

River water Cd partition in Summer (%)

120

River water Cd partition in Spring (%)

Inert form Organic form Labile form
Inert form Organic form Labile form
100 100

80 80

60 60

40 40

20 20

0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rivers Rivers

120 120

River water Co partition in Summer (%)

River water Co partition in Spring (%)

Inert form Organic form Labile form Inert form Organic form Labile form
100 100

80 80

60 60

40 40

20 20

0 0
1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rivers Rivers

120 120
River water Cr partition in Summer (%)
River water Cr partition in Spring (%)

Inert form Organic form Labile form Inert form Organic form Labile form
100 100

80 80

60 60

40 40

20 20

0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rivers Rivers

120 120
River water Cu partition in Spring (%)

River water Cu partition in Summer (%)

Inert form Organic form Labile form Inert form Organic form Labile form
100 100

80 80

60 60

40 40

20 20

0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rivers Rivers

Fig. 3 The concentration of trace element partition of river water in spring and in summer
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628 Page 11 of 14 628

River water Mn partition in Summer (%)

120 120

River water Mn partition in Spring (%)

Inert form Organic form Labile form Inert form Organic form Labile form
100 100

80 80

60 60

40 40

20 20

0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rivers Rivers

120 120

River water Ni partition in Summer (%)

River water Ni partition in Spring (%)

Inert form Organic form Labile form Inert form Organic form Labile form
100 100

80 80

60 60

40 40

20 20

0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rivers Rivers

120
River water Pb partition in Summer (%)

120
River water Pb partition in Spring (%)

Inert form Organic form Labile form Inert form Organic form Labile form
100 100

80 80

60 60

40 40

20 20

0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rivers Rivers

120 120
River water Zn partition in Summer (%)
River water Zn partition in Spring (%)

Inert form Organic form Labile form Inert form Organic form Labile form
100 100

80 80

60 60

40 40

20 20

0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rivers Rivers
Fig. 3 (continued)
628 Page 12 of 14
remained nearly the same during summer and spring. Co
and Cr followed the same trend during summer and
spring. The EDTA or organic ligands (humic materials)
have strong affinity for trace metal ion attachment,
which may elevate the inert fraction (Jiann and Presley
2002).
The Cu fractions fluctuated in both the summer and
spring samples. From Fig. 3, it is obvious that the labile
form of Cu was greater in the summer than spring in the
Mississippi River, Tchefuncta River, Lacombe Bayou,
Liberty Bayou, and Blind River. Similarly, the organic
fraction was greater during summer as compared with
spring season in these rivers. But, on average, the inert
fraction (46.75, 68.39 %) was dominant over labile
(33.28, 18.13 %) and organic (20, 13.48 %) in spring
than in summer. Inert fraction of Cu could be influenced
by anthropogenic activities in the upstream of the water
bodies. As shown in Table 1, spring had higher DOC
levels than in summer, which favors the formation of
strong complexes of Cu with natural organic matter
(Jiann and Presley 2002; Nazeer et al. 2014).
The Mn concentration was mostly dominated by inert
fraction (87.14, 84.29 %) in both seasons, with surpris-
ingly high organic content during spring at in the Mis-
sissippi river. The highest organic and labile content was
measured in the Mississippi River and Blind River
during spring and summer, respectively. The labile frac-
tion remained almost the same in most of the river
waters, except for Blind River in the summer. The lower
organic content of Mn might be the reason that natural
organic fraction is <10 % (Jiann and Presley 2002).
The inert and labile fraction (47.51, 43.60 %) of Ni
was greater than the organic form (8.87 %) in spring,
while the labile fraction (57.66 %) was greater during
summer over the inert and organic form (31.62,
10.76 %). On average, the organic form was greater
during summer as compared during spring. The higher
labile fraction of Ni, which is vulnerable to small chang-
es in environmental conditions, during both seasons
show the influence of anthropogenic activities and its
potential higher toxicity to the Lake Pontchartrain Basin
(Florence 1986, 1992; Islam et al. 2015).
The Pb fraction was mainly dominated by inert form
in both seasons. The organic fraction was the same in
both seasons, while, the labile fraction increased from
6.75 to 19.95 % between spring and summer. The
highest Pb level was measured at Lacombe Bayou dur-
ing summer. On average, the labile Pb fraction increased
in all the rivers during summer. The increase in labile
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628
concentrations might be attributed to human activities,
leading to increase potential toxicity in these rivers.
The Zn fraction showed major differences as com-
pared with the other metals. The labile and inert fraction
was higher (52.85, 17.01, and 45.92, 82.71 %) during
spring and summer, respectively. The organic fraction
was nearly negligible in all the rivers in summer. Fig-
ure 3 shows potential greater risk from Zn pollution in
spring than in summer. The higher proportion of dis-
solved Zn in summer in rivers seems to be the accumu-
lation of inert form, likely influenced by human activi-
ties. Similar findings were reported in the Texas river
system by Jiann and Presley (2002).
The trace metals fraction shows a decreasing order of
inert > labile > organic. Overall, the inert fraction con-
tributes more than the other fractions, being detrital and
can be assumed to be added by natural sources. Labile
metal fraction is potentially the most toxic and of greater
concern in natural water system. The organic fraction is
affected by the redox potential and pH of the river water
which leads to the release of labile fraction and pose a
potential risk to aquatic life (Jain 2004).
Conclusion
Our research shows the seasonal variations in the
physico-chemical properties, anions, and the heavy met-
al (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) concentration in
water samples collected from different rivers. Among
physico-chemical properties, pH, DO, and turbidity
were higher during spring, while, EC, temperature, and
DOC were higher during summer. The anion data re-
vealed that the concentration of F−, Cl−, and NO3− was
higher during summer and Br− and SO4− was reported
higher during spring. Our research findings showed
anion concentration were in the order of
Cl− > SO4 −> NO3− > Br− > F−, which are in consensus
with the global mean anion concentration. Runoff from
the agricultural field, domestic sewage, and salt water
intrusion from the lower basin might contribute to high
level of anions.
All the dissolved heavy metals except Zn were higher
during spring. No potential Cd risk was reported for
both seasons. During summer, Amite River, Mississippi
River, Industrial Canal, and Lacombe Bayou showed
higher Co level. The Cr and Mn levels were higher than
the WHO standards, while no Cu pollution risk was
reported. Mn and Co followed the same trend in
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628
Lacombe Bayou, Liberty Bayou, Blind River, and In-
dustrial Canal. Potentially low Ni risk was likely in river
water during both seasons. Liberty Bayou and Industrial
Canal are on the verge of reaching potential Pb pollution
levels in the studied rivers. Zn content was higher in
summer in all the rivers than the USEPA aquatic life
standards. Cd, Co, Cu, and Ni showed no pollution risk,
while medium to higher risk to aquatic life by Cr and Zn
is reported in both seasons.
The metal fractionation revealed the decreasing order
of inert > labile > organic. The inert fraction contributed
more as compared with labile and organic forms in the
rivers flowing into the Lake Pontchartrain. The labile
and organic forms of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn are in higher
proportions in the present study, which posed potential
risk to the aquatic life in the Pontchartrain Basin.
Acknowledgments The project was conducted at School of
Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State Univer-
sity AgCenter. This work was partly supported by a grant through
the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation (no. 06-07NOAA-06-
A3).
Compliance with ethical standards
Conflict of interests The authors declare that there is no conflict
of interests regarding the publication of this paper.
References
Abel, P. D. (1998). Water pollution biology. London: Taylor and
Francis Ltd..
Ali, Z., Malik, R.N., & Qadir, A. (2013). Heavy metals distribution
and risk assessment in soils affected by tannery effluents.
Chemistry and Ecology, 1–17.
Alonso, E., Santos, A., Callejon, M., & Jimenez, J. C. (2004).
Speciation as a screening tool for the determination of heavy
metal surface water pollution in the Guadiamar River basin.
Chemosphere, 56, 561–570.
Arain, M. B., Kazi, T. G., Jamali, M. K., Jalbani, N., Afridi, H. I.,
& Shah, A. (2008). Total dissolved and bioavailable elements
in water and sediment samples and their accumulation in
Oreochromis mossambicus of polluted Manchar Lake.
Chemosphere, 7, 1845–1856.
Byrne, J. C., & DeLeon, I. R. (1987). Contributions of heavy
metals from municipal runoff to the sediments of Lake
Pontchartrain, Louisiana. Chemosphere, 16, 2579–2583.
CCME (2007). For the protection of aquatic life. In Canadian
environmental quality guidelines, 1999, Canadian Council of
Ministers of the Environment, 1999, Winnipeg.
DeLaune, R. D., Wang, J. J., & Jugsujinda, A. (2009). Copper in
Lake Pontchartrain bottom sediment: relationship to
Page 13 of 14 628
sediment properties. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and
Management, 12, 456–460.
Dhanakumar, S., Solaraj, G., & Mohanraj, R. (2015). Heavy metal
partitioning in sediments and bioaccumulation in commercial
fish species of three major reservoirs of river Cauvery delta
region, India. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 113,
145–151.
Facetti, J., Dekov, V. M., & Van Grieken, R. (1998). Heavy metals
in sediments from the Paraguay River: a preliminary study.
Science of the Total Environment, 209(1), 79–86.
Flocks, J., Kindinger, J., Marot, M., & Holmes, C. (2009).
Sediment characterization and dynamics in Lake
Pontchartrain, Louisiana. Journal of Coastal Research., 54,
113–126.
Florence, T. M. (1986). Electrochemical approaches to trace ele-
ment speciation in waters: a review. Analyst, 111, 489–505.
Florence, T. M. (1992). Trace-element speciation by anodic-
striping voltammetry. Analyst, 117, 551–553.
Garrett, R. G. (2000). Natural sources of metals to the environ-
ment. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 6, 945–963.
Harguinteguy, C. A., Cirelli, A. F., & Pignata, M. L. (2014). Heavy
metal accumulation in leaves of aquatic plant Stuckenia
filiformis and its relationship with sediment and water in the
Suquía River (Argentina). Microchemical Journal, 114, 111–
118.
Herndon, E. M., & Brantley, S. L. (2011). Movement of manga-
nese contamination through the critical zone. Applied
Geochemistry, 26, S40–S43.
Hou, D., He, J., Lü, C., Ren, L., Fan, Q., Wang, J., & Xie, Z.
(2013). Distribution characteristics and potential ecological
risk assessment of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd) in water
and sediments from Lake Dalinouer, China. Ecotoxicology
and Environmental Safety, 93, 135–144.
Islam, M. S., Ahmed, M. K., Raknuzzaman, M., Mamun, M. H.
A., & Islam, M. K. (2015). Heavy metal pollution in surface
water and sediment: a preliminary assessment of an urban
river in a developing country. Ecological Indicators, 48,
282–291.
Islam, M. S., Han, S., & Masunaga, S. (2014). Assessment of trace
metal contamination in water and sediment of some rivers in
Bangladesh. Journal of Water and Environment Technology,
12, 109–121.
Islam, E., Yang, X., He, Z. L., & Mahmood, Q. (2007). Assessing
potential dietary toxicity of heavy metals in selected vegeta-
bles and food crops. Journal of Zhejiang University Science
B., 8, 1–13.
Jain, C. K. (2004). Metal fractionation study on bed sediments of
river Yamuna, India. Water Research, 38, 569–578.
Jiang, L., Yao, Z., Liu, Z., Wang, R., & Wu, S. (2015).
Hydrochemistry and its controlling factors of rivers in the
source region of the Yangtze River on the Tibetan Plateau.
Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 155, 76–83.
Jiann, K. T., & Presley, B. J. (2002). Preservation and determina-
tion of trace metal partitioning in river water by a two-column
ion exchange method. Analytical Chemistry, 74, 4716–4724.
Kannel, P. R., Lee, S., Lee, Y. S., Kanel, S. R., & Khan, S. P.
(2007). Application of water quality indices and dissolved
oxygen as indicators for river water classification and urban
impact assessment. Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment, 132, 93–110.
628 Page 14 of 14
Kansal, A., Siddiqui, N. A., & Gautam, A. (2013). Assessment of
heavy metals and their interrelationships with some physico-
chemical parameters in eco-efficient rivers of Himalayan
region. Environmental Monitoring Assessment, 185, 2553–
2563.
Klavins, M., Briede, A., Rodinov, V., Kokorıte, I., Parele, E., &
Klavin, I. (2000). Heavy metals in rivers of Latvia. Science of
the Total Environment, 262, 175–183.
Kong, X., & Ye, S. (2014). The impact of water temperature on
water quality indexes in north of Liaodong Bay. Marine
Pollution Bulletin, 80, 245–249.
Larocque, A. C. L., & Rasmussen, P. E. (1998). An overview of
trace metals in the environment from mobilization to reme-
diation. Environmental Geology, 33, 85–90.
Meador, J. (2006). Rationale and procedures for using the tissue-
residue approach for toxicity assessment and determination
of tissue, water, and sediment quality guidelines for aquatic
organisms. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 12,
1018–1073.
Mohiuddin, K. M., Otomo, K., Ogawa, Y., & Shikazono, N.
(2012). Seasonal and spatial distribution of trace elements
in the water and sediments of the Tsurumi River in Japan.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 184, 265–279.
Mona, R., & Shuchi, M. (2012). Analysis of various physicochem-
ical parameters for the water quality assessment of central
region. Asian Journal of Engineering Management, 1, 4–8.
Nazeer, S., Hashmi, Z. M., & Malik, R. N. (2014). Heavy metals
distribution, risk assessment and water quality characteriza-
tion by water quality index of the River Soan, Pakistan.
Ecological Indicators, 43, 262–270.
Perdue, E. M. (1997). In H. E. Allen, W. A. Garrison, & G.W.
Luther (Ed.), Metals in surface waters. CRC Press.
Pourang, N., Nikouyan, A., & Dennis, J. H. (2005). Trace element
concentrations in fish, surficial sediments and water from
northern part of the Persian Gulf. Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment, 109, 293–316.
Rahman, M. S., Saha, N., & Molla, A. H. (2014). Potential
ecological risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in
sediment and water body around Dhaka export processing
zone, Bangladesh. Environmental Earth Sciences, 71, 2293–
2308.
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:628
Sharma, P., Meher, P. K., Kumar, A., Gautam, Y. P., & Mishra, K.
P. (2014). Changes in water quality index of Ganges river at
different locations in Allahabad. Sustainability of Water
Quality and Ecology, 3–4, 67–76.
Shomar, B. H., Muller, G., & Yahya, A. (2005). Seasonal variation
of chemical composition of water and bottom sediments in
the wetland of Wadi Gaza, Gaza strip. Wetlands Ecology and
Management, 13, 419–431.
Singh, K. P., Malik, A., Sinha, S., Singh, V. K., & Murthy, R. C.
(2005). Estimation of source of heavy metal contamination in
sediments of Gomti River (India) using principal component
analysis. Water Air and Soil Pollution, 166, 321–341.
USEPA (1999). Screening level ecological risks assessment pro-
tocol for hazardous wastes. Appendix E: toxicity reference
values. EPA 530-D99-001C, vol. 3.
USEPA. (2006). Drinking water standards and health advisories.
EPA 822-R-06-013, Office of Water, U.S. Washington, DC:
Environmental Protection Agency.
Vega, F. A., & Weng, L. (2013). Speciation of heavy metals in
River Rhine. Water Research, 47, 363–372.
Vieira, R., Fernandes, J. N., & Barbosa, A. E. (2013). Evaluation
of the impacts of road runoff in a Mediterranean reservoir in
Portugal. Environmental Monitoring Assessment, 185, 7659–
7673.
Wang, J., Liu, G., Lu, L., Zhang, J., & Liu, H. (2015).
Geochemical normalization and assessment of heavy metals
(Cu, Pb, Zn, and Ni) in sediments from the Huaihe River,
Anhui, China. Catena, 129, 30–38.
WHO. (2011). Guidelines for drinking water quality (3rd ed.).
Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.
Yang, Y. Q., Chen, F. R., Zhang, L., Liu, J. S., Wu, S. J., & Kang,
M. L. (2012). Comprehensive assessment of heavy metal
contamination in sediment of the Pearl River estuary and
adjacent shelf. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 64, 1947–1955.
Zhang, Y., Guo, F., Meng, W., & Wang, X. Q. (2009). Water
quality assessment and source identification of Daliao river
basin using multivariate statistical methods. Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment, 152, 105–121.
Zhang, Z. Q., Wang, J. J., Ali, A., & DeLaune, R. D. (2016).
Heavy metals and metalloid contamination in Louisiana Lake
Pontchartrain Estuary along I-10 Bridge. Transportation
Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 44, 66–77.