Distribution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Mercury in Sediments From Taihu Lake

Persistent pollutants are easily accumulated in sediments, which can cause toxicity to benthos and secondary pollution to water. Mercury (Hg), as one kind of bioaccumulative and persistent pollutant, could cause great harm to water ecology and health, and has been widely concerned. The distribution characteristics and ecological risk of Hg in sediments from Taihu Lake were studied. In addition, the sediment quality criterion (SQC) of Hg was derived using tissue-based toxicity data combined with the phase-equilibrium partitioning (EqP) approach, and the ecological risk level of Hg in Taihu Lake sediment was evaluated. The results showed that Hg was detected in all the 30 sediment samples, and the concentrations of Hg ranged from 9.7 ng/g to 237.0 ng/g, with an average of 76.3 ng/g. The SQC of Hg was calculated to be 108.9 ng/g, and the ecological risk of Hg in the sediments of Taihu Lake is in the middle level, indicating that Hg pollution needs to be paid more attention. The results provide support for environmental management and risk assessment of Hg.