Monitoring of Heavy Metal Deposition in Surface Sediments of the Xinyi River, Harbin, China

The concentrations of As, Cd, Ni, Cr, Zn, Cu, Hg and Pb in the sediment of Xiyi River were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed the average concentration of total As, Cd, Ni, Cr, Zn, Cu, Hg and Pb in the sediment was higher than the national threshold limit. The values of pollution index and integrated pollution index showed that the pollution level was Cd>; Zn>;Hg>;Pb>;Cu>; Ni>; As >; Cr. Enrichment of heavy metals was found in the sediments collected along the industrial stations of Xinyin River. In the sediments collected closed to carbon factory and old lumber mill of the river, heavy metal concentrations were relatively low. This study indicates that the sediment near the industrial zone was widely and extremely polluted by multi-heavy metals as a result of long term industrial activities.