Distribution characteristics of heavy metals (Cu, Pb) in surface sediment in Huangpu River

The object of this paper was carried out to detect distribution characteristics of two important heavy metal-Cu, Pb in surface sediment in Huangpu River which is the main stream situated in Shanghai city. All the 30 samples were classified into four types corresponding to the sediments from spring, summer, autumn and winter in 2006, respectively. The concentration of Cu and Pb in surface sediment samples was determined using ICP-AES method after a microwave-assisted digested with HNO3-HF pretreated. Analytical results showed that the concentrations of Cu in the samples varied from 18.1 to 107 mg/kg, ranged between 11.8 and 36.6 mg/kg for Pb; the typical values of Cu and Pb were 55.9 mg/kg and 22.6 mg/kg respectively. Compared to their concentration levels in sediments along Huangpu River and other researches reported results in rivers, lakes and coastal zones around the world, the level of sedimentary heavy metals in Huangpu River could be categorized as moderate-low on the global scale. According to the distribution characteristics, it was obvious that the contents of Cu in sediments of Huangpu River increased from upstream to downstream, while for Pb, its concentration was at the similar level in all stream. On the other hand, no matter to Cu or Pb, their concentration had not significant deference as seasons exchanged.