Artificial water regulation and natural flood processes control heavy metal concentrations and transport in the Yellow River, China
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Updated: Jun 10, 2025

Continuous Instream Monitoring of Nutrients and Sediment in Agricultural Watersheds
Published on: September 26, 2017
Shasha Zhang1, Shuli Xue1, Huimin Jian2
1Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, and Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, 238 Songling Road, Qingdao 266100, China.
Abstract:
Based on heavy metals daily observation at the Lijin station during water-sediment regulation (WSR) event and three natural floods in 2020, we examined the effects of different flood events on heavy metal in lower Yellow River, China. The results revealed that due to different water and sediment sources and processes influencing heavy metals dynamics, the dissolved Cr, Zn As and particulate heavy metals during natural flood events were higher than those during WSR event. Dissolved heavy metals increased during water regulation and decreased during sediment regulation. Using positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, we found that sources of dissolved heavy metals during WSR event were mainly from agricultural practices, rock and soil weathering, and industrial pollution. During flood events, particulate heavy metals' concentrations varied due to dilution, human activities, and reservoir influences, with industrial and agricultural sources significantly impacting Cu, Zn, As, and Pb levels.
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