Heavy Metals in Sediments of Hulun Lake in Inner Mongolia: Spatial-Temporal Distributions, Contamination Assessment and Source Apportionment

The spatial and temporal distributions, contamination evaluation, source apportionment of Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Cd, Cr in the sediments Hulun Lake were explored this work. pollution characteristics six heavy metals assessed by single factor index (PI) geo-accumulation (Igeo). sources surface analyzed positive definite matrix factorization (PMF) Pearson correlation analysis. sedimentary records core reproduced radioisotopes. average concentrations 6 except Cd lower than corresponding background values. distributions Cr, As generally similar showed higher abundances southwestern part lake. With use import metals, concentration increased with fluctuation years. peak metal was related to high growth rate gross domestic product 2003-2008. geo accumulation results that sediment mainly polluted followed Zn As. Natural parent material, agricultural activities industrial main sediments, accounting for 17.03%, 26.34%, 56.63% total accumulation, respectively. Pb derived from natural material. closely associated activities. Cu attributed mining Source ecological risks illustrated primary ecosystem risk (66.1%), (23.75%) (10.15%). will also provide reference data future studies other lakes.