Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Heavy Metals in Pearl River Delta Quaternary Boreholes

This paper analyzed contents and geochemical fractions of four heavy metals in four Quaternary boreholes from different sedimentary areas in Pearl River Delta. The results revealed that the geochemical features of heavy metals were controlled by geological provenance and sedimentary environment. The contribution rates of geological sources showed differentiation in four sedimentary environments. In delta plain sedimentary environment, geological sources were the most predominant. In the sea land interaction sedimentary environment, the control of the geological source factor was weakened. The effect of land-sea interaction became more important. Due to different chemical properties of heavy metals, they showed distinct sensitivities to sedimentary environment. Cadmium (Cd) was enriched significantly in the study areas. Mobile fraction of Cd possessed the highest proportion. Potential ecological risk of Cadmium was the highest among heavy metals. Asenic, mercury and lead were enriched weakly. Arsenic and Mercury were dominated by residual fraction. Lead was mainly composed of residual and Fe-Mn oxidation fraction. Their potential ecological risks were relatively lower. In different sedimentary environment, physicochemical parameters had various effects on Cadmium geochemical fraction such as pH. The mobile fraction of Cd was mainly correlated with pH and leaching coefficient.