Environmental Chemistry of Toxic Heavy Metals Hg-As in the Jialing River

Abstract

Targeted at the natural water body in the Jialing River, this paper takes the environmental chemistry perspective to compare the heavy metal (Hg, As) distribution characteristics in the surface water, suspended particulate matter and fish, the typical living being, of the water body in the Jialing River. After measuring the rough contents of the two heavy metals in the natural water body of the Jialing River, it is concluded that the degree of Hg pollution is lightly polluted and that of As pollution is clean. The author also analyzes the main factors influencing the difference of metal content in each phase, pointing out that the content of dissolved Hg in the aqueous phase is significantly higher in the downstream than the upstream. Furthermore, the research reveals that the fish in the river bears insignificant latent health risks, and As poses more risk than Hg in fish eating.