Characterization and risk assessment of heavy metal pollution in wetland Sediments of Lake Bosten

In November 2023, 22 sediment samples were collected from the weiland of Lake Bosten in Xinjiang, and ihe conlents of 8 heavy metais, ineiuding As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn, were determined. Geo-aceumuialion index, enriehment fae-tor, potential ecologieal risk index, Monte Carlo Simulation, and human heallh risk assessment model were used lo assess the pollution, potential ecologieal risk, and the human health risk of the heavy metais in the Sediments. The results showed that; (1) The average eontents of Zn, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Hg in the wetland Sediments of Lake Bosten were 1.01, 3.58, 1.32, 1.94, and 1.53 times higher lhan the baekground values of Xinjiang soil, respectively. (2) Bolh geo-aceumulation index and enriehment faetor evaiuations showed that the pollution degree of heavy metais in Sediments was ranked as; Cd > Pb > Hg > Cr > Zn > Cu > Ni > As. (3) The average value of the single eeologieai risk index of heavy metal elements was ranked as; Cd > Hg > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cr > As > Zn. The average value of the eomprehensive ecologieal risk index was 184.07, which was in a medium ecologieal risk Situation. (4) Heavy metal pollution in Sediments of this research area will cause health risks to different populations, ineiuding non-carcinogenic risks and unacceptable carcinogenic risks. The probabilities of non-carcinogenic risks for adult men, adult women, and children were 21.24%, 23.50% and 36.27%, respectively, with Cr and Cd being the main non-carcinogenic risk substances. The probabilities of unacceptable Cancer exposure risks for adult men, women, and children were 2.76%, 7.74%> and 10.50%, respectively, with As and Cr as the main carcinogenic risk substances. © 2025 by Journal of Lake Sciences.