Geochemical factors affecting chronological reconstruction of a historical arsenic pollution accident in Lake Qionghai, Southwest of China

To explore geochemical factors affecting the chronological reconstruction of a historical arsenic pollution accident in Lake Qionghai at southwest of China, heavy metals and radionuclides (210Pbex and 137Cs) in two sediment cores were sampled and analyzed. Our study revealed that (1) industrialization and urbanization of Xichang since the mid-20th Century, aggravated soil erosion in the catchment and resulted in a significant and lasting increase in the sedimentation rate of Lake Qionghai; (2) sharp arsenic peaks in two sediment cores recorded an arsenic pollution accident in 2006 in which a large amount of arsenic was discharged into the lake from a chemical plant. Arsenic peaks in sediment cores A and B were dated to 1988 ± 3.5, 2006 ± 3.1, respectively. Only the arsenic peak time in core B: 2006 ± 3.1, agreed with the real pollution accident time of 2006. Linear correlation analysis suggested that arsenic sorption by Fe/Mn minerals and organic materials in sediment core A probably changed the depth distribution of the peak and affected the accuracy of chronological reconstruction. This case study suggested that sorption of heavy metals by Fe/Mn minerals and organic materials should be assessed before the chronological reconstruction of the metal pollution accident in the lake.