TRACE METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN THE RIVER NEAR THE URBAN AREA: A CASE STUDY IN SUZHOU, NORTHERN ANHUI PROVINCE, CHINA

The environment of the river can be affected by human activities, especially the river near the urban area. In this study, the water from the Tuo River in Suzhou, northern Anhui Province, China have been collected and analyzed for eight kinds of trace metal concentrations (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn). The results indicate that the water samples have mean concentrations of Zn > Cr > Ni > V > Cu > Ti > Mn > Co, and some of the metals (Mn and Zn) are higher relative to the water from the rivers far away from the city, indicating that the water have undergone pollution from anthropogenic activities. Based on the results of factor analysis, two sources have been identified by EPA PMF model, including the anthropogenic source with contribution 42%, and the natural source with contribution 58%. Moreover, variations of the contributions of the anthropogenic source suggest that the pollution of the Tuo River water from the human activity is non-point.