Urbanization in sediments

In less than 4 decades, China got a rapid urbanization from 17.9% urban population by 1978 up to 54.8% by 2014. Urban sediments recorded environmental changes in metals and other contaminants over time. Sediment quality... [ view full abstract ]

In less than 4 decades, China got a rapid urbanization from 17.9% urban population by 1978 up to 54.8% by 2014. Urban sediments recorded environmental changes in metals and other contaminants over time. Sediment quality changes along a urban-rural gradient were different from along a multiple urban gradient, which was similar to temporal changes indicated by sediment cores. Calculated by Pb stable isotopic compositions, over 50% of sediment Pb in Shanghai was derived from coal combustion emission and nearly 20% from traffic emission in the past century. However, in a long-term monitored urbanizing watershed, urbanization process reduced metal contents in surface sediments, suggesting that urbanization can ameliorate environmental pollution due to wastewater treatments. A series of studies in China reveal that sediments recorded environmental changes driven by urbanization.