A comprehensive understanding of enhanced Pb mobilization in sediments caused by algal blooms

A good understanding of lead (Pb) mobilization in eutrophic lakes is a key to the accurate assessment of Pb pollution. In this work, dissolved and labile Pb was determined by both high resolution dialysis (HR-Peeper) and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) in sediment-water profiles of the hyper-eutrophic Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu on a monthly basis during one year. The drinking water standards for dissolved Pb of the World Health Organization (10 μg/L) and those of China were exceeded in the overlying water (20.79–118.5 μg/L). Out of which, a total of five months even exceeded the fisheries water quality limitation (50 μg/L) in China. The algal blooms created an anaerobic environment in the surface sediments in July. The reductive conditions led to the dissolution of Fe/Mn and this caused the release of Pb, followed by organic matter complexation. This was supported by the coincident changes of dissolved Pb with dissolved organic matter (DOM) in sediments under anaerobic incubation. Algae residue decomposition in October caused another distinct release of Pb, but this process should be considerably suppressed by increased sulfide precipitation and pyrite adsorption of Pb ion. These results indicated that Pb mobilization in sediments can be significantly enhanced by algal blooms in eutrophic lakes, indicating that further attention should be paid to Pb pollution in waters with harmful algal blooms.