Heavy metal impact assessment using a chemical speciation and index-based approach**

本项目旨在通过在金属浓度自然升高的拟议采矿项目区进行研究，将化学形态与指数评价结合起来，开发一种更实际的方法来评价淡水沉积物中重金属的影响。将确定选定重金属的当地基线浓度，并分析沉积物中金属的化学形态特征。将进行多元统计分析，探索金属的来源，然后使用多种指数，如富集系数、污染系数和地质聚集指数，进行基于指数的影响评估。分析重金属浓度的空间分布和各指数值，为识别研究区重金属影响的“热点”提供有价值的见解。研究结果将有助于工业伙伴有效地规划其未来的采矿活动，以尽量减少可能的环境影响。在项目的每个阶段，我们都会与工业伙伴保持密切合作，而有关的研究结果将为进一步探索与工业伙伴的研究合作机会提供坚实的基础。拟议的方法也可适用于与加拿大资源开发有关的其他类似影响评估研究。

This project aims to develop a more practical method for evaluating the impact of heavy metals in freshwater sediments by integrating chemical speciation with index evaluation, through a study in a proposed mining project area with naturally elevated metal concentrations. The local baseline concentrations of selected heavy metals will be established, and the chemical speciation characteristics of metals in sediments will be analyzed. A multivariate statistical analysis will be conducted to explore the sources of metals, and an index-based impact assessment will then be carried out using multiple indices, such as enrichment factor, contamination factor, and geo-accumulation index. The spatial distribution of metal concentrations and various index values will be analyzed to provide valuable insight for identifying the "hot spots" of heavy metal impacts in the study area. The results will help the industrial partner to effectively plan their future mining activities to minimize possible environmental impacts. Close collaboration with the industrial partner will be maintained during each phase of this project, and the related findings will provide sound basis for exploring further opportunities of research collaboration with the industrial partner. The proposed methods can also be applied to other similar impact assessment studies associated with resource development in Canada.