The impact of anthropogenic activities such as mining, agriculture and urbanization is causing heavy metal contamination in many freshwater ecosystems. The concentrations of eight elements (As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the Spekboom River, South Africa, were studied using enrichment factor (EF) and geo-accumulation index (I_geo) to assess the extent of pollution in the river. Sediment samples were collected and analyzed using sequential inductively coupled plasma—optical emission spectrometry. The results showed deterioration of the sediment quality with high concentration of Cr and Ni at all the sites, this is a reflection of contamination from the various anthropogenic activities in the area. The current levels of Cr and Ni could be detrimental to the river and may pose a serious threat to the aquatic organisms and humans, as the sediment could act as a secondary source of metal pollution in the water. It is therefore recommended that urgent action should be taken to control effluents from anthropogenic activities to the river in order to prevent further pollution.

采矿、农业和城市化等人为活动的影响正在许多淡水生态系统中造成重金属污染。使用富集因子 (EF) 和地积累指数 (I _geo -accumulation index, I _geo -accumulation index) 研究了南非 Spekboom 河中八种元素（As、Cr、Cu、Fe、Mn、Ni、Pb 和 Zn）的浓度) 评估河流的污染程度。使用连续电感耦合等离子体-光发射光谱法收集和分析沉积物样品。结果表明，所有地点的沉积物质量恶化，Cr和Ni浓度较高，这反映了该地区各种人为活动造成的污染。目前的 Cr 和 Ni 含量可能对河流有害，并可能对水生生物和人类构成严重威胁，因为沉积物可能成为水中金属污染的次要来源。因此，建议采取紧急行动控制人为活动对河流的排放，以防止进一步污染。