Spatial distribution of arsenic (As) concentrations of sediments collected form ten medium-small scale lakes in Lake Dongting Plain was investigated, and the As pollution degree was evaluated using the geo-accumulation index. Average value of As sediment concentration from 10 lakes was 15.8 mg/kg, which varied from 10.1 to 33.7 mg/kg. It indicated that As sediment con- tamination was relative low. As to spatial distributions, the average contents of As in the superficial sediments were from high to low in the sequence of Yueyang South Lake, B...