Table 5.

Factor loadings, eigenvalues, and variance in the PCA matrix of heavy metals in the surface sediments of Tasaul Lake

Parameters	PC1	PC2	PC3
TOC (%)	0.649	− 0.366	− 0.420
Al (mg/kg)	0.017	0.929	0.103
Cr (mg/kg)	0.110	0.877	− 0.252
Ni (mg/kg)	0.819	0.475	− 0.161
Cu (mg/kg)	0.757	− 0.118	0.583
Zn (mg/kg)	0.880	− 0.046	0.407
As (mg/kg)	0.823	− 0.233	− 0.281
V (mg/kg)	0.781	0.535	− 0.108
Pb (mg/kg)	0.931	− 0.143	0.211
Hg (mg/kg)	0.598	− 0.381	− 0.418
Eigenvalue	4.963	2.515	1.092
Variance (%)	49.63	25.15	10.92