Pollution and ecological risk assessment of antimony and other heavy metals in soils from the world's largest antimony mine area,China

Xikuangshan is located in Lengshuijiang City, Hunan province, China. With intensive mining and metallurgical activities, large amounts of tailing containing heavy metals (in this study, the term “heavy metals” is used for both metals and metalloids) were introduced to the soils around the mine area. Those heavy metals including antimony and other heavy metals would pose huge risk to human health and ecological environment. With a view to providing information on the extent of contamination and potential ecological risk of heavy metals in the soils of this mine area, the total contents of antimony (Sb), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in the soils were examined. The results revealed that the predominant pollutants in this area were Sb, Cd, and Zn with mean concentrations being 356.58, 9.98, and 486.42 mg kg^?1, 119.66, 117.41, and 5.17 times of the corresponding background values respectively. The pollution indices (Ps) indicated that the pollution levels of all sampling zones were serious including the control zones. The ecological risk levels of all heavy metals were very high on all the sampling zones except sampling zone 7 (as considerable), and Sb, Cd, and As were regarded as making great contribution to the risk indices (RI).     

Source apportionment and health risk assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soils in Xinglonggang,Northeastern China

Heavy metals in soil can affect human health through the exposure pathways of oral ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation. In this study, to assess the health risk of heavy metals in the agricultural area of Xinglonggang, 52 soil samples were collected and tested to obtain the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn in the soil. The enrichment factor indicated that the heavy metals of the agricultural soils were enriched, but the degree of enrichment was mild for all of the heavy metals. Coefficient analysis and principal component analysis indicated that V, Cr, Ni, and Pb were mainly from natural sources, As was from irrigation, Cu and Cd tended to be from chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and Zn was from mixed sources including irrigation, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides. A human-health risk assessment indicated that the residents in the study area face high risk from carcinogens and low risk from noncarcinogens; As and Cr are the major heavy metals affecting human health. This study provides a reference and a basis for formulating effective measures to prevent and control heavy metal enrichment in agricultural soils.     

湖南省主要水系底泥重金属污染特征及其生态风险评价

为全面了解湖南省主要水系底泥中重金属含量及其潜在生态风险,在湖南省内的湘、资、沅、澧以及洞庭湖5个主要水系共采集了75个位点的底泥样品,分析了重金属元素含量和来源分布特征,并采用地累积指数法、内梅罗指数法和潜在生态风险指数法对其污染程度和潜在生态风险进行评价。结果表明,As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Mn、Pb和Zn的平均含量分别为32.87、7.59、78.09、70.69、1182.60、85.64 mg/kg和482.44 mg/kg。湘江和洞庭湖的污染相对严重,底泥中重金属含量明显高于资江、沅江和澧水;相关性分析表明多种重金属具有相同污染来源;地累积指数评价结果显示,湖南省主要水系底泥中Cd为重污染水平,Zn为中度污染,Cu、Mn和Pb均为轻度污染,而As和Cr污染程度为清洁;内梅罗指数法评价结果表明,除Cr为轻度污染外,湖南省主要水系底泥中其他6种重金属污染均为重污染级别;潜在生态风险评价结果显示,湖南省总体潜在生态风险属于中等级别,各水系潜在生态风险大小顺序为洞庭湖>资江>湘江>澧水>沅江,重金属Cd的潜在生态风险级别为很强,其他重金属元素都属于轻微级别。     

Pollution and health risk assessment of heavy metals in urban soil in China

The pollution and potential health risk due to lifetime exposure to heavy metals in urban soil of China were evaluated, based on the urban soil samples collected from published papers from 2005 to 2014. The contamination levels were in the order of Cd > Hg > Cu > Zn > Pb >As > Ni > Cr, and Hg and Cd fell into the category of “moderately contaminated” to “heavily contaminated.” The non-carcinogenic risk for different populations varied greatly, among which children faced high risk, and then the adult female and adult male followed. The hazard index (non-carcinogenic risk) higher than 1.00 occurred in Shanghai, Gansu, Qinghai, Hunan, and Anhui, whereas most of those in northern and western China had low risks. For the carcinogenic risk, Anhui and Ningxia provinces had urban soils exceeding the safe reference (1 × 10^?6–1 × 10^?4). Qinghai and Gansu had high carcinogenic risks since their risk indexes were much closer to the reference, and the others were in low risk.     

Contamination features and health risk of heavy metals in suburban vegetable soils,Yanbian, Northeast China

In recent years, heavy metal contamination in suburban vegetable soils calls for significant concerns due to the rapid urbanization and industrialization. In present study, 110 suburban vegetable soil samples from Yanbian, Northeast China, were collected. Concentration characteristics, pollution level, health risk, and source identification were evaluated by using different quantitative indices. Concentrations of Pb, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd, and As in suburban soils were measured. Mean concentrations of Pb, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn Cd, and As were 34.9 ± 10.5, 73.5 ± 44.4, 29.6 ± 19.4, 23.4 ± 12.0, 88.5 ± 26.7, 0.16 ± 0.16, and 9.24 ± 3.79 mg/kg, which were showed significantly higher than corresponding background values of Jilin province, respectively. The soils were moderately heavy polluted by Cu and Cd based on the results of geo-accumulated index and pollution indices. The pollution load index indicated that almost all of the study area were middle or heavy polluted, especially in Antu County and Helong City. Children in Yanbian may pose non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks with the major exposure pathway of ingestion. Principle component analysis results suggested that Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd were mainly associated with agricultural activities, Ni and Cr were defined as combined source (lithogenic and anthropogenic), and As was tended to be from excessive application of pesticides and industrial activities.     

Spatial variation of soil quality and pollution assessment of heavy metals in cultivated soils of Henan Province,China

Abstract

Eight chemical and physical characteristics and seven biological properties of the soils from five cultivated areas in the Henan Province were quantified. Concentrations of Cu, Cr, Zn and Mn were determined using the flame atomic absorption spectrometry. In addition available phosphorus, chloride, soluble salt and pH were measured. The activities of enzymes were determined by a literature method. The results showed that the concentrations of Mn, Zn and Cr had close relationships with that of available phosphorus, and their concentrations increased with the prolonged application of organic and mineral fertilisers and pesticides-fungicides. The activities of cellulase have a relationship to the concentrations of Zn and Mn at 0.95 levels respectively, Zn and Mn stimulate many enzyme activities. The relationship between protease and available phosphorus was nearly distinctive at 0.95 levels, relating with the use of nitrogen fertiliser in the farmlands. Local organic manures and urea fertilisers did not change the soil characteristics to a great extent. However, the soils showed moderate and moderate-to-strong contamination by Mn and Zn in the study areas. Wastewater and groundwater irrigation, pesticides-fungicides, and fertiliser may be responsible for the elevated concentrations of Zn and Mn in the soil samples.     

贵州兴仁煤矿区农田土壤重金属化学形态及风险评估

为了解煤矿区周边农田土壤重金属污染状况,采集了贵州省兴仁县某典型煤矿区农田土壤样品64份,测定了土样中重金属(As、Cr、Pb、Zn、Cd、Hg、Cu、Ni)总量及各形态含量,采用单因子指数法、潜在生态风险指数法(Hkanson法)和风险评估编码法(RAC)对研究区主要土壤利用类型(水稻土、薏米地、植烟土和菜园土)中重金属进行潜在生态风险评估和环境风险评价.结果表明： 不同利用类型土壤中重金属含量除Zn外,其他元素均明显超过贵州省背景值.单因子指数法评价结果表明,As、Pb、Hg和Cu污染较为严重,均属重度污染.形态分析表明,土壤中重金属形态构成差异明显,酸可提取态As、酸可提取态Cd所占比例较高;Cr、Zn、Cu、Ni主要以残渣态为主;Pb主要以可还原态和残渣态为主;而Hg的酸可提取态、可还原态、可氧化态均占有相当比例,三者之和大于55%.重金属可利用度大小顺序为:As(63.6%)>Hg(57.3%)>Cd(56.4%)>Pb(52.5%)>Cu(45.7%)>Zn(32.8%)>Ni(26.2%)>Cr(13.2%).潜在生态风险指数表明,各类型土壤潜在生态风险(RI)〖JP2〗为:菜园土(505.19)>薏米地(486.06)>植烟土(475.33)>水稻土(446.86),均处于较高风险.风险评估编码法结果显示,As在水稻土、薏米地及植烟土中均处于高风险,在菜园土中处于中等风险;Cd、Hg均处于中等风险,Cr、Pb、Zn、Cu和Ni均处于低风险.因此,对该区域农田土壤进行管控时应重点考虑As、Cd和Hg污染.     

A human health risk assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soils of Yanqi Basin,Silk Road Economic Belt,China

A total of 195 farmland soil samples were collected in Yanqi Basin, Xinjiang, northwest China, and the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were analyzed for their concentrations and pollution levels using the Nemerow comprehensive index. The health risk assessment model introduced by USEPA was utilized to evaluate the human health risks of heavy metals. Results indicated that the average concentrations of these seven metals were lower than the allowed soil environmental quality standards of China, while the average concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn exceeded the background values of irrigation soils in Xinjiang. The average contamination factor (CF) for Pb indicated the heavy pollution, whereas the CF for Cd, Zn, Ni, Cu and Cr indicated the moderate pollution. The average PLI of heavy metals indicated the low pollution. The non-carcinogenic hazard index were below the threshold values, and the total carcinogenic risks due to As and Cr were within the acceptable range for both children and adults. As and Pb were the main non-carcinogenic factors, while As was the main carcinogenic factor in the study area. Special attentions should be paid to these priority control metals in order to target the lowest threats to human health.     

Pollution,sources, and risks of heavy metals in coastal waters of China

Abstract

Comprehensive information on heavy metals in coastal waters at national scale of China is limited. Therefore, this study investigated the distribution, pollution, and ecological-health risks of heavy metals in coastal waters along 18,000?km coastline of China. Total 13 target heavy metals in coastal waters along coastline of China showed drastic spatial variations with average concentrations ranging from .14 (Cd) to 136.26 (Cu) μg/L. Cu was the dominant heavy metal with the maximal concentration of 1485.92?μg/L. Three methods including heavy metal pollution index (HPI), Nemerow index (NI), and contamination degree (CD) were adopted to explore heavy metal pollution. HPI obtained the worst-case evaluation results to illustrate that heavy pollution occurred at over 50% of sampling sites. Anthropogenic sources were the main sources of heavy metals in the coastal waters. Approximately 28.13% and 9.38% of sampling sites illustrated considerable and very high ecological risks, respectively. Metals including Cu, As, and Hg were the main pollution and risk contributors. Heavy metals in coastal waters posed high cancer risks and unacceptable non-cancer risks to both adults and children. Therefore, effective control of heavy metals is necessary for regional sustainability and well-beings of residents in coastal regions of China.     

西安城市路边土壤重金属来源与潜在风险

应用X-Ray荧光光谱仪对西安城市路边土壤重金属含量进行测定,运用相关分析、主成分分析和聚类分析探讨了路边土壤的重金属来源,并利用潜在生态风险指数法评价了其生态风险.结果表明:西安城市路边土壤中Co、Cr、Cu、Mn、N、iPb和Zn的平均含量均高于陕西土壤背景值.路边土壤中As、Mn和N i主要来自于自然源和交通源,Cu、Pb和Zn主要来自交通源,Co和Cr主要来源于工业源.潜在生态风险评价结果显示,西安城市路边土壤中重金属元素属于中等污染程度,具有中等潜在生态风险.     

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in soils and maize (Zea mays L.) from Yushu,Northeast China

To investigate heavy metal accumulation in soils and evaluate health risk through maize consumption, a total of 196 soils and 55 maize samples were collected from Yushu, China, one of the most important maize production bases. The mean contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb were 0.119, 56.51, 19.21, 70.58, and 34.42 mg kg^?1 for soils and were 0.014, 0.68, 1.33, 17.15 and 0.02 mg kg^?1 for maize, respectively. The contents of Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb in all soil and maize samples did not exceed safety thresholds, but the percentages of Cd content above guideline values of Chinese Environmental Quality Standards for Soil and maximum permissible limits for maize were 6.6% and 1.8%, respectively. The spatial distribution and correlation analysis suggested that Cr and Cu in soil were of lithogenic origin, while Zn and Pb were associated with coal combustion exhausts and chemical fertilizer application. The main source of Cd may be phosphate fertilizer application. The average target hazard quotients were all less than 1 and the average hazard index for adults was 0.065, indicating that there was not a potential health risk through maize.     

Distribution and health risk assessment of heavy metals in soil surrounding a lead and zinc smelting plant in Zanjan,Iran

One of the problematic issues in soil pollution studies is heavy metal particles which are produced by mines and smelting units and spread through wind action and/or runoff. Pollution and health risk assessment of cadmium, lead, zinc, copper, and nickel in soil around the lead and zinc smelting factory was carried out in Zanjan City, Iran. Contamination factor (Cf), pollution load index (PLI), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and carcinogenic risk were pollution and human health risk assessment metrics in this study. Based on the Iranian soil guideline value, soil samples in the studied areas were contaminated the least by copper and nickel and the most by cadmium. PLI results showed that soils near the production line were heavily or extremely heavily polluted. The results of Cf and Igeo showed that lead and zinc were the most important contaminants. Health risk assessment indicated that lead and cadmium in soil were the main contaminants, which pose both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to human health; carcinogenic risk levels were unacceptably high (above 1 × 10^?4). It can be concluded that mining and smelting activities degrade soil quality in this region and the soil pollution might be extended to farming areas.     

Assessment of heavy metal pollution and human health risk in urban soils of a coal mining city in East China

The aims of this study were to determine the concentrations, distribution, potential ecological risk (PER), and human health risk (Risk) of heavy metals in urban soils from a coal mining city in China. A total of 36 topsoil samples from Huainan city, Anhui, East China, were collected and analyzed for As, Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Cu. The PER was calculated to assess the pollution level. The hazard index (HI) and carcinogenic risk were used to assess the human health risk of heavy metals in the study area. The average concentration of As, Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Cu were 12.54, 0.21, 24.21, 0.19, 49.39, and 21.74 mg kg^?1, respectively. The correlations between heavy metals indicated that Cu, Cr, Cd, and Pb mainly originated from automobile exhaust emissions, coal gangue, fly ash, and industrial wastewater, and that As and Hg mainly came from coal combustion exhaust. The PER index values of heavy metals decreased in the following order: Hg > Cd > As> Cu > Pb > Cr. The HI and Risk values indicated that the noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of selected metals in the urban soil were both below the threshold values.     

新疆焉耆盆地辣椒地土壤重金属污染及生态风险预警

从新疆加工辣椒主产地(焉耆盆地)采集105个辣椒地典型土壤样品,测定其中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb和Zn等8种重金属元素的含量。采用污染负荷指数(Pollution load index,PLI)、潜在生态风险指数(Potential ecological risk index,RI)和生态风险预警指数(Ecological risk warning index,I_(ER))对辣椒地土壤重金属污染及生态风险进行评价。结果表明:(1)焉耆盆地辣椒地土壤Cd、Cr、Ni、Pb和Zn含量的平均值分别超出新疆灌耕土背景值的1.65、1.40、1.32、3.21、6.42倍。辣椒地土壤Pb和Zn呈现重度污染,Cd、Cr和Ni轻度污染,As、Mn和Cu无污染。(2)土壤PLI平均值为1.40,呈现轻度污染。各重金属元素单项生态风险指数从大到小依次为:Cd、Ni、As、Cu、Pb、Cr、Zn。土壤RI平均值为18.40,属于轻微生态风险态势,IER平均值为-4.78,属于无警态势;博湖县辣椒地污染水平、潜在生态风险程度与生态风险预警等级最高,焉耆县污染水平、潜在生态风险程度与生态风险预警等级最低。(3)辣椒地土壤As、Cd、Pb与Zn主要受到人类活动的影响,Cr、Cu、Mn和Ni主要受到土壤地球化学作用的控制。Cd是焉耆盆地辣椒地生态风险等级最高的重金属元素,研究区农业生产过程中要防范Cd的污染风险。     

考洲洋重金属污染水平与潜在生态危害综合评价

在等级模型的基础上,利用化学和生态学的方法,在地理信息系统(GIS)的支持下对考洲洋养殖水域表层海水及表层沉积物的重金属污染水平及潜在生态风险进行了综合评价,同时对不同的评价方法进行了分析和比较。结果表明,枯水期整个水域表层海水的重金属污染指数均低于0．5,丰水期更是低于0．2。调查期间湾内海水重金属含量较低,重金属污染不明显。枯水期绝大部分水域表层沉积物重金属的生态风险指数值变化范围为20～70,其高值区出现于湾的西部和西北部水域。表明这些水域的表层沉积物已受到重金属的轻微影响;丰水期整个水域表层沉积物重金属的潜在生态风险指数值均低于20,重金属污染不明显。在生态学方面,枯水期大部分水域的饵料生物水平均处于2～3级水平,其密集分布区位于湾西北部、湾口和吉隆河口附近水域,达4级水平,饵料生物较为丰富。丰水期饵料生物水平的密集分布区位于湾中部和望京洲沿岸水域,饵料生物最丰富,达4～5级水平;其次为湾口,为4级水平;最低则分布于湾的西部和西北部,其饵料生物较低,为1～2级水平。由于重金属污染程度较低,因此水温、盐度和营养盐等环境因子已成为影响湾内生态系统的主要因素。对各种不同评价方法所进行的分析和比较结果表明,采用多指标综合评价方法是描述污染和预测生态效应的一种有效途径。     

重金属污染可能改变稻田土壤团聚体组成及其重金属分配

采集了太湖地区污染与非污染稻田表土,采用原状土低能量分离-分散技术提取土壤团聚体粒组,分析土壤中不同粒径团聚体颗粒组质量组成和Pb、Cd、Hg、As等重金属元素的含量, 讨论重金属污染下土壤团聚体组成和重金属团聚体分配的变化.结果表明：在重金属污染下,供试水稻土砂粒级团聚体减少,而较细粒径团聚体相对增多;4种重金属元素在不同粒径团聚体颗粒组中的含量存在差异,但随粒径的变化趋势基本一致,即在<0.002 mm粒径的颗粒组中最高, 其次是0.2～2 mm粒径的颗粒组,而在0.02～0.2 mm和0.002～0.02 mm粒径的团聚体中呈现亏缺现象（富集系数为0.56～0.96）.表明重金属污染可能减弱了较大土壤团聚体的形成,导致细粒径团聚体相对增多,从而明显提高了重金属元素在粉砂和粘粒组团聚体中的分配,这可能进一步提高了污染农田重金属的水迁移和大气颗粒物迁移的风险.对于重金属污染对稻田土壤生物物理和生物化学过程的影响及其机制还需要进一步研究.     

堆肥对土壤重金属垂直分布的影响与污染评价

对不同畜禽粪便堆肥与土壤重金属垂直分布的关系进行了研究．结果表明,在畜禽粪便堆肥过程中,粪堆下土壤pH值和有机质显著增加,其pH和有机质含量的垂直分布表现为从表层到底层逐渐降低．各种畜禽粪便粪堆下土壤Zn、Cd含量明显增高,且从表层到底层呈逐渐减小的趋势．鸡粪和猪粪堆下土壤Cu含量随土层深度增加而降低;牛粪堆下土壤Cu含量随土层深度增加没有明显的变化．自然条件下Cd和Zn在土壤系统中的迁移能力大于Cu．各粪堆下的部分土层Cu、Zn、Cd含量超过我国土壤环境质量一级标准．应用地质积累指数法对各土层污染评价的结果表明,只有肉鸡粪堆下0～10cm土壤和蛋鸡粪堆下0～40cm土壤受到轻度Zn污染,其它粪堆下各土层均未受到Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd污染．     

东江下游流域突发性重金属复合污染生态风险评价

流域突发性重金属污染事件发生不确定性较高,难以预测和防控,严重威胁流域生态安全、人群健康乃至社会稳定。本研究以东江下游流域为研究区开展生态风险评价,基于“多风险源(危险性)-多胁迫因子(联合暴露)-多风险受体(脆弱性)-生态风险”的风险传递框架,运用贝叶斯网络,计算东江下游流域突发性Cr⁶⁺-Hg²⁺复合污染生态风险,概率化表征风险不确定性,进而提出流域风险防控与管理措施。结果表明：(1)东江下游深莞惠地区67家涉重金属风险源均会对其子流域造成生态风险,惠州市的生态风险明显高于深圳市和东莞市;(2)东江下游西枝江子流域的生态风险最为显著,其次是东江下游干流子流域和东江下游河网区子流域;(3)基于敏感性分析,“河流水体脆弱性”是造成东江下游流域生态风险的主导因子。研究结果可为东江下游流域生态风险防控与管理提供理论支持。     

东江沉积物重金属分布特征及污染评价

采用ICP-MS对东江河流沉积物中的重金属进行分析,发现东江沉积物中Cu、Zn、Cd、Hg等重金属呈现相同的变化特点,高值区和低值区基本一致.东江流域沉积物的重金属污染物主要是Cu、Zn、Cd、Hg、Pb,其平均含量分别为157.29、213.21、0.98、0.42、50.77mg·kg-1,均高于中国大陆沉积物背景值.地累积指数法和Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法对东江流域沉积物污染程度和生态危害程度的评价结果显示,东江沉积物中地累积指数从大到小的顺序为Cd、Cu、Zn、Hg、Pb;从总的污染程度来看,东江沉积物中各重金属对生态风险影响程度从大到小的顺序为Hg、Cd、Cu、Pb、Zn;从总的生态风险指数上看,整个东江流域除处于上游的河源市段生态风险低外,处于中游的惠州段生态风险为"较高",处于下游的东莞段生态风险为"极高".     

Pollution Assessment and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils around Four Pb/Zn Mines of Shaoguan City,China

A total of 455 agricultural soil samples from four nonferrous mines/smelting sites in Shaoguan City, China, were investigated for concentrations of 10 heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn). The mean concentrations of the metals were 72.4, 5.16, 13.3, 54.8, 84.5, 1.52, 425, 28.2, 529, and 722 mg kg^?1, respectively. The values for As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn were more than 8 and 1.5 times higher than their background values in this region and the limit values of Grade II soil quality standard in China, respectively. Estimated ecological risks based on contamination factors and potential ecological risk factors were also high or very high for As, Cd, Hg, and Pb. Multivariate analysis (Pearson's correlation analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and principal component analysis) strongly implied three distinct groups; i.e., As/Cu/Hg/Zn, Co/Cr/Mn/Ni, and Cd/Pb. Local anomalies for As, Cu, Hg, and Zn by a probably anthropogenic source (identified as mining activity), Co, Cr, Mn, and Ni by natural contribution, and a mixed source for Cd and Pb, were identified. This is one of the few studies with a focus on potential sources of heavy metals in agricultural topsoil around mining/smelting sites, providing evidence for establishing priorities in the reduction of ecological risks posed by heavy metals in Southern China and elsewhere.