Spatial distribution of heavy metals in soils: a case study of Changxing,China

Six hundred and sixty-five soil samples were taken from Changxing County in Zhejiang Province, China, to characterize the spatial variability of Hg Cd, Pb, Cu, As and Cr. The geostatistics and geographic information system (GIS) techniques were applied, and the ordinary kriging and lognormal kriging were used to map the spatial patterns of the six heavy metals. Hg, Pb, Cu and As were fitted to the spherical model with a range of 85.75, 82.32, 86.10, and 23.17 km, respectively. Cr was fitted to the exponential model with a range of 6.27 km, and Cd was fitted to the linear model with a range of 37.66 km. Both Pb and Cu had strong spatial dependence due to the effects of natural factors including parent material, topography and soil type. Hg, Cd, Cr and As had, however, moderate spatial dependence, indicating an involvement of human factors. Meanwhile, based on the comparison between the original data and the guide values of the six metals, the disjunctive kriging technique was used to quantify their pollution risks. The results showed that only Cd and Hg exhibited pollution risks in the study area. The pollution source evaluated was closely corresponded with the real discharge of industrial production and the application of organomercury pesticides. The results of this study provide insight into risk assessment of environmental pollution and decision making for agricultural production and industrial adjustment of building materials.     

Geostatistical analysis of soil moisture measurements and remotely sensed data at different spatial scales

The European remote sensing satellite (ERS-2) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data was used for temporal monitoring of soil moisture at Sukhothai, Thailand. Higher correlations were found between the observed soil moisture and the radar backscattering coefficient. The soil moisture distribution shows great variation in space and time due to its stochastic nature. In order to obtain a better understanding of the nature and causes of spatial variation of soil moisture, the extensive soil moisture measurements observed in Thailand and also remotely sensed ERS-2 SAR data were used for geostatistical analysis. The observed soil moisture shows seasonal variations with mean varying from 3.33 %v/v (dry season) to 33.44 %v/v (wet season). The spatial geostatistical structure also shows clear seasonal variations in the geostatistical characteristics such as range and sill. The sills vary from 1.00 (%v/v)² for the driest day to 107.57 (%v/v)² for one of the wet days. The range or the correlation lengths varies between 46.5 and 149.8 m for the wettest and driest periods. The nugget effect does not show strong seasonal pattern or trend but the dry periods usually have a smaller nugget effect than the wet periods. The spherical variogram model fits the sample variograms very well in the case of soil moisture observations while the exponential model fits those of the remotely sensed data. The ranges observed from the observed soil moisture data and remotely sensed data at the same resolution are very similar. Resolution degradation affects the geostatistical structure of the data by reducing the sills, and increasing the ranges.     

土壤中重金属形态分析方法研究

介绍了一种重金属形态分析连续多级提取新方法,用国家一级标样进行试验研究,并用国际标样做对比研究,表明该方法具有分组合理、更接近自然状态、操作简便易行、数据稳定可靠的特点,可为土壤环境中的重金属形态的研究及其环境危险评价提供更精确的元素信息。     

A study of heavy metal pollution in the Tinto-Odiel estuary in southwestern Spain using factor analysis

The estuary of Odiel and Tinto rivers, located on the southwestern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, receives acidic fluvial water discharges with high concentrations of sulphates and heavy metals from these rivers. In addition, a big industrial complex which efflues directly on the system is located in the same estuary. The effluents induce the presence in the estuary of high concentrations of heavy metals and phospates (nutrients). The application of factorial analysis techniques on the nutrients and heavy metal concentrations in 46 water samples taken from 32 different sampling stations located along the estuary, allows three groups of elements and compounds with a distinct origin to be determinated. So, Cu and Zn have a clear fluvial provenance, whereas PO₄ and As are clearly industrial wastes and Cl, K, Ca, Li, Rb and Sr come from the sea. From the factorial analyses we can deduce the existence of two agents controlling the behavior of the analyzed elements, which are: the tidal exchange with the open sea and the fluvial supply. Received: 20 November 1998 · Accepted: 11 August 1999     

Geochemical characterization of heavy metal contaminated area using multivariate factorial kriging

This paper describes a geostatistical method, known as factorial kriging analysis, which is well suited for analyzing multivariate spatial information. The method involves multivariate variogram modeling, principal component analysis, and cokriging. It uses several separate correlation structures, each corresponding to a specific spatial scale, and yields a set of regionalized factors summarizing the main features of the data for each spatial scale. This method is applied to an area of high manganese-ore mining activity in Amapá State, North Brazil. Two scales of spatial variation (0.33 and 2.0 km) are identified and interpreted. The results indicate that, for the short-range structure, manganese, arsenic, iron, and cadmium are associated with human activities due to the mining work, while for the long-range structure, the high aluminum, selenium, copper, and lead concentrations, seem to be related to the natural environment. At each scale, the correlation structure is analyzed, and regionalized factors are estimated by cokriging and then mapped.     

土壤重金属污染潜在风险评价

以北方某河流河床及河流两侧农田中土壤为研究对象,采用地累积指数法和潜在生态危害指数法对土壤中Cd 和Ni 的污染状况进行风险评价。结果表明,废弃冶炼中心处河床及河流两侧土壤中 Cd 和Ni 污染严重,均超过当地土壤背景值; 河床中土壤重金属富集程度为Cd ＞ Ni,其中Cd 富集程度达5 级,为重污染。以当地土壤背景值作为参比值进行评价,该河流处于重度的潜在生态危害程度,重金属的生态危害顺序为Cd ＞ Ni。     

Multivariate analysis of heavy metal contents of sediments from Gumusler creek, Nigde, Turkey

In this study, heavy metal contents of samples from Gumusler creek in Turkey were studied and the metal contamination characteristics were investigated. In this respect, considering the pollutant sites in the area, systematic sediment samples were collected in a zone starting from the manifestation part of the water to the entrance of the Karasu creek in Gumusler town. Samples were taken from lower section of the river bed at 30 stations along Gumusler creek, 13 km in length and their heavy metal contents were analyzed with XRF Spectrometer. Correlation coefficients, element coefitic coefficient correlation, dendogram hierarchical cluster, model summary and Annova analysis statistical methods were applied to data. Strong positive correlations were determined for some elements which are believed to have possibly the same origin. In addition, mineralizations in the area are thought to cause variation in metal contents. Results of chemical analysis show that soil limit values and clark values were exceeded. The heavy metal accumulation in the creek is believed to be derived from non-operated Sb-Hg-W and Fe quarries.     

土壤粒级中重金属元素的形态分析与环境风险评价

研究评价不同粒级组分中重金属的活性和潜在环境风险,对3个地区土壤颗粒的分析表明,重金属在土壤中分布并不均匀,随着颗粒粒径的减小,重金属Cu、Cd元素及有机质的浓度有不断增高的趋势。线性分析显示,Cu、Cd元素浓度与有机质的浓度显著相关。形态分析表明,Cd主要以环境高活性的形态存在,其次以低活性的形态存在,环境惰性的形态仅占极小部分,Cu主要以低环境活性和环境惰性的形态存在,高环境活性的形态只占小量,Cu在土壤中的存在形态可能与土壤性质有关。     

Standardization of metal concentrations in sediments using regression residuals: an example from a large lake in Florida, USA

 A new method of standardizing metal concentrations in sediments was tested on samples from Lake Miccosukee, a large karstic lake in north Florida. Metal concentrations were analyzed in 222 sediment samples from 26 cores representing 9 sampling sites in the lake. Measured sedimentation rates in the lake are low. Percent organic matter strongly increases upward in all the cores. The C/N ratio remains constant throughout all the samples, with a mean value of about 13, regardless of depth or location. All of the geochemical variables are at least approximately log-normally distributed; thus, log-log or semi-log scattergrams were used and the data were log-transformed before statistical calculations were performed. Some elements (Mn, Zn, Hg, Cu, and Ca) are primarily associated with the organic fraction; others (La, Cr, Sr, and Ba) are clearly related to the terrigenous fraction; others show affinities for both fractions. Consequently, no bivariate scattergrams or plots of ratio versus depth – commonly used for standardization by plotting or ratioing a reference element (such as Al) to an element of interest – were found to be adequate for standardization of this dataset. The best method for standardization was found to be one based on multivariate (trivariate) linear regression, using log Al and log C as the independent variables (reference elements representing terrigenous and organic fractions, respectively), and the log of the element of interest as the dependent variable. Residuals (deviations) from the best-fit linear surface were then plotted versus depth in the cores to accomplish the standardization. The results indicate that, with the possible exception of Mn at two sites, there is little evidence of anthropogenic input of trace elements to the lake, and most trace-element concentrations in the lake can be considered as valuable baseline information. A significant finding is that different and erroneous conclusions might have been reached if other standardization methods, not based on trivariate regression, had been employed. Received: 28 August 1997 · Accepted: 24 November 1997     

Spatial analysis and hazard assessment of mercury in soil around the coal-fired power plant: a case study from the city of Baoji, China

Based on systematic sampling of soil around the coal-fired power plant (CFPP), the content of Hg was determined, using atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The result shows that the content of Hg in soil is different horizontally and vertically, ranges from 0.137 to 2.105 mg/kg (the average value is 0.606 mg/kg) and is more than the average content of Hg in Shaanxi, Chinese and world soil. In this study, spatial distribution and hazard assessment of mercury in soils around a CFPP were investigated using statistics, geostatistics and geographic information system (GIS) techniques. Ordinary kriging was carried out to map the spatial patterns of mercury and disjunctive kriging was used to quantify the probability of the Hg concentration higher than the threshold. The maps show that the spatial variability of the Hg concentration in soils was apparent. These results of this study could provide valuable information for risk assessment of environmental Hg pollution and decision support. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Assessment of heavy metal accumulation in macrophyte, agricultural soil, and crop plants adjacent to discharge zone of sponge iron factory

The present study deals with the characterization of effluent released from sponge iron industries and distribution of heavy metals in soil and macrophytes near to effluent discharge channel. Apart from this, accumulation of heavy metals in nearby soil and vegetation system irrigated with effluent-contaminated water is also the subject of this study. Physico-chemical analysis of effluent reveals that the concentration of total suspended solids (TSS), total hardness (TH), iron (Fe²⁺), and oil and grease are greater than the IS (1981) norms for discharge of water into inland water body. The soil along the sides of the effluent channel also shows higher concentration of heavy metals than the background soil. The enrichment of the heavy metals are in the order of Chromium (Cr) > Iron (Fe) > Manganese (Mn) > Zinc (Zn) > Copper (Cu) > Cadmium (Cd). Macrophytes growing along the sides of the effluent channel also show significant accumulation of heavy metals almost in the same order as accumulated in soil. Higher uptake of heavy metals by these varieties reveals that these species can be used for future phytoremediation. The effluent as well as contaminated water is extensively used for irrigation for growing vegetables like tomato (Lycopersicon esculatum) in the surrounding areas. Heavy metal accumulation in this agricultural soil are in the sequence of Cr > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cd. More or less similar type of accumulation pattern are also found in tomato plants except Fe and Zn exceeding Cr and Mn. Transfer Factor of heavy metals from soil to tomato plants (TF_S) shows average value of <1, suggesting less uptake of heavy metals from soil. Among the plant parts studied, fruit shows least accumulation. Although tomato plants show some phenotypic changes, the survival of tomato plants as well as least accumulation of metals in fruit reveals their tolerance to heavy metals. Therefore it may be suggested that this plant can be grown successfully in the heavy metal contaminated soil. Further research work on in situ toxicity test will be necessary in order to identify the most resistive variety on this particular type of contaminated site.     

Accounting for spatial patterns of multiple geological data sets in geological thematic mapping using GIS-based spatial analysis

This paper presents a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based spatial analysis scheme to account for spatial patterns and association in geological thematic mapping with multiple geological data sets. The multi-buffer zone analysis, the main part of the present study, was addressed to reveal the spatial pattern around geological source primitives and statistical analysis based on a contingency table was performed to extract information for the assessment of an integrated layer. Mineral potential mapping using multiple geological data sets from Ogdong in Korea was carried out to illustrate application of this methodology. The results obtained from the case study indicated that some geochemical elements and residual magnetic anomaly dominantly affected spatial patterns of the mineral potential map in the study area and the dominant classes of input data layers were also extracted. This information on spatial patterns of multiple geological data sets around mines could be used as effective evidences for the interpretation of the integrated layer within GIS.     

Magnetic screening of a pollution hotspot in the Lausitz area, Eastern Germany: correlation analysis between magnetic proxies and heavy metal contamination in soils

This investigation was carried out within the scope of EU-FP5 project MAGPROX. In parallel with the work of Kalinski et al. (2004, submitted), in which the magnetic signatures of the same soil profiles were analysed in more detail. The ‘hot spot’ under investigation was situated in the Lausitz area, Eastern Germany, between two major power plants, Schwarze Pumpe and Boxberg. This heavily industrialized region is known as the Black Triangle, named after the large lignite deposits and the old-technology power plants, among other petrochemical plants, refineries, textile manufacturing and glasswork industries. The relationship between magnetic parameters and heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, Co and Ni) in soil profiles was determined statistically using linear regression analysis. Strong positive correlation was observed between heavy metal concentrations as viewed preliminarily from the heavy metal and magnetic susceptibility distributions with depth (soil profiles), and from the correlation coefficients obtained.MAGPROX team–FP5 RTD Project No. EVK2-CT-1999-00019     

基于生物可利用性与宽浓度范围的Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法的创建——以小秦岭金矿区农田土壤为例

Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法是土壤重金属潜在生态风险评价的一种常用方法,研究与实践证明其有效性的同时,也发现了其不足之处:忽略了土壤重金属不同形态之间潜在生态风险的差异,且只重视重金属含量高于参考值时的生态风险,而对低于参考值时的情况没有给予考虑,以致特定情况下的评价结果不能很好地反映实际生态风险,因而有必要创建适用性更广的Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法。为此,基于全过程控制优化的思想,引入了生物可利用性毒性系数,并将修正浓度与参考值差值引入计算公式,创建了基于生物可利用性与宽浓度范围的Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法,实现了对重金属不同形态风险贡献的差异及重金属浓度低于参考值情况下潜在生态风险的准确把握。以小秦岭金矿区为典型区域,辅以对采集土样重金属总量及5种形态含量的分析,开展案例研究。结果表明,基于生物可利用性与宽浓度范围的Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法能客观地揭示土壤重金属的潜在生态风险,具有更大的适应性,是一种有效的潜在生态风险评价方法。     

土壤重金属累积作用指示因子的筛选方法——灰色关联度分析法与数理统计法

土壤重金属累积作用指示因子的确定,目前常用方法主要是基于背景值。背景值的研究受到长期关注,并在部分地区积累了较丰富的资料,然而也有些区域受人类活动等的影响,其背景值已不易获得,以致于该方法使用受阻,很有必要另寻适宜方法。为此,分别尝试利用灰色关联度分析与描述性数理统计原理筛选指标因子,并以小秦岭金矿区农田土壤为典型案例开展验证性研究。结果表明,所研究的两种方法能为上述两种情况筛选出适宜的指示因子,是土壤重金属累积作用指示因子筛选的适宜方法。