Accumulation and sources of heavy metals in urban topsoils: a case study from the city of Xuzhou, China

The knowledge of the variability, the anthropogenic versus natural origin and corresponding environmental risk for potentially harmful elements in urban topsoils is of importance to assess human impact. The aims of the present study were: (1) to assess the distribution of heavy metals (Sn, Li, Ga, Ba, Fe, Mn, Co, Be, Ti, Al, Hg, Cr, Sb, As, Bi, Pd, Pt, Au, Ni, Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, Se, Mo, Sc and Ag) in urban environment; (2) to discriminate natural and anthropogenic contributions; and (3) to identify possible sources of pollution. Multivariate statistic approaches (principal component analysis and cluster analysis) were adopted for data treatment, allowing the identification of three main factors controlling the heavy metal variability in Xuzhou urban topsoils. Results demonstrate that Hg, Cr, Sb, As, Bi, Pd, Pt, Au, Ni, Cd, Br, Zn, Cu, S, Pb, Se, Mo, Sc and Ag could be inferred to be tracers of anthropogenic pollution, whereas Al, Ti, Ga, Li, V, Co, Pt, Mn and Be were interpreted to be mainly inherited from parent materials. Iron, Ba, Sn, Pd and Br were interpreted to be affected by mixed sources.     

Correlation between magnetic susceptibility and heavy metals in urban topsoil: a case study from the city of Xuzhou, China

Anthropogenic influence, mainly due to urban and industrial activities and traffic exhaust, may affect urban topsoil via atmospheric contamination and solid waste. Magnetic susceptibility measurements were conducted on 21 urban topsoil samples from the city of Xuzhou, China. High intensities of magnetic susceptibility were detected in the majority of the samples. SEM analysis shows that magnetic minerals are in the form of spherules and mainly due to anthropogenic inputs. The heavy metals Pb, Cu, Zn, Se, Sc, Mo, Fe, and Bi show strong correlations with magnetic susceptibility, and Ag, Ba, Cd, Ni, Cr, Sb, and Sn, on the other hand, show a weak correlation with magnetic susceptibility. Whereas, of these metals studied, only Hg has no significant correlation with the susceptibility. The Tomlinson pollution load index (PLI) also shows significant correlation with the susceptibility (χ). The present study shows that magnetic susceptibility is a fast, inexpensive, and non-destructive method for the detection and mapping of contaminated soils.     

基于土壤重金属污染风险管控的土壤质量评价:以某县级市为例

近年来农用地土壤质量受重金属污染影响进而导致农产品受到威胁的问题愈发严重,然而关于土壤质量评价的研究很少考虑土壤污染状况,忽略了土壤污染风险对土壤质量的影响。本文以某典型制造业县级市为例,在以土壤理化性质为主要指标的土壤肥力状况评价基础上,对研究区土壤重金属进行污染风险管控类型划分。通过建立分段函数将土壤污染风险管控类型划分结果引入土壤质量评价体系,对农用地土壤质量进行评价。结果表明：研究区土壤理化指标的变异系数从大到小为速效磷(AP)含量>土壤电导率(SEC)>全磷(TP)含量>土壤有机碳(SOC)含量>阳离子交换量(CEC)>全氮(TN)含量>pH。土壤肥力状况随地势降低和河流增加呈现升高的趋势,高肥力区主要分布在平原区西北部和平原区东北部,低肥力区主要分布在东南部丘陵山区和西部低洼区,肥力过渡区环绕低肥力区分布。农用地土壤污染风险管控类型的划分结果表明,Cd、Hg、As、Pb、Cr、Ni、Cu和Zn 8种重金属中至少有88.89%的Cd样点和98.61%的Cr样点属于优先保护类,11.11%的Cd样点、1.39%的Cr样点属于安全利用类,该区重金属污染以Cd为主。土壤质量评价结果表明,土壤质量总体分布与土壤肥力状况分布规律类似,但由于受土壤污染风险的影响,研究区西南部低质量土壤范围向东扩张,东南部低质量土壤分布范围更小,更密集化。上述研究结果说明,引入土壤污染风险管控类型划分结果一般会对土壤肥力状况作减幅修正,并在一定程度上改变原土壤肥力状况的空间分布格局。     

Assessment of heavy metals contamination in urban topsoil from Changchun City,China

Due to the rapid urbanization and industrialization that has occurred in China over the last few decades, metals have been continuously emitted into the urban environment and now pose a serious threat to human health. Indeed, there is a growing concern over the potential for pollution of urban soils with heavy metals. Therefore, an extensive soil survey was conducted in urban areas of Changchun, China, to evaluate the current status of heavy metal contamination in soils and to evaluate its potential sources. A total of 352 samples of urban soils were collected from urban areas of Changchun using a systematic sampling strategy in which one sample per km² was taken (0 ~ 20 cm). The levels of Cu, Pb, Zn and the major elements (Mn, Al₂O₃, CaO, Fe₂O₃, MgO, SiO₂, K₂O and NaO) were then determined by X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), while the level of Cd was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS), and the Hg and As concentrations were determined by atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (AFS). The results indicated that, when compared with the background values of topsoil in the Changchun region, the topsoil in urban areas were enriched with metals, particularly Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb and Hg. The results of correlation coefficient analysis showed that Hg, As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were significantly positive correlated with each other, while Cr and Mn formed another group. Moreover, significantly positive correlations were observed between pH and Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, As and Hg, indicating that pH influences the distributions of these metals in urban soils in Changchun. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to identify sources of heavy metals and the results revealed distinctly different associations among the trace metals and the major elements in the urban soils. The concentration of Cr appeared to be controlled by the parent material (natural sources), while Cu, Pb and Zn were mainly from vehicle emissions, with Zn primarily coming from vehicle tires. Additionally, Hg and As primarily originated from coal combustion, while Cd was mainly associated with industrial sources. According to the pollution index (PI) of each metal, the overall levels of metal pollution were not especially high, but there were clearly contaminated sites concentrated in the central and northeast portion of the studied region. The Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI) of the seven metals also indicated that urban soils in Changchun city were classified as having low level of pollution.     

内江市双桥乡土壤重金属含量及风险评价

以四川省内江市双桥乡为研究区域,调查分析各类土壤中重金属（Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、As、Hg、Ni）含量情况。采用单因子污染指数、内梅罗综合污染指数和富集因子评价方法,对土壤重金属污染状况进行评价。研究结果表明,该地区Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn元素平均含量高于成都经济区、四川省、中国土壤背景值,有一定程度的Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn富集,Hg元素有个别样点含量偏高,并且单因子重金属的污染程度依次为：Cd〉Ni〉Zn〉Cu〉Cr〉Pb〉As〉Hg,Cd在绝大部份区域存在轻微污染,由内梅罗污染指数和富集因子评价得出区域综合污染程度为轻度。     

Geostatistical analyses and fractionation of heavy metals in urban soil from industrial district in Weinan, NW China

The concentrations of metals (Pb, Cr, Ba, Zn, V, Mn, Co, Cu, Ni and As) in 38 soil samples collected from the industrial district in Weinan (NW China) were determined by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The magnetic parameters of soil including low-/high-frequency susceptibility and frequency-dependent susceptibility were measured. The modified three-step BCR sequential extraction procedure was used to evaluate mobility, availability and persistence of trace elements in urban soil samples. Multivariate (principal component analysis, clustering analysis and correlation analysis) and geostatistical analysis (ArcGIS tools) were applied to the obtained data to evaluate the analytical results and to identify the possible pollution sources of metals as well as geo-spatial distributions. The results revealed that the sampling area was mainly influenced by two main sources: (1) Ba, Cu, Pb, Cr and Zn were mainly derived from industrial sources, which combined with coal combustion as well as traffic factor. The mobility sequence based on the sum of the BCR sequential extraction stages was: Pb (53.79 %) > Zn (51.78 %) > Cu (50.96 %) > Ba (42.59 %) > Cr (18.47 %). Pb was the metal predominantly associated (~46.86 %) with the form bound to Fe/Mn oxides, and the highest percentage of Zn was exchangeable and carbonate-bound fraction. Cu was present mainly in organic fraction, while the residual fraction was the most dominant solid phase pool of Cr (~81.53 %) and Ba (~57.41 %). (2) Mn, V, Co, As and Ni in the study area were consistently from natural sources. The analysis of enrichment factors indicated that urban soils in Weinan City were classified as having significant enrichment by Ba, Cu, Pb, Cr and Zn. The overall results proposed the future tactics for Weinan environment quality control on a local scale that concerned not only the levels of risky, but also the industrial emission abatement techniques as well as urban setting.     

铜陵矿区土壤重金属元素的空间变异及污染分析

运用地统计学分析手段对铜陵矿区土壤中的As、Cd、Hg、Pb和Zn5种重金属元素进行空间变异分析及空间插值,并进行污染分析,以期为铜陵矿区土壤环境评价、土壤污染修复及环境决策提供科学依据。数据来源于"安徽省江淮流域多目标区域地球化学调查"结果,采用Johnson变换进行正态转换,地统计拟合变异函数中,As、Cd元素为球状模型,Pb、Zn元素为五球形模型,Hg元素为指数模型。结果表明,As、Cd、Pb、Zn元素的变异函数表现为各向异性,其方向性可能主要受矿床分布控制;Hg元素块金效应较大,表明其受小     

新庄孜矿塌陷区煤矸石中重金属迁移对覆土影响

针对淮南新庄孜矿覆土造地中煤矸石填充带来的重金属元素迁移污染进行了研究。结果表明:煤矸石中有毒元素Pb、As、Cd、Hg向覆土有一定迁移,且距离煤矸石越近的土壤中重金属含量明显增高;虽然覆土中重金属含量均超过淮南土壤的均值,但是该土壤中Pb、As和Cd含量均符合国家二级标准;其中土壤中Hg含量分别符合国家一级标准和二级标准。须对覆土中重金属元素进行跟踪研究。     

Magnetic properties of urban topsoils and correlation with heavy metals: a case study from the city of Xuzhou, China

Heavy metals in urban topsoils have been shown to be very useful tracers of environmental pollution. Thus, their detailed studies are of great importance. Apart from expensive and time-consuming chemical methods, several simple, rapid and cheap proxy methods have been developed recently, one of them being based on rock-magnetic parameters. This examines the use of rock-magnetic methods designed to assess the degree of heavy-metal pollution of urban topsoils from the city of Xuzhou (China). The aim was to identify the magnetic properties and to link the “magnetic pollution” to the concentrations of the heavy metals. Since a strong correlation has been found between saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) and the heavy metals, namely, Fe, Se, Ti, Sc, Ba, Bi, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr and Mo, an anthropogenic contamination origin is thought to be the cause. The present study shows that SIRM is a fast, inexpensive and non-destructive method for the detection and mapping of heavy-metal-contaminated urban topsoils.     

某金矿区农田土壤重金属污染的人体健康风险

环境重金属污染的人体健康效应是当今社会最为关注的重大环境问题。某金矿区矿业活动导致土壤、地下水、农作物中重金属元素存在不同程度的累积或超标。通过土壤、地下水、蔬菜及粮食作物的样品采集,人群暴露问卷调查,获得了暴露人群的膳食结构参数。以农田土壤中7种重金属元素的综合污染分区内的土壤、地下水、蔬菜、小麦玉米等样品中的重金属元素的平均含量为依据,采用USEPA推荐的人体健康风险评价模型,计算了经口食入、皮肤接触等暴露途径对成年人的健康风险概率。研究表明,研究区存在因重金属导致的不可接受的人体健康高非致癌风险和致癌风险。总体而言,土壤重金属污染愈重地区,区内人体健康风险愈高。地下水中的Cr元素、土壤综合污染区内的Hg元素、污染区内的蔬菜及粮食是危害人体健康的重要因素。因此,禁饮Cr含量高的地下水、禁食污染区内的农作物、修复土壤重金属污染、调整农作物种植结构是保护研究区人群健康的重要环境管理工作。     

某金矿区农田土壤重金属污染的人体健康风险

环境重金属污染的人体健康效应是当今社会最为关注的重大环境问题。某金矿区矿业活动导致土壤、地下水、农作物中重金属元素存在不同程度的累积或超标。通过土壤、地下水、蔬菜及粮食作物的样品采集,人群暴露问卷调查,获得了暴露人群的膳食结构参数。以农田土壤中7种重金属元素的综合污染分区内的土壤、地下水、蔬菜、小麦玉米等样品中的重金属元素的平均含量为依据,采用USEPA推荐的人体健康风险评价模型,计算了经口食入、皮肤接触等暴露途径对成年人的健康风险概率。研究表明,研究区存在因重金属导致的不可接受的人体健康高非致癌风险和致癌风险。总体而言,土壤重金属污染愈重地区,区内人体健康风险愈高。地下水中的Cr元素、土壤综合污染区内的Hg元素、污染区内的蔬菜及粮食是危害人体健康的重要因素。因此,禁饮Cr含量高的地下水、禁食污染区内的农作物、修复土壤重金属污染、调整农作物种植结构是保护研究区人群健康的重要环境管理工作。     

Distribution of heavy metals in Gaborone urban soils (Botswana) and its relationship to soil pollution and bedrock composition

The capital city of Botswana, Gaborone, has seen unprecedented population, economic, and industrial growth in recent years. In order to assess how this rapid urbanisation process impacts the environment, 106 silt and clay (particle size <0.053 mm) samples, separated from Gaborone surface soil samples representing urban, agricultural and rural sites, were investigated. The concentrations of nine heavy metals (Sc, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Cd, and Pb) were measured using ICP–MS and GFAAS, and the resulting patterns were correlated to the bedrock composition and anthropogenic activities. As expected, we found that samples from soils on top of dolerites show higher levels of Cr, Ni, and Cu than those on top of granites and rhyolites. However, our studies also show that Gaborone city centre soils are moderately polluted by Pb (up to 222 mg/kg, i.e. 5.7-fold the concentration in comparable rural soils), as a result of heavy traffic. Furthermore, Cr and Ni pollution originating from agrochemicals were shown to be accumulating in Gaborone crop soils. Our studies also showed moderate levels of Zn pollution and low level, dot-shaped pollution of Cr, Co, Ni, Cu detected in Gaborone residential and industrial soils that are correlated to waste disposal. Interestingly, the highest levels of Sc, Cr, Co, Ni and Zn pollution are found near two abandoned sewage works. The results of sequential extraction indicate that the polluting Co and Ni exist in all speciations; the polluting Cu mainly exists in the residue of the sequential extraction, whereas the polluting Pb is mostly bound to organic matters and Fe- and Mn-oxides. These results highlight the need for instituting a systematic and continuous monitoring of heavy metals and other forms of pollutants in Gaborone to ensure that pollution does not become a serious problem in the future.     

Contamination assessment and health risk of heavy metals in dust from Changqing industrial park of Baoji,NW China

The contents of Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in the dust samples collected from Changqing industrial park of Baoji city, NW China, were measured by XRF, while As and Hg in the dust samples were analyzed by AFS. Geo-accumulation index (I _geo), pollution index (PI) and integrated pollution index (IPI) were calculated to evaluate the heavy metal contamination level of dust. The health risk due to exposure to heavy metals in dust was analyzed by the Health Risk Assessment Model of US EPA. The results show that the arithmetic means of As, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn are 23.3, 16.4, 1591.8, 178.2, 0.243, 346.5, 40.2, 1,586.2 and 1,918.8 mg kg^?1, respectively, which are higher than the background values of Shaanxi soil, especially for Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn. The mean values of I _geo reveal the order of Pb > Zn > Cr > Hg > Cu > As > Co > Ni > Mn. The high I _geo of Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn in dust indicates that there is considerable pollution from Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn, while the low I _geo of As, Co, Mn and Ni presents no pollution in dust. The assessment results of PI support the results of I _geo, and IPI indicates heavy metals in dust polluted seriously. The health risk assessment shows that ingestion of dust particles is the route for exposure to heavy metals from dust, followed by dermal adsorption. Exposure to As, Cr and Pb from dust may pose a potential health threat to children and adults. The risk of cancer from As, Co, Cr and Ni due to dust exposure is low.     

Contamination and distribution of heavy metals in urban soil in Zhangzhou City, Fujian, China

The urban environment quality is of vital importance as the majority of people now live in cities. Due to the continuous urbanization and industrialization with rapidly increasing economy in China, metals are continuously emitted into soils, imposing a great threat on human health. Urban soils might be affected by industrial activities, transport, agricultural practice, and waste disposal. An extensive survey was conducted in the highly urbanized Zhangzhou City （Fujian Province, China） using a systematic sampling strategy. Concentrations of Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, As, Cr and Ni were measured on 108 topsoil samples collected from parks （0-15 cm）, residential areas and suburban agricultural soils. Statistic approach （cluster analysis） was adopted for identification of natural and anthropogenic influence on heavy metal contents. The maps of metal concentrations in surface soils were made based on geographical information system （GIS） data. All of these aim at assessing the distribution of these heavy metals in the urban environment.     

Assessment of heavy metals contamination in soils of Dexing region, Jiangxi Province, China

Heavy metal contamination has attracted huge concern due to its toxicity, abundance and persistence in the environment, and subsequent accumulation in soil, sediment and water. Mining is one of the most important sources of heavy metals in the environment. Mining-milling operations and disposal of tailings （the finely ground remains of milled ores） in addition to smelting and metal refining provide significant sources of pollution. Mining and mineral processing in the Dexing region of China have been carried out for over forty years and have contaminated the soils with heavy metals, Many studies were conducted to assess and establish the extent of heavy metal contamination in the soils due to mining. The aim of this work was to assess the environmental impact of mining on soils in the Dexing region and to identify the main factors involved in heavy metals dispersion. A 4800 km^2 study area was assessed with respect to its heavy metals on the basis of the current guideline values. In order to assess the extent of heavy metals contamination resulting from past mining activities in the Dexing region, 919 soil samples were collected and analyzed for As, Hg, Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu and Pb, Heavy metals levels were determined using inductively couple plasma-atomic emission spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Results of soil samples reported concentrations between 1.790-899 mg/kg for As, 0.034-4.980 mg/kg for Hg, 0.043-8.330 mg/kg for Cd, 10-666 mg/kg for Cr, 25-18500 mg/kg for Zn, 6-1825 mg/kg for Cu, and 16-1312 mg/kg for Pb, respectively. The maximum values of As, Hg, Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu and Pb concentration in soils were up to 60, 33, 41, 7, 185, 52 and 37 times higher than the tolerable level, respectively. Meanwhile, the single-factor pollution index and Nemerow pollution index were used to assess the environment quality of heavy metals contamination.     

太湖流域土壤重金属元素污染历史的重建:以Pb、Cd为例

太湖是位于长江下游的一个大型浅水湖泊,通过对4个代表太湖不同沉积环境的湖底沉积剖面的137Cs和210Pb沉积定年,重建太湖湖底沉积物和太湖来水流域土壤Cd、Pb的污染历史。结果显示:1980年以前,太湖底积物中Cd、Pb含量与流域内的自然背景含量相当,1980年以后,湖底沉积物中的Cd、Pb含量显著增高,这与我国大规模工业化进程的起始时间基本一致,推测工业化进程是湖底沉积物中Cd、Pb含量增加的主要原因。1900年以来太湖湖底沉积物中累积含有Cd和Pb分别为146t和25980t,其中苕溪来水提供的Cd和Pb分别为40t、6777t,宜溧河来水提供的Cd、Pb分别为36t、6023t,其他来水(洮、滆、运河)提供的Cd、Pb分别为71t、13179t,其他来水是太湖Cd、Pd累积的主要输入途径。Cd、Pb累积的高峰期为20世纪80—90年代,1980年以来,运河来水Cd、Pb的输出通量为28.26t、3419t;苕溪流域Cd、Pb的输出总量分别为13.70t、1585t,其中人为源的Cd、Pb为8.90t、610t,人为源输出的Cd、Pb通量占总输出量的64.96%和38.47%;宜溧河流域Cd、Pb的输出总量分别为10.09t、1063t,人为源的Cd、Pb分别6.96t和500t,人为源输出的Cd、Pb通量占总输出量的68.68%和47.08%,表明太湖流域人类活动所导致的Cd已超过自然剥蚀过程,因此削减工业化进程中的Cd、Pb排放总量,控制太湖运河来水的输出通量是改善太湖底积物Cd、Pb环境质量的关键措施。     

煤矸石堆周围土壤重金属污染特征分析--以焦作市中马村矿为例

利用扇形布点法采集了焦作市中马村矿矸石堆周围土壤，对其中的Cr、Pb、Cu、Mn4种重金属含量进行了研究。结果表明：煤矸石的堆放对周围土壤造成不同程度的污染，重金属的含量随离矸石堆距离增大呈减小的趋势，主要受到风向的影响。     

岩溶铅锌矿区土壤重金属污染特征

以DX、DW铅锌矿区土壤为研究对象,利用原子吸收光谱法（AA800）、原子荧光光谱法（AF-640）测定土壤中铅、铬、镉、铜、锌、镍、汞和砷等重金属的含量,利用单因子污染指数法、N.L.Nemerow综合污染指数法对比分析土壤中重金属的污染特征,采用PCC统计学方法分析矿区土壤中重金属之间的相关性。结果表明:两矿区土壤中除Cu、Cr外,其余重金属均已对土壤造成单一或复合污染,其中Cd污染最为严重,对综合污染贡献最大。DX、DW矿区土壤重金属的Nemerow指数分别为27.61、63.54,均达到极强污染水平,且DW矿区污染较为严重。DX矿区,除Ni外,Pb、Cr等7种重金属元素之间存相关性;DW矿区,除Cr外,Pb、Ni等7种重金属元素之间存相关性,这可能与二矿区均属多金属伴生、共生矿床有关;土壤中各重金属总含量与pH值没有显著的相关性。研究结果将为合理制定矿区土壤污染的修复和治理措施提供依据。