Status and fuzzy comprehensive assessment of combined heavy metal and organo-chlorine pesticide pollution in the Taihu Lake region of China.
The status of combined heavy metal and organo-chlorine pesticide (OCPs; i.e. HCH and DDT) pollution was investigated and the soil environmental quality of the Taihu Lake watershed, one of the most developed regions in China, was evaluated using a fuzzy comprehensive assessment. Statistical analyses showed the presence of combined pollution in the soil. At many sampling sites, heavy metal concentrations were above corresponding background values, indicating the effects of extraneous pollutants. It has been over 20 years since China banned the use of OCPs, but they can still be found in soil samples of this region. HCH levels at all investigated sites were below the Chinese Environmental Quality Standard for Soils. Fuzzy comprehensive assessment showed that the overall soil quality in this region could be categorized as class I. Nevertheless, the high coefficients of variation for levels of DDT, Cd and Hg indicated the existence of some point-source pollution. Continuous monitoring and further studies of the region are recommended to prevent pollution of farmland from these sources.
Shen
Guoqing
G
Department of Environment and Resource, College of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 201101, China.
Lu
Yitong
Y
Wang
Meinong
M
Sun
Yongquan
Y
D000383:Agriculture; D002681:China; D003132:Commerce; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D005618:Fresh Water; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D007221:Industry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010575:Pesticides; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants