title: Impacts of human activities and sampling strategies on soil heavy metal distribution in a rapidly developing region of China.
abstract: The impacts of industrial and agricultural activities on soil Cd, Hg, Pb, and Cu in Zhangjiagang City, a rapidly developing region in China, were evaluated using two sampling strategies. The soil Cu, Cd, and Pb concentrations near industrial locations were greater than those measured away from industrial locations. The converse was true for Hg. The top enrichment factor (TEF) values, calculated as the ratio of metal concentrations between the topsoil and subsoil, were greater near industrial location than away from industrial locations and were further related to the industry type. Thus, the TEF is an effective index to distinguish sources of toxic elements not only between anthropogenic and geogenic but also among different industry types. Target soil sampling near industrial locations resulted in a greater estimation in high levels of soil heavy metals. This study revealed that the soil heavy metal contamination was primarily limited to local areas near industrial locations, despite rapid development over the last 20 years. The prevention and remediation of the soil heavy metal pollution should focus on these high-risk areas in the future.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang 311400, China; Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
authors.forename: Xuexin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China. Electronic address: bhuang@issas.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
authors.forename: Yongcun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
authors.forename: Weixia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Service Station for Soil and Fertilizer, Agricultural Bureau of Zhangjiagang City, Zhangjiagang 215600, China.
authors.forename: Zhiquan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Service Station for Soil and Fertilizer, Agricultural Bureau of Zhangjiagang City, Zhangjiagang 215600, China.
authors.forename: Weifei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D003906:Developing Countries; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Heavy metal pollution; Human activities; Industrial; Sampling strategies; Soil