title: Levels and ecological risk assessment of metals in soils from a typical e-waste recycling region in southeast China.
abstract: Due to the high threat to human health and the ecosystem from metals, the levels and distribution of As, Hg, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Mn, V, Sn, Sb, Li and Be in various layers of soil from an e-waste recycling area in Guiyu, China were investigated. The extent of pollution from the metals in soil was assessed using enrichment factors (EFs) and the Nemerow pollution index (P N ). To determine the metals' integrated potential ecological risks, the potential ecological risk index (RI) was chosen. The concentrations of Hg, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb, Sn and Sb were mainly enriched in the topsoil. EF values (2-5) of the elements Hg, Co, Ni, Zn, Sn, Li and Be revealed their moderate enrichment status in the topsoil, derived from e-waste recycling activities. P N presented a decreasing trend in different layers in the order topsoil (0-20 cm) > deep soil (100-150 cm) > middle soil (50-100 cm) > shallow soil (20-50 cm). With higher potential ecological risk factor (E(i)), Hg and Cd are the main contributors to the potential ecological risk. With respect to the RI, all the values in soil from the study area exceeded 300, especially for the soil at sites S2, S4, S5, S7 and S8, where RI was greater than 600. Therefore, immediate remediation of the contaminated soil is necessary to prevent the release of metals and potential ecological harm.
authors: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China.
authors: Weituo
authors: W
authors: Zhao
authors: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Ding
authors: School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
authors: Xiaowen
authors: X
authors: Gu
authors: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Luo
authors: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China.
authors: Yunlang
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Guo
authors: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Shi
authors: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China.
authors: Ting
authors: T
authors: Huang
authors: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China. Chengsg@cug.edu.cn.
authors: Shenggao
authors: S
authors: Cheng
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D002681:China; D059029:Electronic Waste; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity*; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects*; D059027:Recycling; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Distribution; E-waste recycling area; Ecological risk assessment; Enrichment factors; Metals; Nemerow pollution index