Spatial distribution and risk assessment of heavy metals in soil near a Pb/Zn smelter in Feng County, China.
A large scale survey and a small scale continuous monitoring was conducted to evaluate the impact of Pb/Zn smelting on soil heavy metals (HMs) accumulation and potential ecological risk in Feng County, Shaanxi province of China. Soil parameters including pH, texture, CEC, spatial and temporal distribution of HMs (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn), and BCR fractionation were monitored accordingly. The results showed the topsoil in the proximity of smelter, especially the smelter area and county seat, were highly polluted by HMs in contrast to the river basins. Fractionation of Cd and Zn in soil samples revealed higher proportion of mobile fractions than other HMs. The soil Cd and Zn contents decreased vertically, but still exceeded the second level limits of Environmental Quality Standard for Soils of China (EQSS) within 80cm. The dominated soil pollutant (Cd) had higher ecological risk than Cu, Ni, Zn and Pb. The potential ecological risk (PER) factor of Cd were 65.7% and 100% in surrounding county and smelter area, respectively. The long-term smelter dust emission mainly contributed to the HMs pollution and posed serious environment risk to living beings.
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China.
Feng
F
Shen
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China.
Renmei
R
Liao
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China.
Amjad
A
Ali
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China.
Amanullah
A
Mahar
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China.
Di
D
Guo
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China.
Ronghua
R
Li
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China.
Sun
S
Xining
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China; Department of Biotechnology, Amicable Knowledge Solution University, Satna, India.
Mukesh Kumar
MK
Awasthi
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China.
Quan
Q
Wang
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China. Electronic address: zhangzq58@126.com.
Zengqiang
Z
Zhang
D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D002681:China; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008669:Metallurgy; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D015032:Zinc
Ecological risk; Heavy metals; Pb/Zn smelter; Soil pollution; Spatial distribution