Pollution Characteristics, Spatial Patterns, and Sources of Toxic Elements in Soils from a Typical Industrial City of Eastern China

Soil pollution due to toxic elements (TEs) has been a core environmental concern globally, particularly in areas with developed industries. In this study, we sampled 300 surface (0–0.2 m) soil samples from Yuyao City in eastern China. Initially, the geo-accumulation index, potential ecological risk index, single pollution index, and Nemerow composite pollution index were used to evaluate the soil contamination status in Yuyao City. Ordinary kriging was then deployed to map the distribution of the soil TEs. Subsequently, indicator kriging was utilized to identify regions with high risk of TE pollution. Finally, the positive matrix factorization model was used to apportion the sources of the different TEs. Our results indicated that the mean content of different TEs kept the order: Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Ni > As > Hg ≈ Cd. Soil pollution was mainly caused by Cd and Hg in the soil of Yuyao City, while the content of other TEs was maintained at a safe level. Regions with high TE content and high pollution risk of TEs are mainly located in the central part of Yuyao City. Four sources of soil TEs were apportioned in Yuyao City. The Pb, Hg, and Zn contents in soil were mainly derived from traffic activities, coal combustion, and smelting. Meanwhile, Cu was mainly sourced from industrial emissions and atmospheric deposition, Cr and Ni mainly originated from soil parental materials, and Cd and As were produced by industrial and agricultural activities. Our study provides important implications for improving the soil environment and contributes to the development of efficient strategies for TE pollution control and remediation.

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Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements Pollution from Mineral Processing Steps at Xikuangshan Antimony Plant, Hunan, China

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr8010029 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 29

Author(s):

Saijun Zhou ◽

Renjian Deng ◽

Andrew Hursthouse

Keyword(s):

Ecological Risk ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Risk Index ◽

Pollution Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Hunan Province ◽

Ecological Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk Index ◽

Dust Generation

We evaluated the direct release to the environment of a number of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from various processing nodes at Xikuangshan Antimony Mine in Hunan Province, China. Sampling wastewater, processing dust, and solid waste and characterizing PTE content (major elements Sb, As, Zn, and associated Hg, Pb, and Cd) from processing activities, we extrapolated findings to assess wider environmental significance using the pollution index and the potential ecological risk index. The Sb, As, and Zn in wastewater from the antimony benefication industry and a wider group of PTEs in the fine ore bin were significantly higher than their reference values. The content of Sb, As, and Zn in tailings were relatively high, with the average value being 2674, 1040, and 590 mg·kg−1, respectively. The content of PTEs in the surface soils surrounding the tailings was similar to that in tailings, and much higher than the background values. The results of the pollution index evaluation of the degree of pollution by PTEs showed that while dominated by Sb, some variation in order of significance was seen namely for: (1) The ore processing wastewater Sb > Pb > As > Zn > Hg > Cd, (2) in dust Sb > As > Cd > Pb > Hg > Zn, and (3) surface soil (near tailings) Sb > Hg > Cd > As > Zn > Pb. From the assessment of the potential ecological risk index, the levels were most significant at the three dust generation nodes and in the soil surrounding the tailings reservoir.

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Spatiotemporal Variation and Pollution Assessment of Pb/Zn from Smelting Activities in China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17061968 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 1968

Author(s):

Zhenfeng Zang ◽

Yonghua Li ◽

Hairong Li ◽

Zhaohui Guo ◽

Ru Zhang

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Soil Pollution ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

National Level ◽

Pollution Index ◽

Pollution Assessment ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Hunan Province ◽

Safe Level ◽

Lead Zinc

Nonferrous smelting is an important source of heavy metals in soil, which causes different degrees of soil pollution, especially in lead–zinc (Pb/Zn) smelting areas. Based on the Pb/Zn environmental release during the Pb/Zn mineral smelting processes in 31 Chinese provinces from the period 2000 to 2015, the study analyzed the spatiotemporal variations in Pb/Zn environmental release at the national level and then evaluated the degree of soil pollution and potential ecological risk based on the heavy metal content in soil from Pb/Zn smelting areas. The results showed that from the period 2000 to 2015, the Pb release had a discrete trend, transferring from the middle east to the west, and the provinces with higher Pb releases were Henan Province, Yunnan Province, and Hunan Province. However, the Zn release showed a tendency towards spatial aggregation, and the release center of this heavy metal presented a shifting trend from south to north; additionally, the release of Zn was highest in Hunan Province. The pollution index analyses indicated that Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn in Zhuzhou and Huludao all reached extremely polluted levels, while Tongguan was at a safe level. In Gejiu, Mianxian, Fengxian, Zhuzhou, Huludao, and Shaoguan, there were very high potential ecological risks, with Cd having the highest potential ecological risk in most smelting areas, followed by Pb.

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Heavy Metals Distribution, Sources, and Ecological Risk Assessment in Huixian Wetland, South China

Water ◽

10.3390/w12020431 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 431

Author(s):

Liangliang Huang ◽

Saeed Rad ◽

Li Xu ◽

Liangying Gui ◽

Xiaohong Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Risk Assessment ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

South China ◽

Ecological Risk Assessment ◽

Risk Index ◽

Pollution Index ◽

Principal Component ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Anthropogenic Sources

This research has focused on the source identification, concentration, and ecological risk assessment of eight heavy metals in the largest karst wetland (Huixian) of south China. Numerous samples from superficial soil and sediment within ten representative landuse types were collected and examined, and the results were analyzed using multiple methods. Single pollution index (Pi) results were underpinned by the Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) method, in which Cd was observed as the priority pollutant with the highest contamination degree in this area. As for the most polluted landuse type, via applying Nemerow’s synthetical contamination index (PN) and Potential ecological risk index (RI), the river and rape field posed the highest ecological risks, while moderate for the rest. To quantify the drivers of the contaminants, a principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out and weathering of the watershed’s parent carbonate rocks was found to be the main possible origin, followed by anthropogenic sources induced by agricultural fertilizer. Considering the impacts of these potentially toxic elements on public health, the results of this study are essential to take preventive actions for environmental protection and sustainable development in the region.

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Implications of Soil Potentially Toxic Elements Contamination, Distribution and Health Risk at Hunan’s Xikuangshan Mine

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9091532 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 1532

Author(s):

Jing Bai ◽

Wen Zhang ◽

Weiyin Liu ◽

Guohong Xiang ◽

Yu Zheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Risk ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Risk Index ◽

Principal Component ◽

Mining Area ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Parent Material ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Hunan Province

A field survey was conducted to determine the pollution grade, sources, potential ecological risk, and health risk of soil potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in Xikuangshan Mine (XKS), the largest antimony (Sb) deposit in the world. A total of 106 topsoil samples were collected from 6 sites in XKS to measure the concentrations of PTEs Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, Hg, and Sb. The results show that the average concentrations of these elements at all six sites were generally greater than their corresponding background values in Hunan province, especially Sb, Hg, and As. Correlation and principal component analyses suggested that Cd, Zn, Pb, Hg, and Sb were primarily released from mining and other industrial and human activities, while Cr and As were mainly impacted by the parent material from pedogenesis. A risk index analysis showed that, overall, sites were at very high ecological risk, and Sb is the highest ecological risk factor, followed by Cd and Hg. According to health risk assessment, oral ingestion is the main non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk exposure route. The higher potentially non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks happen to the local children who live in the vicinity of mining area. It revealed that the mining and smelting processes of XKS have negatively influenced the local people, therefore, we should pay increasing attention to this practical issue and take effective measures to protect the ecology of XKS.

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Suitability of environmental indices in assessment of soil remediation with conventional and next generation washing agents

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-77312-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Barbara K. Klik ◽

Zygmunt M. Gusiatin ◽

Dorota Kulikowska

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Soil Pollution ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Risk Index ◽

Contamination Factor ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Next Generation ◽

Ecological Risk Index ◽

Metals Removal

AbstractRemediation of soils contaminated with metal must ensure high efficiency of metals removal, reduce bioavailability of residual metals and decrease ecological risk. Thus, for comprehensive environmental soil quality assessment, different indices must be used. In this study, suitability of 8 indices was used for soil highly contaminated with Cu (7874.5 mg kg−1), moderately with Pb (1414.3 mg kg−1) and low with Zn (566.1 mg kg−1), washed in batch and dynamic conditions with both conventional and next-generation washing agents. The following indices were used: modified contamination factor (mCf), modified contamination factor degree (mCdeg), mobility factor (MF), reduced partition index (IR), potential ecological risk factor (Er,Z), modified potential ecological risk factor (Er,m), potential ecological risk index (RIZ) and modified ecological risk index (RIm). For mCf,mCdeg and IR own classification scale was proposed. It was proven that most useful indices for assessment of soil pollution with metals were mCf and mCdeg. The mCf together with the IR allow to simultaneous assessment of soil pollution and stability for individual metals. These indices were appropriate for soil contaminated with different concentrations of metals, washed under both hydrodynamic conditions using various washing agents and different effectiveness of metals removal. Thus, they may be considered as most useful for evaluation of remediation method, feasibility of washing agent and assessing soil quality after washing.

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Environmental Impact Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils Near the Runway at the International Airport in Central Europe

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12177224 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (17) ◽

pp. 7224 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Martin Brtnický ◽

Václav Pecina ◽

Tivadar Baltazár ◽

Michaela Vašinová Galiová ◽

Ludmila Baláková ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Contamination ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Risk Index ◽

Pollution Index ◽

Transportation Systems ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Toxic Effects ◽

Phytotoxicity Test ◽

Significant Difference

The environmental impacts of air transport and air transportation systems have become increasingly important and are heavily debated. The aim of the study was to determine the degree of soil contamination by the potentially toxic elements (Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the vicinity of the airport runway and to evaluate whether airport traffic has had factual toxic effects on airport vegetation. The overall assessment of soil contamination by means of the Nemerow integrated pollution index indicated slight pollution; evaluation by the geoaccumulation index evinced moderate contamination by Zn and nonexistent to moderate contamination by Cu, Ni, and Pb. A significant difference between the take-off and landing sections of the runway was not statistically confirmed. The vegetation risk assessment by means of the potential ecological risk index (RI) showed the low ecological risk, while the phytotoxicity test revealed an inhibition of up to 33.7%, with a slight inhibition of 16.7% on average, and thus low toxic effects of airport traffic on airport vegetation. The results of the linear regression model between phytotoxicity and RI manifested no relation between the two. The outcomes from other studies suggest that the range of elements and the extent of contamination can be highly variable at different airports and frequently affected by car traffic. Therefore, further research on this issue is needed for the more precise determination of the elements emitted by air traffic at airports.

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Heavy-Metal Pollution Characteristics and Influencing Factors in Agricultural Soils: Evidence from Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province, China

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12051907 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1907 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Dingxuan Yan ◽

Zhongke Bai ◽

Xiaoyang Liu

Keyword(s):

Soil Pollution ◽

Influencing Factors ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Ph Value ◽

Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Open Pit Mine ◽

Open Pit ◽

Shanxi Province ◽

Entire Area

Although soil quality can be highly altered by mining activities, there are few reports on soil pollution in mining cities. We systematically characterized the heavy metals (HMs) pollution, risks, sources, and influencing factors in the surrounding soils of Shuozhou. Specifically, 146 samples were collected, and the potential ecological risk index (RI) and the single-factor index were jointly used to understand the environmental risk of HMs. Meanwhile, correlation analysis was applied to find the influencing factors of HMs. The results of the soil pollution risk assessment in the entire area of Shuozhou were compared with those in the open-pit mine area. (1) The mean concentrations of Cr, As, Cd, Pb, and Hg in our study were found to be higher than the background value. The RI results indicated that most soil samples (82.88%) in Shuozhou had a low potential ecological risk. Compared with the Pingshuo open-pit mine (average RI value: 200.07), the potential ecological RI was lower. (2) The HM correlation indicated that Cr and As were associated with the parent rock, whereas Cd, together with Hg and Pb, were associated with anthropic activities. (3) There was no significant correlation between HM concentrations and farmland slope. Located in the Datong Basin, the terrain of Shuozhou is relatively flat and open and has little impact on the distribution of HMs. (4) Only Hg and Pb have a negative correlation with pH. This suggests that soil with a lower pH value may be beneficial to the accumulation of Hg and Pb in soil. (5) Among the eight industry types examined, the pollution capacity level of the leather, fur, feather, and footwear industries is the strongest, indicating that HMs around LI industry sites represent the maximum level among the eight types.

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Pollution Caused by Potentially Toxic Elements Present in Road Dust from Industrial Areas in Korea

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos11121366 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1366

Author(s):

Hyeryeong Jeong ◽

Jin Young Choi ◽

Jaesoo Lim ◽

Kongtae Ra

Keyword(s):

Toxic Elements ◽

Risk Index ◽

Road Dust ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Coastal Pollution ◽

Industrial Complex ◽

Industrial Areas ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

Efficient Management

We examined the pollution characteristics of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in road dust (RD) from nine industrial areas in South Korea to assess PTE pollution levels and their environmental risks for devising better strategies for managing RD. The median concentrations (mg/kg) were in the order Zn (1407) > Cr (380) > Cu (276) > Pb (260) > Ni (112) > As (15) > Cd (2) > Hg (0.1). The concentration of PTEs was the highest at the Onsan Industrial Complex, where many smelting facilities are located. Our results show that Onsan, Noksan, Changwon, Ulsan, Pohang, and Shihwa industrial areas are heavily polluted with Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb. The presence of these toxic elements in RD from the impervious layer in industrial areas may have a moderate to severe effect on the health of the biota present in these areas. The potential ecological risk index (Eri) for PTEs was in the decreasing order of Cd > Pb > Hg > Cu > As > Zn > Ni > Cr, indicating that the dominant PTE causing ecological hazards is Cd owing to its high toxicity. Our research suggests the necessity for the urgent introduction of an efficient management strategy to reduce RD, which adds to coastal pollution and affects human health.

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Hazardous Heavy Metals Accumulation and Health Risk Assessment of Different Vegetable Species in Contaminated Soils from a Typical Mining City, Central China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052617 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2617

Author(s):

Zhen Wang ◽

Jianguo Bao ◽

Tong Wang ◽

Haseeb Tufail Moryani ◽

Wei Kang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Risk Index ◽

Hazard Index ◽

Pollution Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Central China ◽

Crop Species

Heavy metal poisoning has caused serious and widespread human tragedies via the food chain. To alleviate heavy metal pollution, particular attention should be paid to low accumulating vegetables and crops. In this study, the concentrations of five hazardous heavy metals (HMs), including copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) were determined from soils, vegetables, and crops near four typical mining and smelting zones. Nemerow’s synthetical pollution index (Pn), Potential ecological risk index (RI), and Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) were used to characterize the pollution degrees. The results showed that soils near mining and metal smelting zones were heavily polluted by Cu, Cd, As, and Pb. The total excessive rate followed a decreasing order of Cd (80.00%) > Cu (61.11%) > As (45.56%) > Pb (32.22%) > Cr (0.00%). Moreover, sources identification indicated that Cu, Pb, Cd, and As may originate from anthropogenic activities, while Cr may originate from parent materials. The exceeding rates of Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, and As were 6.7%, 6.7%, 66.7%, 80.0%, and 26.7% among the vegetable and crop species, respectively. Particularly, vegetables like tomatoes, bell peppers, white radishes, and asparagus, revealed low accumulation characteristics. In addition, the hazard index (HI) for vegetables and crops of four zones was greater than 1, revealing a higher risk to the health of local children near the mine and smelter. However, the solanaceous fruit has a low-risk index (HI), indicating that it is a potentially safe vegetable type.

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Application of multivariate statistic and pollution index techniques to determine beach sand element distribution, East of Antalya City

Filomat ◽

10.2298/fil2002623y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 623-630

Author(s):

Fusun Yalcin

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Risk Index ◽

Pollution Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Element Distribution ◽

Beach Sand ◽

Risk Level ◽

Target Area ◽

Unequal Distribution ◽

Multivariate Statistic

This research was conducted on beach sands in East of Antalya city. The samples collected from 47 locations in the target area were investigated for the existence of possible heavy metal anomaly. The heavy metal contents of the samples were evaluated using categorization of Pollution Index, Enrichment Factor, Potential Ecological Risk, Toxicity Risk Index and statistical applications. Samples were distinguished in different groups of close similarities based on the statistical specifications. There was unequal distribution of elements. Ca, Cr, Fe, Ti and Pb were anomalously concentrated in some samples. Cr, Pb, and Cu showed contaminated and high risk level in some samples. The occurrence of high Cr concentration is thought to be mostly influence by natural activities while Pb and Cu are thought to be mostly due to anthropogenic influence.

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