Abstract
Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb were determined in soils from the eastern slope of Mt. Gongga at an altitude of 7,556 m above sea level. Mean concentrations of As, Hg and Pb in top soil were below the tolerance limit (the grade-1 standard) set in China for uncontaminated soils. Nevertheless, Pb was found in topsoil from the eastern slope of Mt. Gongga at mean concentrations of 30.38±7.32 mg/kg dw, which was close to the tolerance limit. At one site in surface layer of the Faber’s fir mature forest, concentrations of Pb were all above the tolerance limit (35.7-43.1 mg/kg dw). Mean concentrations of Cd, Cr and Ni did exceed the tolerance limit (the grade-1 standard) set in China. Single-factor contaminant index data were calculated by taking into account the analytical information obtained from topsoil at each sampling site. Among heavy metals determined, the highest degree of topsoil pollution was found for Cd. The single-factor pollutant index values decreased in the order of PCd>PCr>PNi>PPb>PHg>PAs. Evidently, topsoil of the eastern slope of Mt. Gongga accumulated elevated levels of Cd and Cr and Ni. An integrated assessment of topsoil quality for six heavy metals analyzed indicated that the values of index PN for all sites varied between 0.92 and 4.89 and all are considered as ‘slight to pronounced impact’ by heavy metals.
Highlights
Soil is the building block of basic materials that constitute the Earth’s environment and it provides a basis for the survival and development of living organisms, both plants and animals, including human beings
An assessment of soil safety is to draw the boundary line for polluted soil through predetermined methods or via other means to determine the extent of pollution
Determination of heavy metal pollution in soil can help in the assessment of risks of heavy metals (Wang et al, 2009)
Summary
Soil is the building block of basic materials that constitute the Earth’s environment and it provides a basis for the survival and development of living organisms, both plants and animals, including human beings. Heavy metals in soil can affect plant growth and have negative impacts on environmental conditions by contributing to air and water pollution. Soil can be a source of heavy metals migration into animal and human food chains. An assessment of soil safety is to draw the boundary line for polluted soil through predetermined methods or via other means to determine the extent of pollution. Determination of heavy metal pollution in soil can help in the assessment of risks of heavy metals (Wang et al, 2009). There is a lack of information from scenic area
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