Abstract
The concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb and Zn) in surface soils in the area surrounding a coal-fired power plant in China were measured, the distribution characteristics of heavy metals in different wind directions were analyzed, and the pollution degree of heavy metal in soil was evaluated. The soil around the power plant is generally polluted by heavy metals, and the degree of pollution is heavy pollution and moderate pollution. The comprehensive potential ecological hazard index of heavy metals in the soil around the power plant was 155.09–293.04, and the potential ecological hazard was moderate or strong. Cd, Hg and As contributed more to RI than other heavy metals. The values of Nemerow index and potential ecological risk index are different among different directions and different distances from the power plant. Cd, Hg and As are the mainly contributors for the potential ecological risk. The results revealed that wind direction is important for the distribution of heavy metal around coal-fired power plant. The study can provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and management of soil heavy metal pollution around coal-fired power plant.
Highlights
As an important medium of material and energy exchange in ecological environment, soil can provide the environment and nutrition for the growth of plants and microorganisms(Adedeji et al 2020; Olatunde et al 2020)
The results are important for clarify the agricultural risk of the surrounding area and provide an important scientific basis for the rational use of land resources, improve the ecological security level of soil environment around the power plant, prevent and control soil heavy metal pollution, protect the health of urban people
With the long-term coal combustion of the coal-fired power plant, the heavy element of As, Cd and Pb with high volatility in the selected soils are higher than the control point, and the content distribution is different in various wind directions
Summary
As an important medium of material and energy exchange in ecological environment, soil can provide the environment and nutrition for the growth of plants and microorganisms(Adedeji et al 2020; Olatunde et al 2020). The results are important for clarify the agricultural risk of the surrounding area and provide an important scientific basis for the rational use of land resources, improve the ecological security level of soil environment around the power plant, prevent and control soil heavy metal pollution, protect the health of urban people. It provides a reference for the supervision of environmental pollution caused by point source pollution in other similar areas and the ecological restoration of soil around a power plant
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