County-scale temporal–spatial distribution and variability tendency of heavy metals in arable soils influenced by policy adjustment during the last decade: a case study of Changxing, China

Abstract

The widespread "pertinacious illness" for environmental management soil contamination by toxic metals has inevitably led to announcement of gradual adjustment for the local government to curb the notorious pollution. An extensive survey was conducted in Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, to investigate the contents of cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and copper (Cu) and characterize the spatial-temporal change pattern to elucidate the current state and performance of policy adjustment. Geostatistic methods were applied in the mapping and characterizing processes to assess the concentrations of heavy metals at unsampled sites. Enrichment factor analysis indicated obvious Cd and As enrichment in the west and northwest of the county. Ordinary kriging interpolation combined with semivariogram revealed that the four heavy metals possessed distinct spatial distribution patterns. However, the distribution patterns for the elevated Cd and Pb concentrations exhibited a similar geographic drift, corresponding primarily to industrial distribution. Compared with the investigation findings in 2003, the results indicated an uptrend of Cd and As and downtrend of Cu, while Pb was a mixture of increase and decrease. However, strengthened actions aimed at restraining heavy metal contamination are still needed to establish a mechanism to secure residents' health and livelihood.