Determining environmental risk and source of heavy metal(loid)s in the surrounding farmland soil of a zinc smelter in water source area, Northwest China

Sukai Zhuang,Xinwei Lu

doi:10.1007/s12665-022-10203-4

Sukai Zhuang, Xinwei Lu

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-022-10203-4

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Abstract

To explore the impact of metal smelting activities on surrounding environment in the water source area of the Mid–route of South–to–North Water Transfer Project of China, soil samples of farmland around a zinc smelter in this area were collected and the pollution, risk, and source of heavy metal(loid)s (As, Cu, Cr, Pb, Mn, Ni, V, and Zn) in soil samples were determined in this study. The heavy metal(loid)s contents were measured by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and their pollution levels and ecological risks were assessed by geoaccumulation index, Nemerow synthetic pollution index,and potential ecological risk index. The possible sources of the heavy metals(loid)s were identified by multivariate statistical analysis methods. The results show that the mean contents of all analyzed heavy metal(loid)s in the farmland soil were above the local soil background values except Mn; the contents of As, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Ni in the downwind direction soil decreased with the distance increasing between the sampling site and the zinc smelter; the investigated soils were moderately to seriously polluted by heavy metal(loid)s and the heavy metal(loid)s presented moderately ecological risk as a whole; As, Cu, Pb, and Zn mainly originated from zinc–smelting activities; Cr, Mn, and V primarily derived from natural source; Ni mainly came from zinc–smelting activities, partly from natural source. The zinc–smelting activity influenced the heavy metal(loid)s content, particularly Zn and Pb, in the surrounding farmland soil. The local government should strengthen the cooperative monitoring of heavy metal(loid)s in farmland and agricultural products, as well as pollutant emission monitoring and control.

Highlights

With the development of industry, the acceleration of urbanization, and the increase of agricultural chemicals using, soil pollution problems have become increasingly prominent and attract more and more attention worldwide in recent decades (Zhao et al 2020; Kumar et al 2019; Zhang et al 2019; Akopyan et al 2018; Yang et al 2018; Li et al 2017 )
The farmland soils around a zinc smelter in Shangluo, the water source area of the Mid–route of South– North Water Transfer Project of China have elevated heavy metal(loid)s except Mn
The comprehensive ecological risk of heavy metal(loid)s in the farmland soils was moderate as a whole, which mainly contributed by Pb, As, Cu, and Zn

Summary

Introduction

With the development of industry, the acceleration of urbanization, and the increase of agricultural chemicals using, soil pollution problems have become increasingly prominent and attract more and more attention worldwide in recent decades (Zhao et al 2020; Kumar et al 2019; Zhang et al 2019; Akopyan et al 2018; Yang et al 2018; Li et al 2017 ). Among all kinds of soil pollutants, heavy metal(loid)s cause more attention due to their high toxicity and non–biodegradability (Wu et al 2020). Heavy metal(loid)s in soil can be absorbed and enriched in plants and transferred to animals and human bodies via food chains (Liu et al 2017; Zhang et al 2016). When people eat grains or vegetables polluted by heavy metal(loid)s, their survival and health will be threatened (Baltas et al 2020; Zhou et al 2020; Bhatti et al 2018; Li et al 2019, 2018). Studying and evaluating the ecological risk of heavy metal(loid)s in farmland are important for understanding soil environmental quality, strengthening comprehensive prevention of soil pollution and safeguarding human health

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