Abstract
Tailings ponds are a main heavy metal pollution source in mining areas. In this study, the geo-accumulation index () and the potential ecological risk index (RI) are used to evaluate the environmental impact of Hongtou Mountain (HTM) tailings pond on the surrounding area. Farmland soil, surface water, and sediment samples in the Hun River around the HTM tailings pond were collected. Heavy metal contents in the samples were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results show that Cu, Zn, and Cd content in the farmland soil and sediment around the lower reaches of the Hun River (HTM tailings pond section) are obviously higher than the upper reaches. The values show that the farmland soil near the outlet of the tailings pond is the most polluted area. Cu was classified as moderate–strongly pollution, Zn was moderately pollution, and Cd was strongly pollution. Cd is the major pollutant in farmland soil, the monomial ecological risk () for Cd is a very high potential ecological risk. The potential ecological risk of sediment in the dry season is more serious than in the raining season. In the dry season, the index shows strong pollution for Cu and Cd at the confluence of the Hun River and the tributary from the HTM tailings pond, and a moderate–strongly pollution for Zn. Whereas, the index shows that the monomial ecological risk for Zn at H3 is low, and Cu is moderate. The potential ecological risk at H3 is high, and Cd is the main source of the ecological risk around the HTM tailings pond.
Highlights
Heavy metal pollution in farmland soil and sediment has become a serious environmental problem, special in the mine area
The I geo index showed that the sediment at H3 was classified as unpolluted–moderately, and the Eir and risk index (RI) index showed that the potential ecological risk at H3 was low
Hongtou Mountain (HTM) tailings pond caused an increase in the heavy metal content in the farmland soil and sediment in the Hun River
Summary
Heavy metal pollution in farmland soil and sediment has become a serious environmental problem, special in the mine area. Previous studies have shown that tailings pond could cause an increase of heavy metal content in the surrounding area, such as farmland soil, river, and reservoir, etc., [9,10,11,12]. Aprocess large amount of heavy metals would releasedischarged from the tailings pond during the(Sweden) long-term account for process approximately. 86.06obviously kg of Cdlower are released from the tailings, HTM pond, and the 762.75 heavy metal content in oxidized tailings than unoxidized tailings pond to 762.75 surrounding area6997.5 during last and 20 years approximately t of sulfur, kgthe of Zn, 86.06[21]. Tailings pond on the HTM surrounding and evaluate the pollution situation of soil and sediment around the HTM tailings pond
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