Abstract
Agricultural soils from Dongchuan copper mining area were sampled and analyzed to determine the concentrations of selected trace elements, namely As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn. The main objectives of this study were: (1) To determine the levels of trace elements and their spatial distribution in soils; (2) to evaluate the potential ecological risk; and (3) to identify the main sources of risk element pollution. The environmental risks were assessed using five different contamination and pollution indexes. Descriptive and exploratory statistical analyses were performed to identify the relations among the trace elements in soils and possible sources of pollution. Although the values of As, Cu and Zn in the soils were significantly higher than Yunnan background values and exceeded the limits of the Chinese national standards in several sampling points, the most serious threat for the ecosystem and human health was represented by Cd. The main sources of Cu and As were identified mining activities, airborne particulates from smelters and the weathering of tailings, and partly also agricultural fertilizers. The major source of Cd was agricultural fertilizers and partly sources associated with mining and smelting activities.
Highlights
Mining and metallurgical activities have long been recognized as important producers of waste and environmental pollution
To determine the main principles of trace element migration and to assist the interpretation of geochemical data, we studied the spatial distribution of trace elements in the Dongchuan area
The results of the trace element’s concentration analysis and considerably high ecological risk expressed by Er and mCd illustrate that the soils in Dongchuan mining area are seriously polluted mainly by Cd, Cu and As
Summary
Mining and metallurgical activities have long been recognized as important producers of waste and environmental pollution. Metalliferous mines, processing plants and smelters, in particular, generate huge amounts of mine tailings, wastewater and dust, which can contaminate the soil by risk elements These metals and metalloids are transported mainly in the form of wastewater and airborne dust particles [1,2,3,4,5]. Cadmium value in more than 71% of the soils was over the limit of 0.6 μg/g set by grade II, and 57% of the samples exceeded the grade III limit (1.0 μg/g) of the soil quality standard. The highest analysed values of Cd are six times higher than the limit for grade II, over 3.5 times higher than the limit for grade III set in the soil standard and over 16 times over the YNB
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