Pollution Changes of Heavy Metals in Urban Soils from 1994 to 2006 in Kaifeng, China

Abstract

Few studies have been done on temporal changes of heavy metal pollution of urban soils. Eight soil samples at the same sites were collected inKaifengCity, China, in1994and 2006. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, As and Hg in the samples was measured. The pollution change of heavy metals from 1994 to 2006, and the relations between metal pollution and some human factors were discussed. The results show that soil pollution with metals in 2006 was higher than that in 1994 with economic growth. Soils in industrial district (ID) were more strongly polluted than in the following districts: (i) cultural and educational district (CED), (ii) mixed district of resident-commerce-administration (RCD), (iii) recreational district (RD), and (iv) suburban district (SD). Cd and Hg were the dominant pollutants. Economic growth, changes of land use and land-use authority can influence soil metal pollution significantly.