Abstract
BackgroundThere are contaminated by potentially toxic metal(loid)s (PTMs) that the surface soil and the weathering profiles around the indigenous zinc smelting slag piles or smelters in the smelting area. However, few systematic studies are currently focusing on the PTM distribution and migration among the slag and its bottom weathering profile.MethodsThis research determined the concentrations of PTMs and pH values. And we analyzed PTM distribution in the two weathering profiles (slag-covered and slag-absent) with a small horizontal distance in the clastic rock region in the smelting area.ResultsThe soil As and Pb contents, respectively, within the 30 and 50 cm depth in the slag-covered section were higher than those in the slag-absent profile. All soil Cd and Zn contents of the slag-covered core were significantly higher than those in the slag-absent weathering section.ConclusionsCompared with the slag-absent weathering section, some PTMs (i.e., As, Cd, Pb and Zn) in the bottom weathering profile were polluted by these elements in the covered slag in the clastic rock region, and their depths were influenced by the slag to varying degrees. Additionally, with time, some PTMs (especially Cd and Zn) of the slag might finally contaminate the groundwater by leaching and infiltration through its bottom weathering profile in the clastic rock region.
Highlights
Northwestern Guizhou is a concentrated region of the indigenous zinc smelting actives in Guizhou Province, with a long smelting history of more than 300 years (Wei et al, 2020; Yang et al, 2009; Zhou et al, 2020)
There are differences in parent materials formed by natural weathering with different bedrock (Yang et al, 2011; Peng, Han & Chen, 2014). To better understand their contamination, distribution and migration of the soil section, we investigated the potentially toxic metal(loid)s (PTMs) in the two weathering profiles in the clastic rock region
The soil Zn is prominently enriched in the whole slag-covered profile, and its enrichment degree is higher than those in the slag-absent core. These results show that the soil As and Pb respective within at least 30 and 50 cm depth, all soil Cd and Zn in the slag-covered core are affected by the downward migrations of those elements from the slag
Summary
Northwestern Guizhou is a concentrated region of the indigenous zinc smelting actives in Guizhou Province, with a long smelting history of more than 300 years (Wei et al, 2020; Yang et al, 2009; Zhou et al, 2020). Toxic metal(loid) distribution and migration in the bottom weathering profile of indigenous zinc smelting slag pile in clastic rock region. Indigenous zinc smelting active has been banned by the local government for more than ten years (Peng et al, 2018b), there cannot be neglected the PTM contamination of the slag to their surrounding environment. There are contaminated by potentially toxic metal(loid)s (PTMs) that the surface soil and the weathering profiles around the indigenous zinc smelting slag piles or smelters in the smelting area. We analyzed PTM distribution in the two weathering profiles (slag-covered and slag-absent) with a small horizontal distance in the clastic rock region in the smelting area. With time, some PTMs (especially Cd and Zn) of the slag might contaminate the groundwater by leaching and infiltration through its bottom weathering profile in the clastic rock region
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