Abstract
Nonferrous metallurgy is an important source of heavy metal in the environment and consequently poses potential risks to ecosystems. The impact of smelting on the surrounding envi-ronment is a concern. In this work, the content levels of selected heavy metals—chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As)—were investigated separately in soil samples collected around two nonferrous metal smelteries using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The spatial distribution characteristics of soil metal pollutants was studied by ArcGIS methods and the potential ecological risks were assessed by the Hakanson potential eco-logical hazard index. The results show that soils were heavily polluted by Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and As. Their mean contents in soil around Smeltery A were 88, 62, 103, 1200, 1.4, 146, and 69 mg/kg, respectively, and those around Smeltery B were 86, 59, 83, 117, 0.53, 57, and 65 mg/kg, respectively. Their contents were obviously higher than the background values of soil Cr (68 mg/kg), Ni (31 mg/kg), Cu (22 mg/kg), Zn (78 mg/kg), Cd (0.09 mg/kg), Pb (22 mg/kg), and As (14 mg/kg). The distribution pattern in soil and risk assessment results show that the pollution surrounding the two smelteries reached intense and moderate ecological hazard and that the contribution of Cd and As was up to 87.05% and 82.59%, respectively. These results suggest that metal smelting makes a considerable contribution to soil pollution.
Highlights
Published: 30 November 2021Soil pollution by heavy metals has been considered one of the main environmental problems due to their toxicity and persistence, and their harmful effects on the environment.Studies have shown that about one-sixth of China’s agricultural soil has been subjected to different degrees of pollution by heavy metals [1]
Investigate the contents and show the spatial distribution patterns of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and As in soils around nonferrous metal smelteries; (2) identify the homology of soil heavy metals by principal component analysis, correlations analysis, and GIS mapping; and (3) assess the ecological risks based on the Hakanson potential ecological hazard index
Based on the background value of heavy metals in soil, the potential ecological risk coefficient is calculated by combining the biological toxicity, environmental effect, and environmental sensitivity to heavy metal pollution
Summary
Soil pollution by heavy metals has been considered one of the main environmental problems due to their toxicity and persistence, and their harmful effects on the environment. The nonferrous metal smelting process is usually considered to be one of the most important anthropogenic sources of heavy metal emissions, so smelting is raising significant concern due to the emission of toxic metals into environment, which degrades environmental quality, posing a high risk to human health [10]. In order to increase the understanding of the overall environmental accumulation of heavy metals within close proximity to nonferrous metal smelting facilities, we conducted a sampling study and evaluation of the topsoil of two smelteries, and analyzed the migration and diffusion rules of toxic elements. Investigate the contents and show the spatial distribution patterns of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and As in soils around nonferrous metal smelteries; (2) identify the homology of soil heavy metals by principal component analysis, correlations analysis, and GIS mapping; and (3) assess the ecological risks based on the Hakanson potential ecological hazard index. The results provide insights into the management of heavy metal pollution, and this study serves as a scientific reference for other regions both in China and worldwide
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