Abstract
Nonferrous smelting is an important source of heavy metals in soil, which causes different degrees of soil pollution, especially in lead–zinc (Pb/Zn) smelting areas. Based on the Pb/Zn environmental release during the Pb/Zn mineral smelting processes in 31 Chinese provinces from the period 2000 to 2015, the study analyzed the spatiotemporal variations in Pb/Zn environmental release at the national level and then evaluated the degree of soil pollution and potential ecological risk based on the heavy metal content in soil from Pb/Zn smelting areas. The results showed that from the period 2000 to 2015, the Pb release had a discrete trend, transferring from the middle east to the west, and the provinces with higher Pb releases were Henan Province, Yunnan Province, and Hunan Province. However, the Zn release showed a tendency towards spatial aggregation, and the release center of this heavy metal presented a shifting trend from south to north; additionally, the release of Zn was highest in Hunan Province. The pollution index analyses indicated that Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn in Zhuzhou and Huludao all reached extremely polluted levels, while Tongguan was at a safe level. In Gejiu, Mianxian, Fengxian, Zhuzhou, Huludao, and Shaoguan, there were very high potential ecological risks, with Cd having the highest potential ecological risk in most smelting areas, followed by Pb.
Highlights
The rapid development of industrialization resulted in many environmental problems; soil heavy metal pollution has especially caused worldwide concern due to their persistence, toxicity, and harmful effects on plants and human health [1,2,3,4,5,6]
Many studies have shown that heavy metal pollution in soil around nonferrous metal smelting areas is very serious [4,14,15,16]
We carried out a study to (a) analyze the spatiotemporal variation in Pb/Zn environmental release and (b) explore the difference in soil heavy metal pollution and potential ecological risk in different Pb/Zn smelting areas
Summary
The rapid development of industrialization resulted in many environmental problems; soil heavy metal pollution has especially caused worldwide concern due to their persistence, toxicity, and harmful effects on plants and human health [1,2,3,4,5,6]. During the smelting of Pb/Zn minerals, a large amount of waste water, waste gas and solid waste is generated; if improperly treated or discharged, it causes soil heavy metal pollution, and results in harm to human health through the food chain [6,14,22,23,24]. It is important to understand the spatiotemporal variation in the environmental release of Pb/Zn and the difference in pollution degree and potential ecological risk in different regions. For this purpose, we carried out a study to (a) analyze the spatiotemporal variation in Pb/Zn environmental release and (b) explore the difference in soil heavy metal pollution and potential ecological risk in different Pb/Zn smelting areas
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