Lead Concentrations In Soil Research Articles

Lead exposure of a fossorial rodent varies with the use of ammunition across the landscape

Exposure to heavy metals has been documented in a wide range of wildlife species, but infrequently in ground squirrels. This is despite their tendency to be targets of recreational shooters and the accumulation of lead ammunition in the soil environments they inhabit. We analyzed lead and copper concentrations in liver (nPb = 116, nCu = 101) and femur (nPb = 116, nCu = 116) of Piute ground squirrels (Urocitellus mollis) and in soil (n = 75) on public lands in southwestern Idaho to understand how lead exposure may vary across a gradient of intensities and histories of shooting activity. The liver and femur of squirrels from areas used for recreational shooting for >30 years had elevated lead concentrations relative to areas where shooting was rare or did not occur (our negative control), but as expected, lower than areas used for military target training for >70 years (our positive control). Lead concentration in soils were higher in areas used for military target training than in those used for recreational shooting. There were no differences in copper concentrations in biological or soil samples among sites. These data suggest that ground squirrels can be influenced by the history of lead use in their local environment, and they illustrate another pathway by which human activity can influence toxicant exposure to wildlife.

Soil heavy metals contamination and health risk of an endemic plant in southeast of Damavand Mt., Iran

Considering the toxicological effects of some heavy metals (HMs) in which directly related to mortality and carcinogenicity in the population by their entrance from plants through livestock grazing, and medical skin cream, the rehabilitation of contaminated sites through phytoremediation by native plants might be quite challenging. Diplotaenia damavandica Mozaff. ex-Hedge & Lamond, is used as medical skin creams due to the existence of specific ingredients, which can be effective in treating skin disease. In the present study, the plant and associated soil sampling were performed around the boundary of D. damavandica. The concentration was measured using the Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results revealed the effect of existing endemic plants on reducing the average concentration of lead and zinc in soil by 40 and 60%, respectively, due to phytoremediation. EDX confirmed the presence of Pb and Zn in root and shoot tissues. Based on the results of this study, D. damavandica is an endemic perennial herbaceous plant with 60% biomass and prosperous root systems, which can grow in low contaminated areas of Pb in the southeast of Damavand Mt. Hence, the HMs pattern indicated less often in the aerial parts except for lead, which should be examined more carefully for skin cream uses.

Assessment of Cadmium, Chromium, and Lead Concentrations in Water, Bank Soil, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Bagega Lake, Zamfara State, Northwest-Nigeria

Assessment of Cadmium, Chromium, and Lead Concentrations in Water, Bank Soil, Sediment, Plants, and Fish in Bagega Lake, Zamfara State, Northwest-Nigeria

Assessment of lead contamination in soil and tap water in daycare facilities in Addis Ababa: implications for children's health

ABSTRACT In recent years, lead poisoning has been recognized as a serious environmental health problem throughout the world, particularly, for children in developing countries. The objective of the study was to investigate the lead level in the water and soil of daycare facilities in Addis Ababa. Graphite furnaces atomic absorption spectrometry was used to analyze the concentration of lead in soil and tap water of 28 daycare centers. The result indicated that the mean levels of lead in soil and water were 0.00237 mg/g and 8.26 μg/L, respectively, which are below the permissible values of 0.1 mg/g and 10 μg/L according to WHO standards. The blood lead levels and exposure to lead in children were calculated using the integrated exposure uptake biokinetic model as per United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidelines. The mean blood lead level was 1.78 μg/dL, and the model also predicted that 6.497% of the children in the city may have blood lead levels above the Center for Disease Control recommended reference value of 3.5 μg/dL. Even if the values were below the reference, there is no safe blood lead level since even a small amount can have adverse effects on children.

Accumulation and translocation of lead in vegetables through intensive use of organic manure and mineral fertilizers with wastewater

In many countries with wastewater irrigation and intensive use of fertilizers (minerals and organics), heavy metal deposition by crops is regarded as a major environmental concern. A study was conducted to determine the impact of mineral fertilizers, cow manure, poultry manure, leaf litter, and sugarcane bagasse on soil’s trace Pb content and edible parts of vegetables. It also evaluated the risk of lead (Pb) contamination in water, soil, and food crops. Six vegetables (Daucus carota, Brassica oleracea, Pisum sativum, Solanum tuberosum, Raphanus sativus, and Spinacia oleracea) were grown in the field under twelve treatments with different nutrient and water inputs. The lead concentrations in soil, vegetables for all treatments and water samples ranged from 1.038–10.478, 0.09346–9.0639 mg/kg and 0.036–0.26448 mg/L, The concentration of lead in soil treated with wastewater in treatment (T6) and vegetable samples was significantly higher, exceeding the WHO’s permitted limit. Mineral and organic fertilizers combined with wastewater treatment reduced lead (Pb) concentrations in vegetables compared to wastewater application without organic fertilizers. Health risk indexes for all treatments except wastewater treatment (T6) were less than one. Pb concentrations in mineral fertilizers, cow manure, poultry manure, leaf litter, and sugarcane bagasse treated were determined to pose no possible risk to consumers.

Songbird annual productivity declines with increasing soil lead contamination around nests

Abstract Songbirds incidentally ingest soil contaminated with lead and several species in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District have a negative relationship between soil lead concentration and reproduction. We used an individual-based model (IBM) to simulate nesting processes throughout the breeding season to estimate annual productivity for 5 songbirds in relation to soil-lead concentration. We modeled daily nest survival and number fledged in relation to soil lead and incorporated these relationships into the IBM using a Bayesian approach that fully captured parameter uncertainty and process variation. The proportion of the posterior distribution for the effect of soil lead on daily nest survival was mostly negative for Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Eastern Towhee), Passerina cyanea (Indigo Bunting), Cardinalis cardinalis (Northern Cardinal), Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird; f = 0.972, 0.990, 0.741, 0.581, respectively), and slightly positive for Spizella pusilla (Field Sparrow; f = 0.680). The proportion of the posterior distribution for the effect of soil lead on the number fledged from successful nests was mostly negative for S. pusilla, P. erythrophthalmus, and C. cardinalis (f = 0.867, 0.585, 0.508, respectively) and positive for P. cyanea and S. sialis (f = 0.773, 0.744). Simulated annual productivity decreased by 0.04–1.47 young/female/year among species across the range of soil lead concentrations, with the greatest declines for P. erythrophthalmus and P. cyanea. The probability of fledging one or more young changed from 51% to 15% for P. erythrophthalmus, 57% to 23% for P. cyanea, 60% to 48% for C. cardinalis, 94% to 84% for S. sialis, and 57% to 64% for S. pusilla as soil-lead concentration around a nest increased from 20 to 4,000 ppm. Most nest failures were the result of predation; therefore, we suggest lead may have affected birds’ behavior at the nest, or affected nest site quality, which resulted in higher nest predation.

Lead and cadmium content in soil, oil palm fiber, and palm kernel in the oil palm plantation with mulch application

Solid waste in palm oil mills is waste that has the potential to have a negative impact on the environment if not used properly. One of the solid wastes from palm oil mills is empty fruit bunche (EFB) which can be used as mulch on oil palm land. The mulch and inorganic fertilizer used can contain heavy metals, such as Pb and Cd. This study was aimed to assess the heavy metal content of Pb and Cd in the soil, fibers and kernels of oil palm fruit. This study evaluated the Pb and Cd content in the soil at depths of 0 – 20 cm and 20 – 40 cm, palm fiber and palm kernel. The results showed of the study showed that the Pb and Cd content of soil on land applied with inorganic fertilizer was greater than the Pb and Cd content of soil on land applied with mulch, where on land applied with mulch the level of Pb contamination was in the very slightly contaminated category, while Cd was in the quite polluted category, and inorganic fertilizer land is heavily polluted. On land where mulch was applied, the Pb and Cd content of fiber and kernel was smaller than the Pb and Cd content of fiber and kernel on land where inorganic fertilizer was applied.

Biochar and Azolla Effects on Soil Chemical Properties, Lead Content and Growth of Paddy

The objective of the study was to determine the influences of biochar amendments and Azolla sp application on soil chemical value, lead (Pb) content, and growth of paddy. The research was conducted in Growth Centre LLDIKTI I, Medan, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia, from April to July 2014. The research design used a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The first factor was Azolla sp application: without Azolla (A0); Azolla pinnata (A1); Azolla mikropilla (A2)] and the second factor was biochar amendment without biochar (B0); RSB-Rice straw biochar (B1), RHB-Rice husk biochar (B2), CPB-coconut peat biochar (B3), OPB-Oil Palm Empty Bunch biochar (B4)]. The result showed that the biochar amendment treatments had significant differences (P<0.05) in all soil chemical values and growth parameters of paddy. The Azolla application showed significant differences (P<0.05) in plant height, number of tillers, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and Pb content in the root. The interaction among the Azolla sp and the biochar amendments showed significant differences (P<0.05) in a number of the tillers. It was concluded that the application of rice husk biochar and Azolla microphylla was able to increase soil chemical properties, increase the growth of paddy, and also increase the Pb content in soil, leaves, and roots.

Assessment of the effect of peat soil on the content of mobile forms of heavy metals and allelotoxicity in urbanized soils under moisture-loving plants at the Ecological Station of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy

The article presents the results of studies on the sorption of pollutants by moisture-loving plants when using peat soil under different anthropogenic loads. The comparative cultivation of moisture-loving plants on sod-podzolic soil, typical for this area, and on peat soil revealed their specificity in the sorption of heavy metals: there was a decrease in the content of lead and copper in peat soil under moisture-loving plants. In typical sod-podzolic soil under moisture-loving plants the opposite dynamics was observed. As for the zinc content, it was found that it increased in peat soil under moisture-loving plants, with the exception of reed. The experiment was conducted on the territory of the Ecological Station of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy in Moscow in 2019‑2022. Thus, moisture-loving plants grown on peat soil as a substrate can be used to reduce the content of mobile forms of heavy metals (lead and copper) in urbanized soils.

Phytoremediation of Toxic Lead from Contaminated Soil Using Neyraudia reynaudiana: Soil of Xuzhou as a Case Study

Lead (Pb), as one of the main pollution elements, has resulted in large-scale soil pollution around the world. Even if phytoremediation can solve this problem, the selection of restoration potential plants has always been a scientific problem. As a multifunctional repair plant, Neyraudia reynaudiana can rehabilitate both polluted soils and slopes. N. reynaudiana has been widely used in terrain restoration in southern China before. This study was the first to study the growth and Pb absorption and enrichment capacity of N. reynaudiana in Xuzhou, north of the Yangtze River. In this study, N. reynaudiana was planted in soils with different lead concentrations, and the change of lead content in roots, shoots, and soils, as well as the redox enzyme, was tested and analyzed during each growth stage. The results showed that the roots could absorb Pb and transfer 79.45% to the shoots at most. With the growth of the plant, the ability to accumulate and transfer gradually increased. Moreover, when the soil Pb concentration was above 800 mg kg−1, the ability to accumulate by N. reynaudiana was significantly restrained. Furthermore, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POD) first acted on the redox response in the initial phase, while increasing the pollutant concentration or the growth of N. reynaudiana in the later stage, and the glutathione reductase (GR) redox system continued to feed back on the lead stress. This study proved that N. reynaudiana is a kind remediation plant for lead pollution soil and could repair soil with a lead pollution concentration lower than 800 mg kg−1. The results provide a theoretical reference for clarifying the action mechanism and threshold value of N. reynaudiana in rehabilitating soil lead pollution and provide practical guidance for the planting proportion of N. reynaudiana.

Prediction of lead in agricultural soils: An integrated approach using machine learning, terrain attributes and reflectance spectra

The study aimed to predict lead (Pb) concentrations in agricultural soils by analyzing visible, near-infrared, and shortwave infrared (VNIR-SWIR) spectra and terrain attributes under three distinct approaches. Approach 1 relied solely on the VNIR-SWIR data, with the cubist_FD (cubist_first derivative) modeling technique as the most effective, achieving a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.63, a concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) of 0.51, a mean absolute error (MAE) of 6.87 mg kg-1, and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 8.66 mg kg-1. Approach 2 combined VNIR-SWIR spectra and terrain attributes, where SNV (standard normal variate) preprocessing technique and extreme gradient boosting (EGB) yielded superior results with R2 of 0.75, CCC of 0.65, MAE of 5.48 mg kg-1, and minimal RMSE of 7.34 mg kg-1. Approach 3 solely employed terrain attributes, and the combination with cubist modeling demonstrated the best prediction results, with R2 of 0.75, CCC of 0.66, MAE of 6.18 mg kg-1, and RMSE of 7.71 mg kg-1. The cumulative assessment identified that the fusion of terrain properties, SNV-transformed VNIR-SWIR spectra, and EGB as the optimal method for estimating Pb concentrations in agricultural soil yielded the highest R2 value and minimal error. Comparatively, Gaussian process regression (GPR), artificial neural network (ANN), and support vector machine (SVM) techniques achieved high R2 values in approaches 2 and 3 but also exhibited higher estimation errors. In conclusion, the study underscores the significance of using relevant auxiliary datasets and appropriate modeling techniques for accurate Pb concentration predictions with minimal error in agricultural soils. The findings contribute valuable insights for developing successful soil management strategies based on predictive modeling.

Effects of Soil Properties on Pb, Cd, and Cu Contents in Tobacco Leaves of Longyan, China, and Their Prediction Models.

Longyan City in Fujian Province is one of China's top-quality tobacco-producing areas and plays an essential role in local economic development. To determine the correlation between heavy metal content in tobacco leaves and soil factors, soil physical and chemical properties and heavy metal contents of lead, cadmium, and copper in tobacco leaves were measured and analyzed by the correlation regression method. The content of lead, cadmium, and copper in soil was determined using hydrochloric acid extraction-AAS and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was used to determine heavy metal in tobacco leaf. The findings revealed that the average concentrations of lead, cadmium, and copper in the soil were 12.1, 0.092, and 3.88 mg/kg, respectively. In contrast, the average levels of lead, cadmium, and copper in tobacco leaves were 2.33, 4.89, and 4.35 mg/kg, respectively. The cadmium enrichment coefficient of 54.3 was higher than lead and copper, indicating a greater health risk. Soil pH value was negatively correlated with lead content in tobacco leaf, while potassium and phosphorus nutrient levels were negatively correlated with copper content. In contrast, a positive correlation was established between the presence of organic matter with cadmium content in tobacco leaves. The prediction models of lead, cadmium, and copper in tobacco leaves can be expressed by the regression equation corresponding to each heavy metal as follows: YPb=2.33 - 0.005∗ XK+0.007∗XN - 0.271∗XpH+0.065∗XPb (R2 = 0.787), YCd=1.55+0.012∗XOM - 0.014∗XCu+34.6∗XCd (R2 = 0.891), and YCu=4.64 - 0.029∗XP - 0.007∗XK+0.245∗XCu (R2 = 0.724), respectively. The prediction models above provide an effective predictive tool for assessing heavy metal risk in tobacco leaves using soil properties in the study area.

The Distribution Characteristics and Potential Risk Assessment of Lead in the Soil of Tieguanyin Tea Plantations in Anxi County, China.

Assessing the distribution and risks associated with the soil lead content in the Tieguanyin tea plantations of Anxi County is critical, given the county's significance as the primary Tieguanyin tea production area in Fujian Province. This study examined the distribution characteristics of soil lead in Anxi County's tea plantations according to the Kriging spatial interpolation of the parameters of the semivariance function of the exponential model. Moreover, the sources of lead content were analyzed, considering geological backgrounds and anthropogenic influences. Ecological risks and the issuance of early warnings were also assessed. The soil lead content in the rocks of the Tieguanyin tea plantations in Anxi County followed the order: andesite > dacite > rhyolite > granite. The soil lead content gradually decreased from the center toward the east and west, forming four distinct north-south parallel zones. High-lead-content areas were identified at the border of Jiandou, Bailai, and Hushang; in the central part of Lutian; and in the southern part of Huqiu. The high levels of soil lead in the tea plantations possibly originated from industrial and mining activities, automobile exhaust, and agricultural activities. The distribution of single-factor pollution indices and potential risk evaluation based on the Soil Environmental Quality Standard, Environmental Technical Conditions for Tea Production Area, and Environmental Technical Conditions for Organic Tea Production Area indicated that the soil in Tieguanyin tea plantations in Anxi County was clean and safe for tea cultivation.

The Influence of Industrial Residues of Phosphate Fertilizers Complexes on Content of Phosphor, Cadmium and Lead in Soil and Water

The study was carried out in Al-Qaim region near by the factory of fertilizer about 420 km west of Baghdad. Samples of soils were taken by depths of (0-0.20), (0.20-0.40) and (0.40-0.60) m with three directions (N north, S south, E east) according to the direction of annuity wind. Soil samples were taken at three distances from the factory (500, 1000, and1500) m. Samples of water were taken from three sources; wells, acidic and alkaline water from the factory. The aim of this paper was to study the influence of residue of phosphate fertilizer factory in content of Phosphor, Cadmium and Lead of soil and water. The results showed that the highest values of available phosphorus were 956.80 and 528.46 mg l-1 for distances 1500 and 1000 m, at depths of 0.4-0.6 m in the N1 directions as well as for N1 and S1 directions at the depth of 0-0.2. The highest total cadmium content was 4 mg l-1 for 500 m distance with the N1 direction at depth of 0-0.2m respectively. available cadmium was found in small quantity and consider negligible. The available lead was 83 and 0.45 mg l-1, for 1000 and 500 m distances in the direction of N1 for the depths of 0-0.2 and 0.2-0.4m respectively.

Effect of Different Crude Oil Levels on A bioavailability of Some Heavy Metals in Two Different Texture Soils

Soil polluted with crude oil is one of the most serious environmental problems in the world, which is mostly caused by human activity. Crude oil-associated heavy metals in the polluted soils are still considered as one of the major issue around the globe. Two soils were polluted with crude oil at levels of 0.0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 30 ml.kg−, then concentrations of heavy elements were added, 30 ml.kg− and 140 ml.kg− for lead and nickel and 40 ml.kg− and 150 ml.kg− for copper and zinc. When adding levels of (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 30) ml.kg− of crude oil and (30 and 140) ml.kg− of lead and nickel, and (40 and 150) ml.kg− of zinc and copper to sandy and clay soils, it turns out a superiority in available lead concentrations over available nickel concentrations in sandy soil on the one hand, and a superiority in available nickel concentrations over available lead concentrations in clay soil when adding concentrations of 30 and 140 ml.kg− of the two elements on the other hand. It was also observed that the available form of copper concentrations were superior to the available form of zinc concentrations in sandy soil, and the available form of zinc concentrations were superior to the available form of copper concentrations in clay soil, when adding low concentrations (40 ml.kg−) and relatively high concentrations (150 ml.kg−). Generally, the results of this study varied depending on the effect of the crude oil levels and heavy metals concentrations.

Meta Analysis of Stabilization Effect of Phosphorus on Soil Lead and Its Influencing Factors

Phosphorus exerts a good stabilization effect on soil lead. In this study, the findings of 90 papers were summarized using the Meta-analysis method. These papers described the immobilization of soil lead using phosphorus from 1997 to 2022. The effects of phosphorus materials on the stabilization rate and speciation transformation of soil Pb and soil pH were quantitatively analyzed based on soil properties, stabilization process conditions, and types of phosphorus materials. The results revealed that the stronger the soil alkalinity (pH ≥ 7.5), the lower is the content of lead (≤ 500 mg·kg-1), and the higher the content of soil organic matter (>0.5%), the more conducive it is to the phosphorus-based stabilization of soil lead; the stabilization rates are 75.21%, 34.97% and 93.12%, respectively. In terms of stabilization process conditions, the higher the addition amount of phosphorus (≥ 10%), the higher is the water content (>50%)and longer is the curing time (≥ 30 days), and the higher the curing temperature (≥ 40℃), the more conducive it is to the stabilization of soil lead, and the stabilization rates are 80.65%, 84.98%, 79.39%, and 41.44%, respectively. According to the types of phosphorus, soluble phosphorus had a high stabilization rate of soil lead (96.24%). The conversion rate of exchangeable lead and carbonate-bound lead to residual lead was 95.93%. Soluble phosphorus was majorly acidic, reducing the soil pH by 7.27%, whereas insoluble phosphorus was majorly alkaline, increasing the soil pH by 3.63%. In conclusion, when the soil pH ≥ 7.5, soil lead content ≤ 500 mg·kg-1, soil organic matter content >0.5%, soluble phosphorus addition ≥ 10%, water content >50%, curing time ≥ 30 days, and curing temperature ≥ 40℃, phosphorus had a better effect on soil Pb stabilization. In the actual remediation process of lead-contaminated soil, to improve the lead stabilization rate, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the effects of soil properties, stabilization process conditions, phosphorus, and other factors.

Contributions of contamination sources to soil lead concentrations of a smelter-affected community in South Australia, Australia

Contributions of contamination sources to soil lead concentrations of a smelter-affected community in South Australia, Australia

The Effect of EDTA on the Ability to Absorb Different Concentrations of Nickel, Cadmium, and Lead in Soil by Corn Plants

Background & Aims: The use of resistant and widely used species such as corn in agriculture and industry can be an effective solution for the bioremediation of soil pollutants, including heavy elements. The current research aimed to investigate the effect of EDTA on the ability to absorb different concentrations of heavy metals in the soil of corn plants in 2019. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted as a three-factor pilot design at concentrations of 0, 50, and 100 mg/kg in the greenhouse. The samples were analyzed using an atomic absorption device. The laboratory pilot design was based on Taguchi’s algorithm. Finally, transfer factor (TF), bioconcentration factor (BCF), and bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) were calculated. Results: The results showed that different organs (root, stem, and leaf) show different levels of bioaccumulation under the influence of variable factors in different concentrations of heavy elements (nickel, cadmium, and lead). Also, there is a significant difference between the measured amounts of heavy elements in different organs of the corn plant (P≤0.05). The average TF levels for elements at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/kg were 0.79 and 1.66 for nickel, 0.82 and 0.78 for cadmium and 1.361, 1.378, and 1.387 for lead. Based on the results, with the increase in nickel concentration, the absorption level increased, and with the increase in cadmium concentration, the absorption level decreased. Conclusion: The results of this research showed that it is possible to use EDTA to increase the efficiency of corn plants in absorbing heavy elements of nickel, cadmium, and lead.

Deep Learning Based Spatial Distribution Estimation of Soil Pb Using Multi-Phase Multispectral Remote Sensing Images in a Mining Area

Extensive investigation and monitoring of lead (Pb) content of soil is significant for ensuring hazard-free agricultural production, protecting human health, and ecosystem security, especially in a mining area. One temporal period of a hyperspectral image is usually used to estimate the spatial distribution of Pb and other heavy metals, but hyperspectral images are usually difficult to obtain. Multispectral remote-sensing images are more accessible than hyperspectral images. In this study, a deep learning-based model using 3D convolution is proposed to estimate the Pb content from the constructed multi-phase, multispectral remote-sensing images. Multi-phase multispectral remote-sensing images were stacked to generate a data set with more spectral bands to reduce the atmospheric absorptive aerosol effect. At the same time, a neural network based on 3D convolution (3D-ConvNet) was proposed to estimate Pb content based on the constructed data set. Compared with partial least-squares regression (PLSR), random forest regression (RFR), support vector machine regression (SVMR), and gradient-boosting regression (GBR), experimental results showed the proposed 3D-ConvNet has obvious superiority and generates more accurate estimation results, with the prediction dataset coefficient of determination (R2) and the mean normalized bias (MNB) values being 0.90 and 2.63%, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to effectively estimate heavy metal content from multi-phase, multispectral remote-sensing images, and this study provides a new approach to heavy metal pollution monitoring.

Rapid Estimation of Soil Pb Concentration Based on Spectral Feature Screening and Multi-Strategy Spectral Fusion.

Traditional methods for obtaining soil heavy metal content are expensive, inefficient, and limited in monitoring range. In order to meet the needs of soil environmental quality evaluation and health status assessment, visible near-infrared spectroscopy and XRF spectroscopy for monitoring heavy metal content in soil have attracted much attention, because of their rapid, nondestructive, economical, and environmentally friendly features. The use of either of these spectra alone cannot meet the accuracy requirements of traditional measurements, while the synergistic use of the two spectra can further improve the accuracy of monitoring heavy metal lead content in soil. Therefore, this study applied various spectral transformations and preprocessing to vis-NIR and XRF spectra; used the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) and competitive adaptive re-weighted sampling (CARS) algorithms to identify feature spectra; designed a combination variable model (CVM) based on multi-layer spectral data fusion, which improved the spectral preprocessing and spectral feature screening process to increase the efficiency of spectral fusion; and established a quantitative model for soil Pb concentration using partial least squares regression (PLSR). The estimation performance of three spectral fusion strategies, CVM, outer-product analysis (OPA), and Granger-Ramanathan averaging (GRA), was discussed. The results showed that the accuracy and efficiency of the CARS algorithm in the fused spectra estimation model were superior to those of the WOA algorithm, with an average coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.9226 and an average root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.1984. The accuracy of the estimation models established, based on the different spectral types, to predict the Pb content of the soil was ranked as follows: the CVM model > the XRF spectral model > the vis-NIR spectral model. Within the CVM fusion strategy, the estimation model based on CARS and PLSR (CARS_D1+D2) performed the best, with R2 and RMSE values of 0.9546 and 0.2035, respectively. Among the three spectral fusion strategies, CVM had the highest accuracy, OPA had the smallest errors, and GRA showed a more balanced performance. This study provides technical means for on-site rapid estimation of Pb content based on multi-source spectral fusion and lays the foundation for subsequent research on dynamic, real-time, and large-scale quantitative monitoring of soil heavy metal pollution using high-spectral remote sensing images.