Assessment of Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Surface Soils of Laizhou, Eastern China

With the rapid industrialization and urbanization, more attention is turning to heavy metal contamination in the soil environment. To assess the potential environmental risk on soil, a comprehensive geochemistry study on heavy metal was performed in Laizhou, eastern China, using 3834 surface soil sa...

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Main Authors: Zhigang Zhao, Haishui Jiang, Linghao Kong, Tianyi Shen, Xionghua Zhang, Songsong Gu, Xiangcai Han, Yachao Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-10-01
Series:Water
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/21/2940
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author Zhigang Zhao
Haishui Jiang
Linghao Kong
Tianyi Shen
Xionghua Zhang
Songsong Gu
Xiangcai Han
Yachao Li
author_facet Zhigang Zhao
Haishui Jiang
Linghao Kong
Tianyi Shen
Xionghua Zhang
Songsong Gu
Xiangcai Han
Yachao Li
author_sort Zhigang Zhao
collection DOAJ
description With the rapid industrialization and urbanization, more attention is turning to heavy metal contamination in the soil environment. To assess the potential environmental risk on soil, a comprehensive geochemistry study on heavy metal was performed in Laizhou, eastern China, using 3834 surface soil samples (0–20 cm, regular grid of 1 × 1 km<sup>2</sup>) and 60 layered soil samples (0–200 cm) were analyzed. The average concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Zn and Pb were 7.60 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, 0.15 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, 45.50 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, 19.10 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, 44.00μg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, 18.70 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, 51.40 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup> and 29.00 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, which were lower than the threshold levels of the Grade II criteria of China national environment quality standard for soil, but the contents of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were higher than background values of eastern Shandong Province surface soil. Fractionation analysis showed that the potential bioavailability in surface soils decreases in the order of Cd > As > Cu > Ni > Zn > Cr > Pb > Hg. Soil assessments with enrichment factor, contamination factor, Nemerow composite index, geo-accumulation index and potential ecological risk index, indicate the soil in Laizhou is contaminated strongly with As, Cd and Hg and a moderately Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn. The level of Pb pollution is between moderate to high. Multivariate analyses suggest that Cr and Ni were derived mainly from natural sources, and As, Cd, Pb, while Hg mostly came from anthropogenic sources. Cu and Zn were from a mixture of anthropogenic and natural sources. Our results demonstrate that more attention should be paid to monitoring soil quality in the heavily polluted site.
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spelling doaj.art-985e71128c754e4c995d320f4e0d5ca32023-11-22T21:52:58ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-10-011321294010.3390/w13212940Assessment of Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Surface Soils of Laizhou, Eastern ChinaZhigang Zhao0Haishui Jiang1Linghao Kong2Tianyi Shen3Xionghua Zhang4Songsong Gu5Xiangcai Han6Yachao Li7School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaYantai Coastal Zones Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Yantai 264000, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaYantai Coastal Zones Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Yantai 264000, ChinaYantai Coastal Zones Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Yantai 264000, ChinaYantai Coastal Zones Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Yantai 264000, ChinaWith the rapid industrialization and urbanization, more attention is turning to heavy metal contamination in the soil environment. To assess the potential environmental risk on soil, a comprehensive geochemistry study on heavy metal was performed in Laizhou, eastern China, using 3834 surface soil samples (0–20 cm, regular grid of 1 × 1 km<sup>2</sup>) and 60 layered soil samples (0–200 cm) were analyzed. The average concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Zn and Pb were 7.60 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, 0.15 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, 45.50 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, 19.10 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, 44.00μg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, 18.70 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, 51.40 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup> and 29.00 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, which were lower than the threshold levels of the Grade II criteria of China national environment quality standard for soil, but the contents of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were higher than background values of eastern Shandong Province surface soil. Fractionation analysis showed that the potential bioavailability in surface soils decreases in the order of Cd > As > Cu > Ni > Zn > Cr > Pb > Hg. Soil assessments with enrichment factor, contamination factor, Nemerow composite index, geo-accumulation index and potential ecological risk index, indicate the soil in Laizhou is contaminated strongly with As, Cd and Hg and a moderately Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn. The level of Pb pollution is between moderate to high. Multivariate analyses suggest that Cr and Ni were derived mainly from natural sources, and As, Cd, Pb, while Hg mostly came from anthropogenic sources. Cu and Zn were from a mixture of anthropogenic and natural sources. Our results demonstrate that more attention should be paid to monitoring soil quality in the heavily polluted site.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/21/2940heavy metalsoilspatial distributioncontamination assessmentLaizhou
spellingShingle Zhigang Zhao
Haishui Jiang
Linghao Kong
Tianyi Shen
Xionghua Zhang
Songsong Gu
Xiangcai Han
Yachao Li
Assessment of Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Surface Soils of Laizhou, Eastern China
Water
heavy metal
soil
spatial distribution
contamination assessment
Laizhou
title Assessment of Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Surface Soils of Laizhou, Eastern China
title_full Assessment of Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Surface Soils of Laizhou, Eastern China
title_fullStr Assessment of Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Surface Soils of Laizhou, Eastern China
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Surface Soils of Laizhou, Eastern China
title_short Assessment of Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Surface Soils of Laizhou, Eastern China
title_sort assessment of potential ecological risk of heavy metals in surface soils of laizhou eastern china
topic heavy metal
soil
spatial distribution
contamination assessment
Laizhou
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/21/2940
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