Ecological Health Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Surface Soil Based on a High Geochemical Background: A Case Study in Southwest China
A total of 28,095 surface soil samples were collected in areas with high natural background levels; the potential ecological risk is generally low, and the high-risk area is small and mainly affected by lead–zinc mines. The contribution to the potential ecological risk factor (<i>RI</i>)...
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2022-05-01
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author | Ziwan Chen Jing Xu Ruichun Duan Shansong Lu Zhaolei Hou Fan Yang Min Peng Qingxia Zong Zeming Shi Linsong Yu |
author_facet | Ziwan Chen Jing Xu Ruichun Duan Shansong Lu Zhaolei Hou Fan Yang Min Peng Qingxia Zong Zeming Shi Linsong Yu |
author_sort | Ziwan Chen |
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description | A total of 28,095 surface soil samples were collected in areas with high natural background levels; the potential ecological risk is generally low, and the high-risk area is small and mainly affected by lead–zinc mines. The contribution to the potential ecological risk factor (<i>RI</i>) is as follows: Hg > Cd > As > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cr > Zn, with noncarcinogenic chronic risks of Cr > As > Cd > Pb > Ni > Cu > Hg > Zn; furthermore, dermal contact is the main pathway of exposure causing health risks. The total carcinogenic risks caused by heavy metals were as follows: Cr > Cd > As > Pb; and the risks posed by Cr, Cd, and As were higher than the threshold value (1.0 × 10<sup>−4</sup>); people face a higher threat to heavy metals in soils in Zhenxiong, Ludian, Huize, Weixin, and Zhaoyang. The evaluation result of the EPA PMF model shows that the soil heavy metals are mainly composed of five sources, of which basalt, Permian, and Triassic carbonate rock parent material constitute the natural background source, while the mining activities of lead–zinc mines and the emissions of coal burning by residents constitute the anthropogenic source. The contribution was ranked in order of lead–zinc mining (26.7%) > Triassic carbonate (23.7%) > basalt (20.9%) > coal burning and automobile emissions (16.1%) > Permian carbonate (12.6%). |
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spelling | doaj.art-a34d588ce6484957ae354ce823cdbc1b2023-11-23T19:15:38ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042022-05-0110628210.3390/toxics10060282Ecological Health Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Surface Soil Based on a High Geochemical Background: A Case Study in Southwest ChinaZiwan Chen0Jing Xu1Ruichun Duan2Shansong Lu3Zhaolei Hou4Fan Yang5Min Peng6Qingxia Zong7Zeming Shi8Linsong Yu9School of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaDepartment of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Yunnan Institute of Geological Survey, Kunming 650216, ChinaWuhan Center, China Geological Survey (Central South China Innovation Center for Geosciences), Wuhan 430205, ChinaWuhan Center, China Geological Survey (Central South China Innovation Center for Geosciences), Wuhan 430205, ChinaDepartment of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Yunnan Institute of Geological Survey, Kunming 650216, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical & Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical & Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaDepartment of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Yunnan Institute of Geological Survey, Kunming 650216, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaA total of 28,095 surface soil samples were collected in areas with high natural background levels; the potential ecological risk is generally low, and the high-risk area is small and mainly affected by lead–zinc mines. The contribution to the potential ecological risk factor (<i>RI</i>) is as follows: Hg > Cd > As > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cr > Zn, with noncarcinogenic chronic risks of Cr > As > Cd > Pb > Ni > Cu > Hg > Zn; furthermore, dermal contact is the main pathway of exposure causing health risks. The total carcinogenic risks caused by heavy metals were as follows: Cr > Cd > As > Pb; and the risks posed by Cr, Cd, and As were higher than the threshold value (1.0 × 10<sup>−4</sup>); people face a higher threat to heavy metals in soils in Zhenxiong, Ludian, Huize, Weixin, and Zhaoyang. The evaluation result of the EPA PMF model shows that the soil heavy metals are mainly composed of five sources, of which basalt, Permian, and Triassic carbonate rock parent material constitute the natural background source, while the mining activities of lead–zinc mines and the emissions of coal burning by residents constitute the anthropogenic source. The contribution was ranked in order of lead–zinc mining (26.7%) > Triassic carbonate (23.7%) > basalt (20.9%) > coal burning and automobile emissions (16.1%) > Permian carbonate (12.6%).https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/6/282heavy metalshigh geochemical backgroundpotential ecological riskhuman health riskPMFlead–zinc mine |
spellingShingle | Ziwan Chen Jing Xu Ruichun Duan Shansong Lu Zhaolei Hou Fan Yang Min Peng Qingxia Zong Zeming Shi Linsong Yu Ecological Health Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Surface Soil Based on a High Geochemical Background: A Case Study in Southwest China Toxics heavy metals high geochemical background potential ecological risk human health risk PMF lead–zinc mine |
title | Ecological Health Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Surface Soil Based on a High Geochemical Background: A Case Study in Southwest China |
title_full | Ecological Health Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Surface Soil Based on a High Geochemical Background: A Case Study in Southwest China |
title_fullStr | Ecological Health Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Surface Soil Based on a High Geochemical Background: A Case Study in Southwest China |
title_full_unstemmed | Ecological Health Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Surface Soil Based on a High Geochemical Background: A Case Study in Southwest China |
title_short | Ecological Health Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Surface Soil Based on a High Geochemical Background: A Case Study in Southwest China |
title_sort | ecological health risk assessment and source identification of heavy metals in surface soil based on a high geochemical background a case study in southwest china |
topic | heavy metals high geochemical background potential ecological risk human health risk PMF lead–zinc mine |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/6/282 |
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