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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Main Authors: Ziwan Chen, Jing Xu, Ruichun Duan, Shansong Lu, Zhaolei Hou, Fan Yang, Min Peng, Qingxia Zong, Zeming Shi, Linsong Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Toxics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/6/282
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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
collection DOAJ
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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