Ecological Assessment, Spatial Analysis, and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals (HMs) in Soils with High Background Values in the Lead-Zinc Mine, Hezhang County, Southwestern China

The heavy metals (HMs) usually have high natural background levels in lead-zinc mines. Strengthening the ecological risk assessment and accurate identification sources of HMs is an important component of land resource utilization and food security. A total of 795 soil samples (with a depth of 0~20 c...

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Main Authors: Fugui Zhang, Chengwen Wang, Xiaomeng Cheng, Honghong Ma, Ling He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-03-01
Series:Water
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/5/783
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author Fugui Zhang
Chengwen Wang
Xiaomeng Cheng
Honghong Ma
Ling He
author_facet Fugui Zhang
Chengwen Wang
Xiaomeng Cheng
Honghong Ma
Ling He
author_sort Fugui Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The heavy metals (HMs) usually have high natural background levels in lead-zinc mines. Strengthening the ecological risk assessment and accurate identification sources of HMs is an important component of land resource utilization and food security. A total of 795 soil samples (with a depth of 0~20 cm) were collected in Hezhang County, an area of typical high background levels of HMs with more than 18 large lead-zinc deposits. In this study, inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS), and the potentiometric method (POT) were used to test the total concentration of HMs and pH values. The geographic information system was used to model the concentration distribution of HMs, and the ecological risk was assessed according to the source analysis results. The results suggest that: (1) the mean concentration of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 24.55, 2.25, 176.4, 89.6, 0.19, 64.2, 102, and 257 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, respectively, which exceeded the average background value of soils in Guizhou Province by 1.23, 3.41, 1.84, 2.80, 1.73, 1.64, 2.90, and 2.58 times, respectively, and the average concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn exceed the screening values specified in soil contamination risk in agricultural land; (2) the results of enrichment factor (EF) showed that 29.73% of Cd are moderately polluted, and other HMs were slightly polluted in a small area or near the baseline value (EF ≈ 1); and (3) PMF analysis showed that there are five main sources, pyrite, lead-zinc ore, basalt, carbonate rock, and agricultural production, with the risk contribution ratios of 5.25%, 27.37%, 28.94%, 17.91%, and 20.53%, respectively.
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spelling doaj.art-b9851a9c51df47518e66c00b214706c22023-11-24T00:03:10ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-03-0114578310.3390/w14050783Ecological Assessment, Spatial Analysis, and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals (HMs) in Soils with High Background Values in the Lead-Zinc Mine, Hezhang County, Southwestern ChinaFugui Zhang0Chengwen Wang1Xiaomeng Cheng2Honghong Ma3Ling He4Institute of Geophysical & Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical & Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical & Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical & Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical & Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaThe heavy metals (HMs) usually have high natural background levels in lead-zinc mines. Strengthening the ecological risk assessment and accurate identification sources of HMs is an important component of land resource utilization and food security. A total of 795 soil samples (with a depth of 0~20 cm) were collected in Hezhang County, an area of typical high background levels of HMs with more than 18 large lead-zinc deposits. In this study, inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS), and the potentiometric method (POT) were used to test the total concentration of HMs and pH values. The geographic information system was used to model the concentration distribution of HMs, and the ecological risk was assessed according to the source analysis results. The results suggest that: (1) the mean concentration of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 24.55, 2.25, 176.4, 89.6, 0.19, 64.2, 102, and 257 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, respectively, which exceeded the average background value of soils in Guizhou Province by 1.23, 3.41, 1.84, 2.80, 1.73, 1.64, 2.90, and 2.58 times, respectively, and the average concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn exceed the screening values specified in soil contamination risk in agricultural land; (2) the results of enrichment factor (EF) showed that 29.73% of Cd are moderately polluted, and other HMs were slightly polluted in a small area or near the baseline value (EF ≈ 1); and (3) PMF analysis showed that there are five main sources, pyrite, lead-zinc ore, basalt, carbonate rock, and agricultural production, with the risk contribution ratios of 5.25%, 27.37%, 28.94%, 17.91%, and 20.53%, respectively.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/5/783heavy metalsecological assessmentPMFsource apportionmentlead-zinc mine
spellingShingle Fugui Zhang
Chengwen Wang
Xiaomeng Cheng
Honghong Ma
Ling He
Ecological Assessment, Spatial Analysis, and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals (HMs) in Soils with High Background Values in the Lead-Zinc Mine, Hezhang County, Southwestern China
Water
heavy metals
ecological assessment
PMF
source apportionment
lead-zinc mine
title Ecological Assessment, Spatial Analysis, and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals (HMs) in Soils with High Background Values in the Lead-Zinc Mine, Hezhang County, Southwestern China
title_full Ecological Assessment, Spatial Analysis, and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals (HMs) in Soils with High Background Values in the Lead-Zinc Mine, Hezhang County, Southwestern China
title_fullStr Ecological Assessment, Spatial Analysis, and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals (HMs) in Soils with High Background Values in the Lead-Zinc Mine, Hezhang County, Southwestern China
title_full_unstemmed Ecological Assessment, Spatial Analysis, and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals (HMs) in Soils with High Background Values in the Lead-Zinc Mine, Hezhang County, Southwestern China
title_short Ecological Assessment, Spatial Analysis, and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals (HMs) in Soils with High Background Values in the Lead-Zinc Mine, Hezhang County, Southwestern China
title_sort ecological assessment spatial analysis and potential sources of heavy metals hms in soils with high background values in the lead zinc mine hezhang county southwestern china
topic heavy metals
ecological assessment
PMF
source apportionment
lead-zinc mine
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/5/783
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