S U M M A R YThis paper deals with the magnetic properties [magnetic susceptibility, saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM), magnetomineralogicl parameters], the contents of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn) and their mutual relationship in the urban topsoils of Luoyang, China. Magnetic susceptibility measured on 215 urban topsoil samples ranged from 31 × 10 −8 to 1128 × 10 −8 m 3 kg −1 (average 215 × 10 −8 m 3 kg −1 ) and showed that high magnetic susceptibility values were obtained on topsoil samples from industrial areas (average 313 × 10 −8 m 3 kg −1 ) and roadside (236 × 10 −8 m 3 kg −1 ), whereas lower susceptibility values were observed in parks and green areas (123 × 10 −8 m 3 kg −1 ). The urban topsoils were enriched with Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn, with average contents of 1.71, 30.51, 85.40, 65.92 and 215.75 mg kg −1 , respectively. The heavy metals Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn show a statistically significant correlation with magnetic susceptibility and SIRM. The Tomlinson Pollution Load Index (PLI) also shows significant correlation with magnetic susceptibility and SIRM, indicating that the magnetic parameters can provide a proxy method for identifying the heavy metal pollution in urban topsoils. Rock magnetism and X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that the dominant magnetic mineral in the urban topsoils is anthropogenic pseudo-single domain (PSD)-multidomain (MD) magnetite. These magnetic particles are associated with the industrial activities, traffic exhaust and deposition of atmospheric particulate.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.