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The distribution and accumulation behaviors of heavy metals in plants and corresponding soils in Huainan Coalfield, one of the national coal mine bases in China were investigated. Various plant species and corresponding soil samples were collected from three coal mines of different mining durations. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was employed to determine the concentrations of selected heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn). The distribution characteristics of heavy metals in total plants suggesting that the accumulation characteristics of plants may be not consistent with the distribution behaviors of heavy metals in corresponding soils. The varied heavy metals in different plant species suggest that all these plants have heavy metal tolerance. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 1098–1104, 2016

Forty-two groundwater samples were collected for the geochemical characterization of fluoride in the Huaibei Plain, a high fluorine area, in Northern China. The concentration of fluoride in the groundwater was from 0.20 to 3.75 mg/l, and 23.81% (n = 9) of the samples exceeded the drinking water standard of 1.5 mg/l recommended by the World Health Organization. The groundwater was alkaline (pH 7.14 to 8.67), brackish (total dissolved solids 421 to 1196 mg/l), and the water was classified as bicarbonate-sodium, bicarbonate-calcium, bicarbonate-calcium·sodium, and bicarbonate chloride-sodium. This prevailing characteristics may be attributed to mineral weathering, water-rock interactions, and ion exchange in the aquifer. The main source of fluorine in the groundwater may be from the leaching of minerals.The elevated concentration of fluoride in groundwater may be derived from the calcite-fluorite minerals. This study also discusses a number of factors affecting the fluoride concentrations in groundwater. High fluoride concentrations are associated with weakly alkaline conditions, moderate total dissolved solids, and calcium and sodium ions as the dominant ions. Correlations between fluoride and sample depth and SO4 2− were not observed. All samples were below the solubility product curve of CaF2, which may be explained by positive correlation between fluoride and total dissolved solids. Evapotranspiration and runoff conditions also favor fluoride enrichment in groundwater.

measured, the distribution characteristics of heavy metals in different wind directions were analyzed, and the pollution degree of heavy metal in soil was evaluated. The soil around the power plant is generally polluted by heavy metals, and the degree of pollution is heavy pollution and moderate pollution. The potential ecological hazard of heavy metals in soil is moderate or slight. The values of Nemerow index and potential ecological risk index are different among different directions and different distances from the power plant. Cd, Hg and As are the mainly contributors for the potential ecological risk. The results revealed that wind direction is important for the distribution of heavy metal around coal-fired power plant. The study can provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and management of soil heavy metal pollution around coal-fired power plant.

In order to fully understand the morphological characteristics and pollution status of heavy metals in the dewatered sludge of Huainan Municipal sewage treatment plant, the physical and chemical properties were analyzed, and the content and occurrence forms of heavy metals (As, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni) in the sludge were studied using the geological accumulation method (Igeo), risk assessment coding method (RAC), and potential ecological risk index method to evaluate the ecological risk. The results showed that the municipal sludge in Huainan was rich in nutrients, with good prospects for agricultural utilization. There were differences in the morphological distributions of different heavy metals. The Igeo values for Ni, As, Cr, and Pb were below 0. The results of RAC indicated that the risk level of Cr in sludge was a low risk, and those of other heavy metals were moderate risks. The potential ecological risk of Cd had the highest potential ecological risk, and the other six metals were of low ecological risk. This conclusion can provide basic data and a theoretical reference for the comprehensive utilization of sludge in sewage treatment plants.