Evaluation of ecological risk and source of heavy metals in vegetable-growing soils in Fujian province, China

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution in vegetable-growing soils is of increasing concern due to the potential health risk via food chain. The present study aimed at assessing the potential ecological risk (RI) of heavy metals (HMs) in the vegetable-growing soils collected from Fujian Province, China, and identifying the potential sources with multivariable methods including correlation matrix and principal component analysis (PCA). The concentrations of HMs including Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr, As, Cu, Zn, and Ni in 160 soils collected from 25 sites of vegetable-growing land in Fujian Province, China, are measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and hydrogen generationatomic fluorescence spectrometer, respectively. Results show that most of the soil samples have been seriously contaminated with HMs, especially the metals of Hg, Cd, and Pb, compared with both of the background values of soils in Fujian Province and the limitation of total HMs in soil environmental quality for edible agricultural products set in China (HJ 332-2006). The indexes of RI indicate that only 8% of the 25 sites are environmentally safe, whereas according to the present study 28% of the sampling sites are heavily contaminated with HMs with 628-1,076 of the RI values. Based on PCA analysis, Zn, Cd, and Pb associated with PC1 are found to derive from anthropogenic sources, especially the local industrial activities, such as porcelain plants in Dehua, zinc metallurgical plants in Nan'an, and sewage irrigation from industrial estate in Taijiang. The concentrations of As, Ni, and Cu loaded in PC2 are found to be mainly controlled by natural factors (i.e., the lithogenic process of natural parent soils). Hg in PC3 is also found to originate from the anthropogenic sources, such as local coal combustion in Longhai and industrial activities in Cangshan. However, Cr in PC3 is mainly derived from the lithogenic sources.

Assessment of heavy metals with ecological risk of soils in the industrial vicinity of Tangail district, Bangladesh

“…Where, Cn is the determined element (n) concentration assessed from soil, Bn is the geochemical baseline value of element n in background sample (Yu et al 2012). For decreasing possible variation in background values of element n, factor 1.5 is used to ascribe lithogenic effects.…”

“…Heavy metals may initiate in soils around the industrial area from various sources of which are industrial activities, power generation, manufacturing, waste spills, or fossil fuel burning and waste disposal (Luo et al 2007 . The accumulation of heavy elements in soils is a great concern due to their potential environmental risk and harmful effects on soil ecosystems , Cui et al 2004, Li et al 2009, Yu et al 2012, Yuan et al 2014. To assess the ecological risks of heavy metals in soil dif-ferent methods have been widely used, such as enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (C i f), toxic unit analysis, and geoaccumulation load index (Igeo) , Rashed 2010).…”

Apportionment of Hazardous Elements in Agricultural Soils Around the Vicinity of Brick Kiln in Bangladesh

“…From brick kilns, ambient hazardous elements are being brought forward every year which are mixed up with air causes air pollution and rest are being stored in soils and create soil toxicity [6]. Therefore, the accumulation of hazardous elements in soils is of increasing concern due to their potential risk, and detrimental effects on soil ecosystems [7,8]. In brick kiln area, there should be concern about the soil pollution and ecological risks because the rate of emission of toxic substance is very high in developing countries, especially in Bangladesh as the rules and regulations are being broken which should be maintained for brick kiln.…”

Metal speciation in soil and health risk due to vegetables consumption in Bangladesh

“…Plants are essential components of natural ecosystems and agro-ecosystems and are the first compartment of the terrestrial food chain (Cui et al 2004;Li et al 2009;Yu et al 2012). When grown on polluted soils, they become a potential threat to human and animal health, as they may accumulate toxic elements (e.g., metals) in their tissues.…”