Spatial Distribution, Risk Assessment and Sources of Heavy Metals in Roadside Soils Exposed to the Zhengzhou-Kaifeng Intercity Railway in Huanghuai Plain, China

Abstract

Heavy metal accumulation in soil can seriously harm human health, and it is necessary to identify the accumulation status and access the potential risks for local pollution control and sustainable economic development. This study evaluated the pollution level, spatial distribution, potential risk and sources of soil heavy metals including As, Co, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, and Cd along the Zhengzhou-Kaifeng intercity railway and compared pollution characteristics in north side soils with south side soils of the railway. A total of 260 soil samples were collected from a section along the railway, and the average concentrations of As,