Trace metal pollution in soil and wild plants from lead–zinc smelting areas in Huixian County, Northwest China

Zhan, Hongbing; Jiang, Yufeng; Yuan, Jianlin; Hu, Xuefei; Nartey, Obemah David; Wang, Beilei

doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2014.10.007

Cited by 71 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Likewise, the surface soils were also contaminated with Cd, Pb and Zn in another lead-zinc mining area in Zhaotong [ 47 ] and even more seriously in Lanping, in Yunnan Province [ 48 ]. Generally, the metals concentrations of farmland soil in Zhehai were higher compared with concentrations reported in soils from agricultural land [ 6 , 21 ] and other Pb-Zn mining areas in China [ 15 , 44 , 49 ] and in other parts of the world [ 4 , 50 , 51 ], which was likely to be due to the longer industrial history of mining and smelting lead-zinc ore.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Toxic Metals in the Agricultural Soil around a Pb/Zn Mining and Smelting Area in Southwest China

Long

Liu

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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Mining and smelting activities are the primary sources of toxic metal pollution in China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pollution risk and identify sources of metals in the arable soil of a Zn/Pb mining and smelting district located in Huize, in Southwest China. Topsoil (346) and profile (three) samples were collected and analyzed to determine the total concentrations of eight toxic elements (Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni). The results showed that the mean Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni concentrations were 9.07, 0.37, 25.0, 512, 88.7, 239, 1761 and 90.3 mg/kg, respectively, all of which exceeded both the Huize and Yunnan soil background levels. Overall the topsoil was quite acidic, with a mean pH of 5.51. The mean geoaccumulation index (Igeo) revealed that the pollution level was in the order of Pb > Zn > Cd > Hg > As > Ni > Cu > Cr. The ecological risk index (Ei) indicated that there were serious contamination risks for Cd and Hg, high risk for Pb, moderate risk for As, and Cd and Hg were the dominant contributors to the high combined ecological risk index (Er) with a mean parameter of 699 meaning a serious ecological risk. The Nemerow pollution index (Pn) showed that 99.1% of soil samples were highly polluted or worse. Horizontally, high concentrations of Cd, Hg, As, Pb and Zn appeared in the north and middle of the study area, while Cr, Cu and Ni showed an opposite trend. Vertically, as the depth increased, Cd, Hg, As, Pb and Zn contents declined, but Cr, Cu and Ni exhibited an increasing trend. The mobilities of the metals were in the order of Zn > Cd > Hg > As > Pb. Horizontal and vertical distribution, coupled with correlation analysis, PCA and CA suggested that Cd, Hg, As, Pb and Zn mainly came from the anthropogenic sources, whereas Cr and Ni had a lithogenic origin. The source of Cu was a combination of the presence of parent materials as well as human activities. This study provides a base for the local government to control the toxic metal pollution and restore the soil environment system and an effective method to identify the sources of the studied pollutants.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Toxic Metals in the Agricultural Soil around a Pb/Zn Mining and Smelting Area in Southwest China

Long

Liu

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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“…One of the most significant sources of anthropogenic trace metal emissions is the industrial smelting of metals. Industrial pyrometallurgical processes produce the largest emissions of As, Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn (Zahn et al, 2014). Cr, Ba, Mo, Zn, Pb and Cu are typically associated with motorvehicle emissions and oil combustion, while Fe, Pb and Zn are emitted from municipal waste incinerators (Adgate et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric trace metals measured at a regional background site (Welgegund) in South Africa

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Atmospheric trace metals can cause a variety of health-related and environmental problems. Only a few studies on atmospheric trace metal concentrations have been conducted in South Africa. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine trace metal concentrations in aerosols collected at a regional background site, i.e. Welgegund, South Africa. PM1, PM1–2. 5 and PM2. 5–10 samples were collected for 13 months, and 31 atmospheric trace metal species were detected. Atmospheric iron (Fe) had the highest concentrations in all three size fractions, while calcium (Ca) was the second-most-abundant species. Chromium (Cr) and sodium (Na) concentrations were the third- and fourth-most-abundant species, respectively. The concentrations of the trace metal species in all three size ranges were similar, with the exception of Fe, which had higher concentrations in the PM1 size fraction. With the exception of titanium (Ti), aluminium (Al) and manganese (Mg), 70 % or more of the trace metal species detected were in the smaller size fractions, which indicated the influence of industrial activities. However, the large influence of wind-blown dust was reflected by 30 % or more of trace metals being present in the PM2. 5–10 size fraction. Comparison of trace metals determined at Welgegund to those in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex indicated that at both locations similar species were observed, with Fe being the most abundant. However, concentrations of these trace metal species were significantly higher in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex. Fe concentrations at the Vaal Triangle were similar to levels thereof at Welgegund, while concentrations of species associated with pyrometallurgical smelting were lower. Annual average Ni was 4 times higher, and annual average As was marginally higher than their respective European standard values, which could be attributed to regional influence of pyrometallurgical industries in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex. All three size fractions indicated elevated trace metal concentrations coinciding with the end of the dry season, which could partially be attributed to decreased wet removal and increases in wind generation of particulates. Principal component factor analysis (PCFA) revealed four meaningful factors in the PM1 size fraction, i.e. crustal, pyrometallurgical-related and Au slimes dams. No meaningful factors were determined for the PM1–2. 5 and PM2. 5–10 size fractions, which was attributed to the large influence of wind-blown dust on atmospheric trace metals determined at Welgegund. Pollution roses confirmed the influence of wind-blown dust on trace metal concentrations measured at Welgegund, while the impact of industrial activities was also substantiated.

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“…The Zn-, Pb-, and Cd contents exceed by 8-, 11-, and 28 times, respectively, median values for European soils [6]. However, compared to other long-lasting Zn-Pb mining-and smelting sites in Poland [7][8][9][10][11] and worldwide [12][13][14], the heavy-metal contents in the Jaworzno topsoil are lower by a factor of 2 at least. Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revealing the Distribution and Bioavailability of Zn, Pb, and Cd in Soil at an Abandoned Zn Processing Site: The Role of Spectrometry Techniques

et al. 2018

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The focus of this study is the potential geochemical hazard in the soil system affected by historical zinc processing in Jaworzno, southern Poland. Total Zn, Pb, and Cd concentrations for soil samples determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry are reported. The modified three-step BCR sequential extraction procedure for analysis of the soil was successfully applied to obtain critical information on the heavy metal bioavailability and toxic impact on the natural environment. Exchangeable-, reducible-, oxidizable-, and residual fractions obtained using the sequential extraction procedure were separated and the heavy metal contents in each fraction were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The results of the partitioning study provide information on the mobility of heavy metals in the soil profiles. Most of the Zn in the topsoil is related to the exchangeable-, reducible-and organic/oxidizable phases. The Zn fractionation in the whole soil profiles looks slightly different, with depletion of exchangeable-and reducible phases and enrichment of residual-and organic fractions. The greatest amount of Pb is associated with the reducible fraction. Cadmium is mainly found in the exchangeable-and reducible fraction. The spectrometry techniques applied are helpful in metal-level assessment and useful for evaluating the fate of contaminants and their bioavailability in soil systems. They show that 40 years since Zn processing ceased, the total concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cd in the investigated soils are extremely high. Due to the high proportions of the metals in the easily soluble fraction, it is evident that the Jaworzno area has been strongly affected by the historical zinc industry and that the topsoil is heavily contaminated or even toxic.

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Trace metal pollution in soil and wild plants from lead–zinc smelting areas in Huixian County, Northwest China

Cited by 71 publications

References 33 publications

Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Toxic Metals in the Agricultural Soil around a Pb/Zn Mining and Smelting Area in Southwest China

Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Toxic Metals in the Agricultural Soil around a Pb/Zn Mining and Smelting Area in Southwest China

Atmospheric trace metals measured at a regional background site (Welgegund) in South Africa

Revealing the Distribution and Bioavailability of Zn, Pb, and Cd in Soil at an Abandoned Zn Processing Site: The Role of Spectrometry Techniques

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