Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Agricultural Soils Around Industrial Enterprises in Lanzhou, China: A Multi-Industry Perspective Promoting Land Sustainability

Kaixiang Duan (), Yingquan Li, Wanting Yang, Yuda Lin, Lin Rao and Chenxing Han
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Kaixiang Duan: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Yingquan Li: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Wanting Yang: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Yuda Lin: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Lin Rao: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Chenxing Han: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-20

Abstract: Systematic assessment of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils is critical for addressing ecological and public health risks in industrial-intensive cities like Lanzhou, with direct implications for achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 (Zero Hunger), 15 (Life on Land), and 3 (Good Health). The present study evaluates farmland soils around six industrial sectors: waste disposal (WDZ), pharmaceutical manufacturing (PMZ), chemical manufacturing (CMZ), petrochemical industry (PIZ), metal smelting (MSZ), mining (MZ) and one sewage-irrigated zone (SIZ) using geo-accumulation index, Nemerow composite pollution index, potential ecological risk index, and health risk models. The following are the major findings: (1) SIZ and PMZ emerged as primary contamination clusters, with Hg ( I geo = 1.89) and Cd ( I geo = 0.61) showing marked accumulation. Chronic wastewater irrigation caused severe Hg contamination (0.97 mg·kg −1 ) in SIZ, where 100% of the samples reached strong polluted levels according to the Nemerow composite pollution index; (2) Hg and Cd dominated the ecological risks, with 41.32% of the samples exhibiting critical Hg risks (100% in PMZ and SIZ) and 32.63% showing strong Cd risks; and (3) oral ingestion constituted the dominant exposure pathway. Children faced carcinogenic risks (CR = 1.33 × 10 −4 ) exceeding safety thresholds, while adult risks remained acceptable. Notably, high Hg and Cd levels did not translate to proportionally higher health risks due to differential toxicological parameters. The study recommends prioritizing Hg and Cd control in PMZ and SIZ, with targeted exposure prevention measures for children.

Keywords: industrial district; sustainable soil management; farmland soil; heavy metal pollution; risk assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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