Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils of the Lihe River Watershed, East China: Spatial Distribution, Ecological Risk, and Pollution Source

Lian Chen, Genmei Wang, Shaohua Wu, Zhen Xia, Zhenang Cui, Chunhui Wang and Shenglu Zhou
Additional contact information
Lian Chen: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, 477 Huanshi East Road, Guangzhou 510075, China
Genmei Wang: College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China
Shaohua Wu: Institute of Land and Urban-Rural Development, Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China
Zhen Xia: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, 477 Huanshi East Road, Guangzhou 510075, China
Zhenang Cui: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, 477 Huanshi East Road, Guangzhou 510075, China
Chunhui Wang: College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Shenglu Zhou: School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing 210023, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: Concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc in agricultural soils at 32 sites in the Lihe River Watershed of the Taihu region, East China, and their potential ecological risks and possible sources were investigated. Enrichment factor analysis demonstrated enrichment in the order Cd > Pb > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr. The potential ecological risk index and risk assessment code analyses indicated that, of the metals studied, Cd posed the most significant ecological risk in the study area. Statistical analyses, GIS mapping, and enrichment factor analysis suggested that Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn were derived mainly from anthropogenic sources, including agricultural, industrial, and vehicular emissions, while Cr and Ni were mainly from natural sources. Positive matrix factorization revealed that Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were sourced from industrial and vehicular emissions (73.7%, 21.3%, 71.4%, 20.3%, 75.0%, and 62.2%, respectively), the agricultural sector (26.3%, 36.3%, 6.8%, 38.9%, 15.7%, and 6.9%, respectively), and parent materials (0%, 42.4%, 21.8%, 40.8%, 9.2%, and 30.9%, respectively). It was recommended that strategies be implemented to reduce industrial point-source pollution.

Keywords: source apportionment; GIS mapping; enrichment factor; PMF; industrial and agricultural activity; parent material (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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