Assessment, Distribution and Regional Geochemical Baseline of Heavy Metals in Soils of Densely Populated Area: A Case Study

Song Chen, Cancan Wu, Shenshen Hong and Qianqian Chen
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Song Chen: School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, China
Cancan Wu: School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, China
Shenshen Hong: School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, China
Qianqian Chen: School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: To understand the content, pollution, distribution and source and to establish a geochemical baseline of heavy metal elements in soil under the influence of high-density population, the concentrations of heavy metal elements Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Fe were determined in 23 soil samples in Suzhou University, and geo-accumulation index, enrichment factor, principal component analysis, spatial analysis and regression analysis were completed. The results showed the following: The elements Cu and As were slightly polluted, while the other heavy metal elements were not. The elements Cd, Cu, Ni and As in soils were mainly caused by agricultural activities of chemical fertilizer, whereas the elements Zn and Hg were impacted by the chemicals and batteries. The heavy metal elements in the north were lower than in the south of the campus, as a whole. The enrichment of elements Cu, As and Cd was caused by the east–west river on the campus, and the enrichment of the elements Mn, Ni and Zn was induced by the reservoir. Biochemical experiments and vehicle parking influenced the spatial enrichment of Cr, Co and Pb, while domestic waste led to the spatial differentiation of Hg concentrations. The regression curve between heavy metal elements and Fe was established, and the background values of the heavy metals Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg and Pb are 50.90, 489.37, 11.76, 37.74, 55.70, 58.22, 20.07, 0.09, 0.08 and 24.13 mg/kg, respectively.

Keywords: assessment; distribution; geochemical baseline; heavy metal; densely populated area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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