Current Status and Temporal Trend of Potentially Toxic Elements Pollution in Agricultural Soil in the Yangtze River Delta Region: A Meta-Analysis

Shufeng She, Bifeng Hu, Xianglin Zhang, Shuai Shao, Yefeng Jiang, Lianqing Zhou and Zhou Shi
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Shufeng She: Institute of Applied Remote Sensing and Information Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Bifeng Hu: Institute of Applied Remote Sensing and Information Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Xianglin Zhang: Institute of Applied Remote Sensing and Information Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Shuai Shao: Institute of Applied Remote Sensing and Information Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Yefeng Jiang: Institute of Applied Remote Sensing and Information Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Lianqing Zhou: Institute of Applied Remote Sensing and Information Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Zhou Shi: Institute of Applied Remote Sensing and Information Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) pollution in the agricultural soil of China, especially in developed regions such as the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in eastern China, has received increasing attention. However, there are few studies on the long-term assessment of soil pollution by PTEs over large regions. Therefore, in this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the current state and temporal trend of PTEs pollution in the agricultural land of the Yangtze River Delta. Based on a review of 118 studies published between 1993 and 2020, the average concentrations of Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ni were found to be 0.25 mg kg −1 , 0.14 mg kg −1 , 8.14 mg kg −1 , 32.32 mg kg −1 , 68.84 mg kg −1 , 32.58 mg kg −1 , 92.35 mg kg −1 , and 29.30 mg kg −1 , respectively. Among these elements, only Cd and Hg showed significant accumulation compared with their background values. The eastern Yangtze River Delta showed a relatively high ecological risk due to intensive industrial activities. The contents of Cd, Pb, and Zn in soil showed an increasing trend from 1993 to 2000 and then showed a decreasing trend. The results obtained from this study will provide guidance for the prevention and control of soil pollution in the Yangtze River Delta.

Keywords: potentially toxic elements; agricultural soil; Yangtze River Delta; meta-analysis; spatial distribution; temporal trend (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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