Pollution and Risk Assessments of Heavy Metal(loid)s in the Soil around Lead-Zinc Smelteries via Data Integration Analysis

Ziruo Zhou, Chi Peng (), Xu Liu, Zhichao Jiang, Zhaohui Guo and Xiyuan Xiao
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Ziruo Zhou: School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Chi Peng: School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Xu Liu: School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Zhichao Jiang: School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Zhaohui Guo: School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Xiyuan Xiao: School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-15

Abstract: Pb–Zn smelting is a major cause of heavy metal(loid) contaminations in soils. We collected data on heavy metal(loid)s in the soils near Pb–Zn smelteries globally from 54 peer-reviewed reports to study the metals’ distribution, pollution index, and potential ecological and health risks. We observed that 90% of the studied Pb–Zn smelteries were distributed in Asia and Europe. Heavy metal(loid)s were mainly deposited within a 2 km distance to the smelteries, with mean concentrations (mg/kg) of 208.3 for As, 26.6 for Cd, 191.8 for Cu, 4192.6 for Pb, and 4187.7 for Zn, respectively. Cd and Pb concentrations in the soil exceeded their corresponding upper continental crust values several hundred folds, suggesting severe contamination. The smelting area had the highest heavy metal(loid) contamination in soil, followed by the forest land, farmland, and living area. Compared with the soil environmental standard values from various countries, As, Cd, Pb, and Zn were considered priority pollutants for protecting the ecosystem and human health. Likewise, As, Cd, and Pb were suggested as the priority pollutants for protecting groundwater safety. The potential ecological and health risks of heavy metal(loid)s in the soil within 2 km of Pb–Zn smelteries were severe and should be of concern.

Keywords: smelting sites; heavy metals; meta-analysis; land use; risk assessment; soil pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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