Pollution Characteristics, Spatial Patterns, and Sources of Toxic Elements in Soils from a Typical Industrial City of Eastern China

Fang Xia, Youwei Zhu, Bifeng Hu, Xueyao Chen, Hongyi Li, Kejian Shi and Liuchang Xu
Additional contact information
Fang Xia: College of Economics and Management, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
Youwei Zhu: Protection and Monitoring Station of Agricultural Environment, Bureau of Agriculture of Department of Rural and Agriculture of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310020, China
Bifeng Hu: Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Xueyao Chen: Protection and Monitoring Station of Agricultural Environment, Bureau of Agriculture of Department of Rural and Agriculture of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310020, China
Hongyi Li: Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Kejian Shi: School of Geographical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo 315100, China
Liuchang Xu: College of Economics and Management, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: Soil pollution due to toxic elements (TEs) has been a core environmental concern globally, particularly in areas with developed industries. In this study, we sampled 300 surface (0–0.2 m) soil samples from Yuyao City in eastern China. Initially, the geo-accumulation index, potential ecological risk index, single pollution index, and Nemerow composite pollution index were used to evaluate the soil contamination status in Yuyao City. Ordinary kriging was then deployed to map the distribution of the soil TEs. Subsequently, indicator kriging was utilized to identify regions with high risk of TE pollution. Finally, the positive matrix factorization model was used to apportion the sources of the different TEs. Our results indicated that the mean content of different TEs kept the order: Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Ni > As > Hg ≈ Cd. Soil pollution was mainly caused by Cd and Hg in the soil of Yuyao City, while the content of other TEs was maintained at a safe level. Regions with high TE content and high pollution risk of TEs are mainly located in the central part of Yuyao City. Four sources of soil TEs were apportioned in Yuyao City. The Pb, Hg, and Zn contents in soil were mainly derived from traffic activities, coal combustion, and smelting. Meanwhile, Cu was mainly sourced from industrial emissions and atmospheric deposition, Cr and Ni mainly originated from soil parental materials, and Cd and As were produced by industrial and agricultural activities. Our study provides important implications for improving the soil environment and contributes to the development of efficient strategies for TE pollution control and remediation.

Keywords: soil toxic element; pollution assessment; US-EPA positive matrix factorization; pollution probability; policy recommendation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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