Soil Heavy Metal Accumulation and Ecological Risk in Mount Wuyi: Impacts of Vegetation Types and Pollution Sources

Feng Wu, Donghai Zhu, Tao Yang (), Cong Mao, Wubiao Huang, Shuangshi Zhou and Yujing Yang ()
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Feng Wu: Changsha General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Changsha 410600, China
Donghai Zhu: Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Faculty of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
Tao Yang: Changsha General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Changsha 410600, China
Cong Mao: Changsha General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Changsha 410600, China
Wubiao Huang: Changsha General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Changsha 410600, China
Shuangshi Zhou: Changsha General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Changsha 410600, China
Yujing Yang: Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Faculty of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Soil heavy metal (HM) contamination has become a critical global environmental issue, predominantly caused by industrial and agricultural operations. This study focuses on Mount Wuyi, a UNESCO biodiversity hotspot and major tea production base, to examine vegetation-mediated soil HM accumulation under anthropogenic impacts. We analyzed nine HMs (Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Ni) across diverse vegetation types using geochemical indices and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) modeling. The findings revealed Mn and Zn were dominant elements, and Cr and Pb concentrations exceeded regional background values by 3.47 and 1.26 times, respectively. Cr, Cd, and Pb demonstrated significant pollution levels, while Cd and Hg posed the highest ecological risks. Vegetation type significantly influenced HM distribution patterns, with cultivated areas and shrublands (including tea gardens) accumulating higher concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, and Hg from agricultural and transportation sources. Notably, bamboo forests exhibited natural resistance to HM contamination. PMF analysis identified four primary pollution sources: urbanization (27.94%), transport–agriculture activities (21.40%), agricultural practices (12.98%), and atmospheric deposition (12.96%). These results underscore the need for implementing clean energy solutions, phytoremediation strategies, and tea-specific detoxification measures to maintain ecological security and agricultural sustainability in this ecologically significant region.

Keywords: heavy metal accumulation; ecological risk; vegetation type; pollution sources; Mount Wuyi (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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