Pollution Assessment of Trace Elements in Agricultural Soils around Copper Mining Area

Xianfeng Cheng, Jarmila Drozdova, Tomas Danek, Qianrui Huang, Wufu Qi, Shuran Yang, Liling Zou, Yungang Xiang and Xinliang Zhao
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Xianfeng Cheng: Yunnan Land and Resources Vocational College, Kunming 652501, China
Jarmila Drozdova: ENET Centre, VSB—Technical University of Ostrava, 708 33 Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic
Tomas Danek: ENET Centre, VSB—Technical University of Ostrava, 708 33 Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic
Qianrui Huang: Yunnan Land and Resources Vocational College, Kunming 652501, China
Wufu Qi: Yunnan Land and Resources Vocational College, Kunming 652501, China
Shuran Yang: Yunnan Land and Resources Vocational College, Kunming 652501, China
Liling Zou: Yunnan Land and Resources Vocational College, Kunming 652501, China
Yungang Xiang: Yunnan Land and Resources Vocational College, Kunming 652501, China
Xinliang Zhao: Yunnan Land and Resources Vocational College, Kunming 652501, China

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-18

Abstract: Agricultural soils from Dongchuan copper mining area were sampled and analyzed to determine the concentrations of selected trace elements, namely As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn. The main objectives of this study were: (1) To determine the levels of trace elements and their spatial distribution in soils; (2) to evaluate the potential ecological risk; and (3) to identify the main sources of risk element pollution. The environmental risks were assessed using five different contamination and pollution indexes. Descriptive and exploratory statistical analyses were performed to identify the relations among the trace elements in soils and possible sources of pollution. Although the values of As, Cu and Zn in the soils were significantly higher than Yunnan background values and exceeded the limits of the Chinese national standards in several sampling points, the most serious threat for the ecosystem and human health was represented by Cd. The main sources of Cu and As were identified mining activities, airborne particulates from smelters and the weathering of tailings, and partly also agricultural fertilizers. The major source of Cd was agricultural fertilizers and partly sources associated with mining and smelting activities.

Keywords: risk elements; soil contamination; pollution indexes; environmental geochemistry; Dongchuan; correlation analysis; metal pollution; geostatistics; Yunnan province; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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