Distribution of Cd and Cu Fractions in Chinese Soils and Their Relationships with Soil pH: A Meta-Analysis

Yinzhong Ning, Xinmu Zhang, Binzhe Li, Yajing Wang and Jingheng Guo
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Yinzhong Ning: Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Xinmu Zhang: Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Binzhe Li: Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Yajing Wang: College of Resources and Environment Science, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China
Jingheng Guo: Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: Soil contamination by potentially toxic metals (PTMs) has become a public concern in China. However, the distribution and controlling factors of soil PTM fractions remain largely unknown, limiting our ability to assess their health risks and thus to make sound controlling polices. Here, we investigate the fraction distribution of cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) in Chinese soils and their relationships with soil pH, based on a national meta-analysis of 163 published literatures. Exchangeable Cd in southern China accounted for 19.50 ± 14.97% of total Cd, significantly ( p < 0.01) higher than the corresponding 13.42 ± 6.95% in northern China. Potentially available fractions constituted about 60% of total Cd at the national scale. By contrast, about half of soil Cu existed in unavailable residual fraction. Phytoavailable (i.e., exchangeable) fraction accounted for only 2.71 ± 1.65% and 2.54 ± 1.58% of total Cu in northern and southern China, respectively. Percentages of exchangeable Cd and Cu were negatively correlated ( p < 0.01) with soil pH, while potentially available fractions increased significantly ( p < 0.05) with soil pH. Our results provide the first national assessment of Cd and Cu fraction distribution and their responses to soil pH variations, highlighting the necessity to consider their fraction distribution and soil properties when assessing the health risks of soil PTM contamination in China.

Keywords: fraction distribution; phytoavailability; potentially toxic metals (PTMs); soil pH; Chinese soils (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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