Sustainability Assessment and Source Apportionment of Soil Heavy Metals in a Mineral Aggregation Area of Datian County, South China

Junke Wang, Zexin He (), Huading Shi, Anfu Liu, Yun Zhao, Xu Liu, Tiezhu Yan, Li Li and Xinyue Dai
Additional contact information
Junke Wang: School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Zexin He: Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China
Huading Shi: Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China
Anfu Liu: Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China
Yun Zhao: School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Xu Liu: Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Tiezhu Yan: Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China
Li Li: Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China
Xinyue Dai: Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-19

Abstract: Heavy metal pollution in soils, especially in mineral aggregation areas, presents significant sustainability challenges affecting ecosystem health and human well-being. This study conducted source apportionment and risk analysis of soil heavy metals in Datian County, South China, to promote sustainable land use and pollution mitigation. We collected 103 surface soil samples (0–20 cm) from a typical mineral aggregation area and analyzed the concentration distributions of heavy metals using geostatistical methods. The geoaccumulation index ( I geo ) and potential ecological risk index ( RI ) were employed to evaluate pollution levels and ecological risks. Our findings reveal that heavy metal concentrations substantially exceeded Fujian Province’s background values, with Cd exhibiting severe pollution levels. Cd, Pb, and Cu pose moderate to high ecological risks. Major pollution sources include metal smelting enterprises, soil parent materials, mixed sources of mineral extraction and traffic pollution, atmospheric deposition, and agricultural pollution. Their contribution rates were found to be 15.66%, 17.72%, 38.32%, 8.25%, and 20.05%, respectively. Utilizing principal component analysis (PCA) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) models integrated with geostatistical methods, this study provides robust source identification and highlights sustainable practices for soil management. The results offer a scientific basis for developing strategies to mitigate heavy metal pollution and enhance environmental sustainability in the region.

Keywords: heavy metal pollution; mineral aggregation area; ecological risk assessment; PMF model; soil management; Datian County (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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