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Contaminant characteristics and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in the paddy soils from lead (Pb)-zinc (Zn) mining areas in Guangdong Province, South China

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Abstract

In November 2016, the total metal concentrations in nine representative locations in lead (Pb)-zinc (Zn) mining areas, located in Guangdong Province, South China, were determined experimentally by flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The results indicated that the paddy soils were heavily contaminated with Cd (20.25 mg kg−1), Pb (1093.03 mg kg−1), and Zn (867.0 mg kg−1), exceeding their corresponding soil quality standard values and background values. According to the results, the mean enrichment factor levels of the studied metals decreased in the following order: Cd > Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Mn > Cr. Among these metals, Cd, Pb, and Zn were predominantly influenced by widespread anthropogenic activities. The highest concentrations of the studied metal pollutants were distributed in the areas surrounding the mining activity district. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that the major contributing sources of the studied metals were metal ore mining, smelting, and processing activities. However, the composition of soil background was another potential source. Moreover, the assessment results of environment risks showed that the potential ecological risks, in decreasing order, were Cd > Pb > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Mn. Additionally, the non-carcinogenic risk represented the trend of HI Pb > HI Mn > HI Zn > HI Cu , and the carcinogenic risk ranked as CR Cr > CR Cd > CR Ni . Among the environmental risk substances, Cd and Pb were the main contributors that pose ecological harm and health hazards through their serious pollution. Consequently, greater attention should be paid to this situation.

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Funding information

This work was supported by Guangdong Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar (No. S2013050014122), Guangdong provincial science and technology program (No. 2014B090901040, 2015B020237003), and Guangdong Te Zhi program youth science and technology talent of project (No. 2014TQ01Z262). This is contribution No. IS-2428 from GIGCAS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People’s Republic of China

    Da-Mao Xu, Bo Yan, Tao Chen, Chang Lei, Han-Zhi Lin & Xian-Ming Xiao

  2. Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People’s Republic of China

    Da-Mao Xu, Bo Yan, Tao Chen, Chang Lei, Han-Zhi Lin & Xian-Ming Xiao

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100082, People’s Republic of China

    Da-Mao Xu & Han-Zhi Lin

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  1. Da-Mao Xu
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  2. Bo Yan
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  3. Tao Chen
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Correspondence to Bo Yan.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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Xu, DM., Yan, B., Chen, T. et al. Contaminant characteristics and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in the paddy soils from lead (Pb)-zinc (Zn) mining areas in Guangdong Province, South China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 24387–24399 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0052-9

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