Heavy Metal Contamination of Agricultural Soils in Taiyuan, China

• Published in: Pedosphere Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 901 - 909
• Main Authors: LIU, Yong, WANG, Huifeng, LI, Xiaoting, LI, Jinchang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2015; Institute of Loess Plateau,Shanxi University,Taiyuan 030006 (China)
• Subjects: environmental pollution; farming practices; sewage irrigation; soil parent material; soil quality; 农业土壤; 农田土壤; 土壤环境质量标准; 土壤重金属污染; 太原市; 平均浓度; 空间分布图; 重金属污染物; sewage irrigation; soil quality; environmental pollution; farming practices; soil parent material
• ISSN: 1002-0160; 2210-5107
• DOI: 10.1016/S1002-0160(15)30070-9

To evaluate the current state of the environmental quality of agricultural soils in Taiyuan City, a hotspot for China＇s industrial development, the concentrations of 8 heavy metals in soils were investigated by means of extensive sampling in farmlands, forestlands, and grasslands in the city. Statistical analyses and spatial distribution maps were used to identify the most significant heavy metal pollutants. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cr were slightly higher than their background values in Taiyuan＇s topsoil, but were lower than the maximum permissible concentrations in the Chinese Environmental Quality Standard for agricultural soils. Farmland soils in Taiyuan had the highest average Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, and Cr concentrations, but the As and Ni concentrations did not differ significantly among the farmland, forestland, and grasslands. Soil contamination by Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, and Cr was mainly derived from farming practices, especially the use of sewage water for irrigation. In contrast, As and Ni might derive mainly from the soil parent material. The identification of heavy metal sources in agricultural soils may provide a basis for taking appropriate action to protect soil quality.