Ecological risks and sensitivity distribution of soil heavy metals in Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang, Northwest China

• Published in: Journal of soils and sediments Vol. 23; no. 9; pp. 3396 - 3411
• Main Authors: Du, Shanghai, Meng, Lingjun, Xu, Wenyan, Zhao, Qunying, Zhao, Hongyan, Ma, Tianyi, Wu, Shengyu, Zhang, Wenjing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.09.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Copper; Distribution; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecological effects; Ecological risk assessment; Economic development; Environment; Environmental Physics; Heavy metals; Pollution; Regional development; Risk assessment; Rivers; Sec 3 • Remediation and Management of Contaminated or Degraded Lands • Research Article; Soil; Soil environment; Soil pollution; Soil sampling; Soil Science & Conservation; Soils; Spatial distribution; Surface runoff; Zinc; Ecological sensitivity assessment; Belt and Road; Altay Prefecture; Potential ecological risk index method; Heavy metal
• ISSN: 1439-0108; 1614-7480
• DOI: 10.1007/s11368-023-03552-5

Purpose Restricted by its own environment and climate factors, the ecological environment in Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang, is very fragile. Heavy metal pollution caused by economic development has further deteriorated the regional ecological environment. This study is aimed at describing the spatial distribution of heavy metals in the soil of Altay Prefecture and at exploring the response of the ecological environment to heavy metal pollution. Materials and methods Forty-one soil sampling points were arranged in Altay Prefecture, the collected soil samples were tested and analyzed, and a spatial distribution map of heavy metals in soil was drawn. The modified ecological risk index method was employed to evaluate the heavy metal ecological risk. Results and discussion The spatial distribution of heavy metals in the soil of Altay Prefecture showed that Cu and Zn substantially exceeded the standard, accounting for 28.73% and 19.37%, respectively, of the soil background values. In addition, the ecological risk assessment results of heavy metals in the soil environment of Altay Prefecture showed that the low-risk area was the largest, accounting for 34.06%. The total high-risk area and very high-risk area accounted for approximately 1/4 of Altay Prefecture. The comprehensive evaluation results of eco-environmental sensitivity showed the following proportions of each ecological sensitivity level in Altay Prefecture from high to low: medium-sensitivity area (59.74%), > low-sensitivity area (18.79%), > high-sensitivity area (12.09%), > extremely sensitive area (9.38%). Conclusions The spatial zone with frequent human activities was the main enrichment area of heavy metals. In addition, surface runoff and rivers will further expand the risk of heavy metal pollutants to the ecological environment, intensifying the ecological sensitivity.