Pollution and source-specific risk analysis of potentially toxic metals in urban soils of an oasis-tourist city in northwest China

• Published in: Environmental geochemistry and health Vol. 46; no. 2; p. 55
• Main Authors: Li, Jun, Liu, Jun-Zhuo, Tai, Xi-Sheng, Jiao, Liang, Zhang, Ming, Zang, Fei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Anthropogenic factors; Background levels; Cadmium; Cancer; Carcinogenesis; Carcinogens; Child; Children; China; Chromium; Contamination; Copper; Deposition; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecological effects; Emissions; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Pollution; Environmental risk; Geochemistry; Health risks; Heavy metals; Humans; Lead; Mercury; Mercury (metal); Metals; Oases; Original Paper; Pollution control; Pollution levels; Pollution prevention; Pollution sources; Public Health; Risk analysis; Risk Assessment; Risk management; Soil; Soil contamination; Soil pollution; Soil Science & Conservation; Terrestrial Pollution; Tourists; Urban environments; Vehicle emissions; Zinc; China; Ecological risk; Urban soil; Pollution assessment; Source apportionment; Health risk; Positive matrix factorization
• ISSN: 0269-4042; 1573-2983
• DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01850-y

Source-specific risk apportionment for soil potentially toxic metals (PTMs) is of great significance for contamination prevention and risk management in urban environments. Eighty-five urban soil samples were obtained from an oasis-tourist city, China and examined for eight PTMs (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn). The pollution levels, sources, and ecological risk of soil PTMs were quantified, and their source-specific ecological and human health effects were also estimated using the multi-proxy approaches. The results demonstrated that accumulation of Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu, and Zn in soils was observed compared to their background levels, and the soils experienced varying degrees of PTMs pollution, especially at sites with high-intensity anthropogenic activities. Natural sources, atmospheric deposition, industrial sources, vehicular emissions, and comprehensive inputs were the principal sources, with contributions of 29.28%, 25.86%, 20.13%, 16.50%, and 8.23%, respectively. The integrated ecological risks of PTMs in soils were moderate at most sites, with atmospheric deposition being the dominant contributor to ecological risks. Children exhibited pronounced non-cancer risks, but adults had no notable non-cancer risks. Moreover, there were potential carcinogenic risks for both children and adults within the study region. Non-cancer and carcinogenic risks were more significant for children than adults, and traffic emissions were the primary contributor to non-cancer risks (adults: 20.53%, children: 20.49%) and carcinogenic risks (adults: 22.95%, children: 22.08%). The industrial and traffic activities were considered as priority control sources for soil pollution control and risk management, with Hg, Cd, Zn, and Pb corresponding to the priority elements. This study highlights the source-specific ecological and human health effects of PTMs pollution in urban soils, thereby providing valuable information for targeted pollution control and priority source management.