Journal of University of Science and Technology of China ›› 2017, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (5): 426-434.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-2778.2017.05.008

• Original Paper • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Heavy metal pollution characteristics and ecological risk assessment for soil in northern Chaohu Lake

QIN Xianyan, PENG Miaozhi, HU Bo, WU Jianxiong, SUN Yue   

  1. Geological Survey of Anhui Province, Hefei 230001, China
  • Received:2016-06-11 Revised:2016-10-12 Online:2017-05-31 Published:2017-05-31

Abstract: The surface soil in the north of Chaohu was studied and a total of 165 samples were collected and the concentrations and pollution characteristics of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn were analyzed. The heavy metal concentrations in this area were compared with those of other areas. Then, pollution index and potential ecological risk index were used respectively for assessing the pollution status and ecological risk of soil heavy metals in this area. Results suggest that the average concentrations of eight heavy metals rank as follows: Cr>Zn>Ni>Pb>Cu>As>Cd>Hg. The coefficent variations of Cd and Hg are higher than the other six heavy metals. Furthermore, higher enrichment coefficients occur also in Cd and Hg when compared with the deep soils. Single factor pollution index indicates that eight heavy metals in the soils of this area are all at a clear level, and the pollution degree is in the following order: Pb>Cr>As=Ni>Cu>Cd>Zn>Hg. Accordingly, a clear level in this area is shown by Nemerow integrated pollution index. Calculation of the potential ecological risk index shows that, among the eight tested heavy metals, Cd and Hg are the main potential ecological risk factors, and their contribution is 19.40% and 72.87%, respectively.

Key words: Chaohu Lake, surface soil, heavy metal, Nemerow, ecological risk, assessment

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