Assessment and Characteristics of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil in the Vicinity of a Zinc Mine Dump Heaps

Abstract:

Heavy metal contamination of soils is a widespread and serious enviroment problem in the process of exploitation and utilization of lead-zinc mine. In this study, the distribution, pollution index of lead, cadmium, zinc and copper of the soils near an abandoned zinc mine dump heaps were investigated. The results showed concentrations of Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu in smelting slags averaged at 11950mg/kg, 92mg/kg, 8878mg/kg, and 2129mg/kg respectively, whereas concentrations of heavy metal in adjacent soils exceed the maximum of soil environment. Pb and Cd are main pollutant. All the samples were heavy pollution by the assessment of single-factor pollution index and integrative pollution index. Hheavy metals next to the smelting slags mainly existed in the surface soil (0-20cm). Heavy metasl had lower ability of transforing downwards. The distribution characteristics of heavy metals in farmland was probably relateded to plowing processing, mixing fresh soil and the change of soil pH.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 937)
• Pages: 537-542
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.937.537
• Online since: May 2014
• Authors: Hong Wang*, Hai Bo Li, Xue Dong Lv, Peng Fei Wang, Ji Fu Ma
• Keywords: Heavy Metal, Mine Dump Heaps, Pollution Index, Smelting Slags, Soil Pollution

References

[1] C Y Wei, C Wang, L S Yang. Characterizing spatial distribution and sources of heavy metals in the soils from mining-smelting activities in Shuikoushan, Hunan Province, China Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2009, 21: 1230–1236.

DOI: 10.1016/s1001-0742(08)62409-2

[2] Y G Yang, C Q Liu, P Wu, G P Zhang, W H Zhu. Zinc smelting –an important factor leading to heavy metal accumulation in soils and sediments in Hezhang country , Guizhou Province. Acta Mineralogica Sinica, 2003, 23(3): 255-272.

[3] X M Liu, J J Wu, J M Xu, Characterizing the risk assess-ment of heavy metals and sampling uncertainty analysis in paddy field by geostatistics and GIS. Environmental Pollution, 2006, 141(2): 257–264.

DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.08.048

[4] Rawlins B G, Lark R M, Webster R, O'Donnell K E. The use of soil survey data to determine the magnitude and extent of historic metal deposition related to atmospheric smelter emissions across Humberside, UK. Environmental Pollution, 2006, 143(3): 416–426.

DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.12.010

[5] Z Q Wu, S Y Gu, H Y Li, H Wu. Research on the heavy metal contamination and bioavailability of contaminated soils in Pb-Zn mining areas of northwestern Guizhou Province. Safety and Environmental Engineering, 2009, 16(3): 1-5, 17.

[6] H Y Li, S Y Gu, Z Q Wu, Z Wang. The polluted situation of heavy metals in Pb-Zn mining area of northwest of Guizhou Province and the evaluation of environmental impaction. Environmental Monitoring in China, 2009, 25(1): 55-59.

[7] R K Lun. Soil Agricultural Chemistry Analysis. China Agricultual Science and Technology Press.

[8] Jin C X, Zhou Q X. Characteristics of cadmium transfer between soil-water interface affected by pH. Journal of Shenyang Jianzhu University (Natural Science), 2006, 22(4): 626-628, 652.