Living solid waste of 72 typical villages and towns in 12 provinces was investigated, and related heavy metal pollution characteristics, source, and distribution were analyzed. Results showed that heavy metal content of As, Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ni in living solid waste of typical northern villages of China was (7.51±8.89), (0.64±0.42), (21.91±12.29), (4.82±8.37), (86.36±59.99), (36.43±15.98), (62.19±36.61), and (46.07±25.22) mg·kg-1, respectively. Content of As, Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ni in living solid waste of typical southern towns was (7.43±8.82), (0.83±0.74), (21.62±13.76), (1.84±4.55), (131.06±74.96), (37.20±16.80), (98.04±63.71), and (46.75±25.75) mg·kg-1, respectively. Cd and Hg exceeded the standards for urban garbage agricultural control and soil environmental quality. Sources of heavy metals in domestic waste were explored by Pearson correlation analysis, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis. Results showed that Pb and Cd were mainly derived from kitchen waste, dust, paper, rubber, and plastic. Hg was mainly from kitchen waste and dust. Zn and Cr were mainly from dust. Cu was mainly from dust, paper, rubber, plastic, battery, and electronic waste. Ni was mainly from battery and electronic wastes. As was mainly derived from pesticides and fertilizers.
Keywords: content; domestic waste; heavy metal pollution; rural living; source and distribution.