Environmental Risk Assessment of Metals in the Volcanic Soil of Changbai Mountain

Qing Ma; Lina Han; Jiquan Zhang; Yichen Zhang; Qiuling Lang; Fengxu Li; Aru Han; Yongbin Bao; Kaiwei Li; Si Alu

doi:10.3390/ijerph16112047

Environmental Risk Assessment of Metals in the Volcanic Soil of Changbai Mountain

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Jun 10;16(11):2047. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16112047.

Authors

Qing Ma^{1

2}, Lina Han^{3

4}, Jiquan Zhang^{5

6}, Yichen Zhang⁷, Qiuling Lang⁸, Fengxu Li⁹, Aru Han¹⁰, Yongbin Bao¹¹, Kaiwei Li¹², Si Alu¹³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Natural Disaster Research, Department of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China. maq706@nenu.edu.cn.
² Key Laboratory for Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130117, China. maq706@nenu.edu.cn.
³ Institute of Natural Disaster Research, Department of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China. hanln301@nenu.edu.cn.
⁴ State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China. hanln301@nenu.edu.cn.
⁵ Institute of Natural Disaster Research, Department of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China. zhangjq022@nenu.edu.cn.
⁶ Key Laboratory for Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130117, China. zhangjq022@nenu.edu.cn.
⁷ Jilin Institute of Geological Environment Monitoring, Changchun 130061, China. weifenfangcheng@tom.com.
⁸ Changchun Institute of Technology, Changchun 130021, China. 0215046@ccit.edu.cn.
⁹ Institute of Natural Disaster Research, Department of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China. lifx144@nenu.edu.cn.
¹⁰ Institute of Natural Disaster Research, Department of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China. arh690@nenu.edu.cn.
¹¹ Institute of Natural Disaster Research, Department of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China. baoyb924@nenu.edu.cn.
¹² Institute of Natural Disaster Research, Department of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China. likw395@nenu.edu.cn.
¹³ Institute of Natural Disaster Research, Department of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China. als217@nenu.edu.cn.

Abstract

Tianchi volcano is a dormant active volcano with a risk of re-eruption. Volcanic soil and volcanic ash samples were collected around the volcano and the concentrations of 21 metals (major and trace elements) were determined. The spatial distribution of the metals was obtained by inverse distance weight (IDW) interpolation. The metals' sources were identified and their pollution levels were assessed to determine their potential ecological and human health risks. The metal concentrations were higher around Tianchi and at the north to the west of the study area. According to the geo-accumulation index (I_geo), enrichment factor (EF) and contamination factor (CF) calculations, Zn pollution was high in the study area. Pearson's correlation analysis and principal component analysis showed that with the exception of Fe, Mn and As, the metals that were investigated (Al, K, Ca, Na, Mg, Ti, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, Ba, Ga, Li, Co, Cd, Sn, Sr) were mostly naturally derived. A small proportion of Li, Pb and Zn may have come from vehicle traffic. There is no potential ecological risk and non-carcinogenic risk because of the low concentrations of the metals; however, it is necessary to pay attention to the carcinogenic risk of Cr and As in children.

Keywords: Tianchi volcano; ecological risk assessment; human health risk assessment; metals; volcanic soil.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child
China
Ecosystem
Environmental Monitoring / methods*
Humans
Metals, Heavy / analysis*
Principal Component Analysis
Risk Assessment
Soil
Soil Pollutants / analysis*
Trace Elements / analysis
Volcanic Eruptions*

Substances

Metals, Heavy
Soil
Soil Pollutants
Trace Elements