Spatial distribution, sources and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements contamination in surface soils of Yellow River Delta, China

Zhongkang Yang; Honglei Sui; Yingqiang Song; Yanqiang Li; Huijuan Shao; Jun Wang

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114213

Spatial distribution, sources and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements contamination in surface soils of Yellow River Delta, China

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Nov:184:114213. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114213. Epub 2022 Oct 7.

Authors

Zhongkang Yang¹, Honglei Sui², Yingqiang Song³, Yanqiang Li², Huijuan Shao², Jun Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China. Electronic address: zkyang@sdau.edu.cn.
² National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China.
³ School of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China. Electronic address: songyingqiang@sdut.edu.cn.
⁴ National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in Universities of Shandong, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China. Electronic address: jwang@sdau.edu.cn.

PMID: 36215760
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114213

Abstract

The contamination status and ecological risk of soil potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in Yellow River Delta (YRD) are still poorly understood. Thirty surface soil samples were collected in YRD, determined for contents of PTEs, and assessed using four kinds of proxies. Results indicated that PTEs contents basically met the Environmental Quality Standard for Soils, and spatial heterogeneity of PTEs was not distinctive except for a few sampling sites. Results of geo-accumulation index (I_geo) and enrichment factor (EF) indicated significant enrichment of As and Sb in YRD. The multivariate analysis results distinguished the possible sources of these PTEs and demonstrated that sources of Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn could be influenced by anthropogenic activities (industrial and agricultural sources). Moreover, Ni, Cr and As had relatively high contributions to sum of toxicity units (ΣTUs). This study provides basic information for understanding soil PTEs contamination status of YRD.

Keywords: Contamination; Potentially toxic elements; Risk assessment; Surface soils; Yellow River Delta.

MeSH terms

Cadmium / analysis
China
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Lead / analysis
Metals, Heavy* / analysis
Risk Assessment
Rivers
Soil
Soil Pollutants* / analysis

Substances

Soil
Metals, Heavy
Soil Pollutants
Cadmium
Lead