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Contamination, Source Apportionment, and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Farmland Soils Surrounding a Typical Copper Tailings Pond

Author

Listed:
  • Minsi Xiao

    (Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining & Metallurgy Environmental Pollution Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341400, China)

  • Shitong Xu

    (Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341400, China)

  • Bing Yang

    (Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341400, China)

  • Guangcong Zeng

    (Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341400, China)

  • Lidan Qian

    (Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341400, China)

  • Haiwei Huang

    (Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341400, China)

  • Sili Ren

    (Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining & Metallurgy Environmental Pollution Control, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341400, China
    Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341400, China)

Abstract

Tailings resulting from mining and smelting activities may cause soil heavy-metal pollution and harm human health. To evaluate the environmental impact of heavy metals from tailings on farmland soils in the surrounding area, heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in tailings and farmland soils in the vicinity of a typical copper tailings pond were analyzed. Contamination status, potential sources, and health risks for farmland soils were investigated. The results showed that the tailings contained a high concentration of Cu (1136.23 mg/kg). The concentrations of Cd and Cu in the farmland soils exceeded the soil quality standard. The geoaccumulation index ( I geo ) indicated that the soils were moderately polluted by Cu and Cd, and slightly polluted by Ni, Cr, and Zn. The absolute principal component scores–multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model was applied for source apportionment. The results showed that tailings release is the main source of soil heavy-metals contamination, accounting for 35.81%, followed by agricultural activities (19.41%) and traffic emission (16.31%). The health risk assessment suggested that the children in the study region were exposed to non-carcinogenic risks caused by As, while the non-carcinogenic risk to adults and the carcinogenic risk to both adults and children were at acceptable levels. It is necessary to take effective measures to control heavy-metal contamination from tailings releases to protect humans, especially children, from adverse health risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Minsi Xiao & Shitong Xu & Bing Yang & Guangcong Zeng & Lidan Qian & Haiwei Huang & Sili Ren, 2022. "Contamination, Source Apportionment, and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Farmland Soils Surrounding a Typical Copper Tailings Pond," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14264-:d:959841
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yaya Liang & Xiaoyun Yi & Zhi Dang & Qin Wang & Houmei Luo & Jie Tang, 2017. "Heavy Metal Contamination and Health Risk Assessment in the Vicinity of a Tailing Pond in Guangdong, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Wei Zhang & Jinghua Long & Xueru Zhang & Weining Shen & Zhongyi Wei, 2020. "Pollution and Ecological Risk Evaluation of Heavy Metals in the Soil and Sediment around the HTM Tailings Pond, Northeastern China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-10, September.
    3. Caspah Kamunda & Manny Mathuthu & Morgan Madhuku, 2016. "Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soils from Witwatersrand Gold Mining Basin, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-11, June.
    4. Fei Li & Minsi Xiao & Jingdong Zhang & Chaoyang Liu & Zhenzhen Qiu & Ying Cai, 2018. "Spatial Distribution, Chemical Fraction and Fuzzy Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments from the Honghu Lake, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. José C. Ramalho & João Pelica & Fernando C. Lidon & Maria M. A. Silva & Maria M. Simões & Mauro Guerra & Fernando H. Reboredo, 2023. "Soil Arsenic Toxicity Impact on the Growth and C-Assimilation of Eucalyptus nitens," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-19, April.

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