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Spatial Distribution and Source Apportionment of Soil Heavy Metals in Pearl River Delta, China

Author

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  • Guangcai Yin

    (Guangdong Industrial Contaminated Site Remediation Technology and Equipment, Engineering Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Hanghai Zhu

    (Guangdong Industrial Contaminated Site Remediation Technology and Equipment, Engineering Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Zhiliang Chen

    (Research Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Technology, South China Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Chuanghong Su

    (College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China)

  • Zechen He

    (Guangdong Industrial Contaminated Site Remediation Technology and Equipment, Engineering Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Xinglin Chen

    (Guangdong Industrial Contaminated Site Remediation Technology and Equipment, Engineering Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Jinrong Qiu

    (Research Center for Eco-Environment Restoration Technology, South China Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Tieyu Wang

    (College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China)

Abstract

The contents of ten heavy metals (HMs) (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr, Hg, As, Co, and Mn) in 80 surface soil samples (0–20 cm) were investigated in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), Guangdong Province, China. The average contents of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr, Hg, As, Co, and Mn were 16.45, 40.20, 45.10, 0.09, 12.93, 47.93, 0.13, 14.44, 5.68, and 199.66 mg/kg, respectively. The soil quality was generally good, though slightly higher levels (1.17, 1.61, 1.67, and 1.62 times) of soil Pb, Cd, Hg, and As contents were observed compared with the soil background values. The spatial distribution of soil HM pollution in the PRD showed that 36% of sample sites were evaluated as sites without soil pollution, 32% as sites with slight pollution, 20% as sites with nearly moderate pollution, 9% as sites with moderate pollution, and 3% as site with serious pollution. Source apportionment analysis showed that the source of 64.33% of soil HMs in the PRD could be explained by natural and industrial sources, 24.80% by transportation, and 10.87% by agricultural activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Guangcai Yin & Hanghai Zhu & Zhiliang Chen & Chuanghong Su & Zechen He & Xinglin Chen & Jinrong Qiu & Tieyu Wang, 2021. "Spatial Distribution and Source Apportionment of Soil Heavy Metals in Pearl River Delta, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:17:p:9651-:d:623448
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Huixuan Li & Yingru Li & Ming-Kuo Lee & Zhongwei Liu & Changhong Miao, 2015. "Spatiotemporal Analysis of Heavy Metal Water Pollution in Transitional China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-21, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhen Wang & Jianqiang Zhang & Izumi Watanabe, 2022. "Source Apportionment and Risk Assessment of Soil Heavy Metals due to Railroad Activity Using a Positive Matrix Factorization Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Cheng Han & Jilong Lu & Shengbo Chen & Xitong Xu & Zibo Wang & Zheng Pei & Yu Zhang & Fengxuan Li, 2021. "Estimation of Heavy Metal(Loid) Contents in Agricultural Soil of the Suzi River Basin Using Optimal Spectral Indices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, November.

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