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Identification of soil heavy metal sources from anthropogenic activities and pollution assessment of Fuyang County, China

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Abstract

Understanding regional variations of soil heavy metals and their anthropogenic influence are very important for environmental planning. In this study, 286 surface soil samples were collected in Fuyang county, and the ‘total’ metals for copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) were measured in 2005. Statistic analysis showed that Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd had been added by exterior factors, and Ni was mainly controlled by natural factors. The combination of multivariate statistical and geostatistical analysis successfully grouped three groups (Cu, Zn and Pb; Cd; and Ni) of heavy metals from different sources. Through pollution evaluation, it was found that 15.76% of the study area for Cu, Zn and Pb, and 46.14% for Cd suffered from moderate or severe pollution. Further spatial analysis identified the limestone mining activities, paper mills, cement factory and metallurgic activities were the main sources for the concentration of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in soils, and soil Ni was mainly determined by the parent materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institution of Remote Sensing and Information System Application, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, China

    X. Y. Zhang, F. F. Lin & K. Wang

  2. CSIRO, Private Bag 5, Wembley, Western Australia, 6019, Australia

    Mike T. F. Wong

  3. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, Zhejiang University, 310029, Hangzhou, China

    X. L. Feng

  4. Faculty of Architectural Civil Engineering and Environment, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China

    X. L. Feng

Authors
  1. X. Y. Zhang
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  2. F. F. Lin
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  3. Mike T. F. Wong
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  4. X. L. Feng
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  5. K. Wang
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Correspondence to K. Wang.

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Zhang, X.Y., Lin, F.F., Wong, M.T.F. et al. Identification of soil heavy metal sources from anthropogenic activities and pollution assessment of Fuyang County, China. Environ Monit Assess 154, 439–449 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0410-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0410-7

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