Abstract
In this study, soil samples were collected from the zinc sand smelter site within the depth range of 0–1.5 m. The contents of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, Hg and Cr were determined, the spatial distribution characteristics and sources of heavy metals were analyzed, and the heavy metal pollution was evaluated by the Nemero integrated pollution index method and the ecological risk index method. The results showed that the contents of Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn and Hg were within the screening values for industrial sites of EPA’s General Soil Screening Values, and the exceedance rates of As, Cd and Pb were 100.00% and 9.52%, respectively. The surface heavy metals were mainly distributed in the pickling and purification system area, sedimentation pond, sewage treatment station, feed storage and sulfuric acid storage tank area. In the vertical direction, heavy metals show surface aggregation, but there is also obvious vertical migration, Cd content increases with depth, Cu and Pb content decreases with depth, As, Ni, Zn and Hg content is relatively uniform. The maximum values of As and Pb in the sewage treatment station, pickling purification system area and sedimentation pond were exceeded, and the exceedance multiples were 110.81 times and 2.65 times, respectively. The pollution degree and potential ecological risk of soil in different functional areas are in the following order: pickling purification system area > sewage treatment pond > sulfuric acid storage tank area > sedimentation pond area > boiling furnace roasting system area > clearing bag pond area > feed storage area > office area > drying system area > conversion absorption system area > warehouse area. Except for the acid washing and purification system area, which has medium potential ecological risk, all other functional areas have slight potential ecological risk. The main sources of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and Hg in the site soil are acid-containing wastewater from acid production process, rinsing wastewater and precipitated metal sludge and precipitated calcium sulfate sludge from wastewater dosing treatment; the main sources of arsenic are acid-containing wastewater and rinsing wastewater from acid production process; nickel may be a mixed source of natural geological background and human production activities.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41201224); Henan Province Science and Technology Research Project (192102110050); Project for the Training of Young Backbone Teachers of Higher Education Institutions in Henan Province (2018GGJS047).
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This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41201224).
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Yang, S., Hui, W., Jiangtao, J. et al. Characteristics of heavy metal contamination in the soil of a legacy site of a zinc sand smelter evaluation. Environ Earth Sci 82, 521 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-11131-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-11131-7