Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Source Identification of Trace Elements in Peri-urban Soils in Eastern China

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Exposure and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The source identification of trace elements in peri-urban soils has not been fully explored, especially for the areas in eastern China. Here, 80 soil samples, including 40 from cropland, 11 from orchards and 29 from forests, were collected in a typical peri-urban catchment, Ningbo, eastern China. The concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn), Pb isotopes and basic soil properties were measured for each soil sample. Multivariate analysis of correlation, regression, principal component analysis and isotopic tracers were used. The results showed that the concentrations of trace elements significantly differed based on land uses, especially for Cd, Cu and Zn. For the seven trace elements, the Cd, Cu and Zn in crop soils are contaminant elements. In the peri-urban soils, Cr and Ni are dominated by parent material and paedogenic processes. Difference in As and Pb concentrations between land uses maybe attributed to atmospheric deposition induced by fossil fuel combustion. Applications of fertilisers, calcium phosphate and calcium superphosphate, livestock manure and compost, are the dominant sources of pollutants in peri-urban soils, especially for Cd, Cu and Zn, indicating the key point for pollution control for this area. Calcium and P are effective indicators of Cd, Cu and Zn contamination for the peri-urban catchment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al-Khashman OA (2004) Heavy metal distribution in dust, street dust and soils from the work place in Karak Industrial Estate, Jordan. Atmos Environ 38:6803–6812

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alloway BJ (2013) Sources of heavy metals and metalloids in soils. In: Alloway BJ (ed) Heavy metals in soils environmental pollution. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 11–50

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Barton D, Hope D, Billett M, Cresser M (1994) Sulphate adsorption capacity and pH of upland podzolic soils in Scotland: effects of parent material, texture and precipitation chemistry. Appl Geochem 9:127–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolan NS, Khan M, Donaldson J, Adriano D, Matthew C (2003) Distribution and bioavailability of copper in farm effluent. Sci Total Environ 309:225–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Tan M, Li Y, Zhang Y, Lu W, Tong Y, Zhang G, Li Y (2005a) A lead isotope record of Shanghai atmospheric lead emissions in total suspended particles during the period of phasing out of leaded gasoline. Atmos Environ 39:1245–1253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen T, Zheng Y, Lei M, Huang Z, Wu H, Chen H, Fan K, Yu K, Wu X, Tian Q (2005b) Assessment of heavy metal pollution in surface soils of urban parks in Beijing, China. Chemosphere 60:542–551

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Tan M, Li Y, Zheng J, Zhang Y, Shan Z, Zhang G, Li Y (2008a) Characteristics of trace elements and lead isotope ratios in PM 2.5 from four sites in Shanghai. J Hazard Mater 156:36–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen T, Liu X, Zhu M, Zhao K, Wu J, Xu J, Huang P (2008b) Identification of trace element sources and associated risk assessment in vegetable soils of the urban–rural transitional area of Hangzhou, China. Environ Pollut 151:67–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen H, Teng Y, Lu S, Wang Y, Wang J (2015) Contamination features and health risk of soil heavy metals in China. Sci Total Environ 512–513:143–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng S (2003) Heavy metal pollution in China: origin, pattern and control. Environ Sci Pollut R 10:192–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng H, Hu Y (2010) Lead (Pb) isotopic fingerprinting and its applications in lead pollution studies in China: a review. Environ Pollut 158:1134–1146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dach J, Starmans D (2005) Heavy metals balance in Polish and Dutch agronomy: actual state and previsions for the future. Agr Ecosyst Environ 107:309–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de la Cueva AV, Marchant BP, Quintana JR, de Santiago A, Lafuente AL, Webster R (2014) Spatial variation of trace elements in the peri-urban soil of Madrid. J Soils Sediments 14:78–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Vries W, Vel E, Reinds G, Deelstra H, Klap J, Leeters E, Hendriks C, Kerkvoorden M, Landmann G, Herkendell J (2003) Intensive monitoring of forest ecosystems in Europe: 1. Objectives, set-up and evaluation strategy. For Ecol Manag 174:77–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong Y, Zheng W, Zhou J (2007) Soil geochemical background in Zhejiang (in Chinese). Agro-geological Environment Survey in Zhejiang. Geological Publishing House, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Duan J, Tan J (2013) Atmospheric heavy metals and arsenic in China: situation, sources and control policies. Atmos Environ 74:93–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eghball B, Gilley JE (1999) Phosphorus and nitrogen in runoff following beef cattle manure or compost application. J Environ Qual 28:1201–1210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Erel Y, Veron A, Halicz L (1997) Tracing the transport of anthropogenic lead in the atmosphere and in soils using isotopic ratios. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 61:4495–4505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ettler V, Konecny L, Kovarova L, Mihaljevic M, Sebek O, Kribek B, Majer V, Veselovsky F, Penizek V, Vanek A, Nyambe I (2014) Surprisingly contrasting metal distribution and fractionation patterns in copper smelter-affected tropical soils in forested and grassland areas (Mufulira, Zambian Copperbelt). Sci Total Environ 473–474:117–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Facchinelli A, Sacchi E, Mallen L (2001) Multivariate statistical and GIS-based approach to identify heavy metal sources in soils. Environ Pollut 114:313–324

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu B, Zhuang X, Jiang G, Shi J, Lu Y (2007) Feature: environmental problems and challenges in China. ACS Publications, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Gimeno-García E, Andreu V, Boluda R (1996) Heavy metals incidence in the application of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides to rice farming soils. Environ Pollut 92:19–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guagliardi I, Buttafuoco G, Cicchella D, De Rosa R (2013) A multivariate approach for anomaly separation of potentially toxic trace elements in urban and peri-urban soils: an application in a southern Italy area. J Soils Sediments 13:117–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo J, Liu X, Zhang Y, Shen J, Han W, Zhang W, Christie P, Goulding K, Vitousek P, Zhang F (2010) Significant acidification in major Chinese croplands. Science 327:1008–1010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez L, Probst A, Probst JL, Ulrich E (2003) Heavy metal distribution in some French forest soils: evidence for atmospheric contamination. Sci Total Environ 312:195–219

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu W, Wang H, Dong L, Huang B, Borggaard OK, Hansen HCB, He Y, Holm PE (2018) Source identification of heavy metals in peri-urban agricultural soils of southeast China: an integrated approach. Environ Pollut 237:650–661

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang B, Shi X, Yu D, Öborn I, Blombäck K, Pagella TF, Wang H, Sun W, Sinclair FL (2006) Environmental assessment of small-scale vegetable farming systems in peri-urban areas of the Yangtze River Delta Region, China. Agric Ecosyst Environ 112:391–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang S-L, Wang S-H, Budd WW (2009) Sprawl in Taipei’s peri-urban zone: responses to spatial planning and implications for adapting global environmental change. Landsc Urban Plan 90:20–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imperato M, Adamo P, Naimo D, Arienzo M, Stanzione D, Violante P (2003) Spatial distribution of heavy metals in urban soils of Naples city (Italy). Environ Pollut 124:247–256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iverfeldt Å (1991) Mercury in forest canopy throughfall water and its relation to atmospheric deposition. Water Air Soil Pollut 56:553–564

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khai NM, Ha PQ, Öborn I (2007) Nutrient flows in small-scale peri-urban vegetable farming systems in Southeast Asia: a case study in Hanoi. Agr Ecosyst Environ 122:192–202

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Komárek M, Ettler V, Chrastný V, Mihaljevič M (2008) Lead isotopes in environmental sciences: a review. Environ Int 34:562–577

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kříbek B, Majer V, Veselovský F, Nyambe I (2010) Discrimination of lithogenic and anthropogenic sources of metals and sulphur in soils of the central-northern part of the Zambian Copperbelt Mining District: a topsoil vs. subsurface soil concept. J Geochem Explor 104:69–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Ma Z, van der Kuijp TJ, Yuan Z, Huang L (2014) A review of soil heavy metal pollution from mines in China: pollution and health risk assessment. Sci Total Environ 468–469:843–853

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindberg SE (1989) Behavior of Cd, Mn, and Pb in forest-canopy throughfall. Springer, Berlin, pp 233–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu W, Zhao J, Ouyang Z, Söderlund L, Liu G (2005) Impacts of sewage irrigation on heavy metal distribution and contamination in Beijing, China. Environ Int 31:805–812

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Liu Y, Chen Y, Long H (2010) The process and driving forces of rural hollowing in China under rapid urbanization. J Geogr Sci 20:876–888

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu A, Wang J, Qin X, Wang K, Han P, Zhang S (2012) Multivariate and geostatistical analyses of the spatial distribution and origin of heavy metals in the agricultural soils in Shunyi, Beijing, China. Sci Total Environ 425:66–74

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Madrid L, Dı́az-Barrientos E, Madrid F (2002) Distribution of heavy metal contents of urban soils in parks of Seville. Chemosphere 49:1301–1308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manta DS, Angelone M, Bellanca A, Neri R, Sprovieri M (2002) Heavy metals in urban soils: a case study from the city of Palermo (Sicily), Italy. Sci Total Environ 300:229–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meharg AA (2016) Perspective: city farming needs monitoring. Nature 531:S60

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Micó C, Recatalá L, Peris M, Sánchez J (2006) Assessing heavy metal sources in agricultural soils of an European Mediterranean area by multivariate analysis. Chemosphere 65:863–872

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morton-Bermea O, Hernández-Álvarez E, González-Hernández G, Romero F, Lozano R, Beramendi-Orosco L (2009) Assessment of heavy metal pollution in urban topsoils from the metropolitan area of Mexico City. J Geochem Explor 101:218–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mukai H, Machida T, Tanaka A, Vera YP, Uematsu M (2001) Lead isotope ratios in the urban air of eastern and central Russia. Atmos Environ 35:2783–2793

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson F, Smith S, Alloway B, Carlton-Smith C, Chambers B (2003) An inventory of heavy metals inputs to agricultural soils in England and Wales. Sci Total Environ 311:205–219

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oh GH, Park CR (2002) Preparation and characteristics of rice-straw-based porous carbons with high adsorption capacity. Fuel 81:327–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ravankhah N, Mirzaei R, Masoum S (2017) Determination of heavy metals in surface soils around the brick kilns in an arid region, Iran. J Geochem Explor 176:91–99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez Martin JA, Arias ML, Grau Corbi JM (2006) Heavy metals contents in agricultural topsoils in the Ebro basin (Spain). Application of the multivariate geoestatistical methods to study spatial variations. Environ Pollut 144:1001–1012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez JA, Nanos N, Grau JM, Gil L, Lopez-Arias M (2008) Multiscale analysis of heavy metal contents in Spanish agricultural topsoils. Chemosphere 70:1085–1096

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scudlark JR, Church TM (1988) The atmospheric deposition of arsenic and association with acid precipitation. Atmos Environ 22:937–943

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard D, Claridge G, Campbell I (2000) Metal contamination of soils at Scott Base, Antarctica. Appl Geochem 15:513–530

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi L, Ganne B (2009) Understanding the Zhejiang industrial clusters: questions and re-evaluations. In: Ganne B, Lecler Y (eds) Asian industrial clusters, global competitiveness and new policy initiatives. World Scientific Publishing Co, Singapore, pp 239–266

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Shi G, Chen Z, Teng J, Bi C, Zhou D, Sun C, Li Y, Xu S (2012) Fluxes, variability and sources of cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury in dry atmospheric depositions in urban, suburban and rural areas. Environ Res 113:28–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shotyk W, Cheburkin AK, Appleby PG, Fankhauser A, Kramers JD (1996) Two thousand years of atmospheric arsenic, antimony, and lead deposition recorded in an ombrotrophic peat bog profile, Jura Mountains, Switzerland. Earth Planet Sci Lett 145:E1–E7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon D (2008) Urban environments: issues on the peri-urban fringe. Ann Rev Environ Resour 33:167–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh S, Kumar M (2006) Heavy metal load of soil, water and vegetables in peri-Urban Delhi. Environ Monit Assess 120:79–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Y, Zhou Q, Xie X, Liu R (2010) Spatial, sources and risk assessment of heavy metal contamination of urban soils in typical regions of Shenyang, China. J Hazard Mater 174:455–462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun C, Liu J, Wang Y, Sun L, Yu H (2013) Multivariate and geostatistical analyses of the spatial distribution and sources of heavy metals in agricultural soil in Dehui, Northeast China. Chemosphere 92:517–523

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teng Y, Wu J, Lu S, Wang Y, Jiao X, Song L (2014) Soil and soil environmental quality monitoring in China: a review. Environ Int 69:177–199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tóth G, Hermann T, Da Silva M, Montanarella L (2016) Heavy metals in agricultural soils of the European Union with implications for food safety. Environ Int 88:299–309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ungureanu T, Iancu GO, Pintilei M, Chicoș MM (2017) Spatial distribution and geochemistry of heavy metals in soils: a case study from the NE area of Vaslui county, Romania. J Geochem Explor 176:20–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Guo P, Li X, Zhu J, Reinert T, Heitmann J, Spemann D, Vogt J, Flagmeyer R-H, Butz T (2000) Source identification of lead pollution in the atmosphere of Shanghai City by analyzing single aerosol particles (SAP). Environ Sci Technol 34:1900–1905

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webster D, Muller L (2002) Challenges of peri-urbanization in the Lower Yangtze Region: The case of the Hangzhou-Ningbo Corridor. Asia/Pacific Research Center

  • Wei B, Yang L (2010) A review of heavy metal contaminations in urban soils, urban road dusts and agricultural soils from China. Microchem J 94:99–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong SC, Li XD, Zhang G, Qi SH, Min YS (2002) Heavy metals in agricultural soils of the Pearl River Delta, South China. Environ Pollut 119:33–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiang Q, Chen Q-L, Zhu D, An X-L, Yang X-R, Su J-Q, Qiao M, Zhu Y-G (2018) Spatial and temporal distribution of antibiotic resistomes in a peri-urban area is associated significantly with anthropogenic activities. Environ Pollut 235:525–533

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Zhao Y, Zhao X, Wang Y, Deng W (2014) Sources of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils of a rapidly industrializing area in the Yangtze Delta of China. Ecotoxicol Environ Safe 108:161–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeomans JC, Bremner JM (1988) A rapid and precise method for routine determination of organic carbon in soil 1. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 19:1467–1476

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Xu Y, Hou H, Shangguan Y, Li F (2014) Source identification and health risk assessment of metals in urban soils around the Tanggu chemical industrial district, Tianjin, China. Sci Total Environ 468:654–662

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng J, Tan M, Shibata Y, Tanaka A, Li Y, Zhang G, Zhang Y, Shan Z (2004) Characteristics of lead isotope ratios and elemental concentrations in PM 10 fraction of airborne particulate matter in Shanghai after the phase-out of leaded gasoline. Atmos Environ 38:1191–1200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng J, Zhou Z, Wei Y, Chen T, Feng W, Chen H (2018) High-throughput profiling of seasonal variations of antibiotic resistance gene transport in a peri-urban river. Environ Int 114:87–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu S, Pickles J, He C (2017a) Geographical dynamics and industrial relocation: spatial strategies of apparel firms in Ningbo, China, Geographical Dynamics and Firm Spatial Strategy in China. Springer, pp. 51–72

  • Zhu Y-G, Reid BJ, Meharg AA, Banwart SA, Fu B-J (2017b) Optimizing Peri-URban Ecosystems (PURE) to re-couple urban-rural symbiosis. Sci Total Environ 586:1085–1090

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos 41571130064, 41701018), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2017M611018), UK NERC Newton Critical Zone funded Project NE/N007417/1 and the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences (2018057).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China

    Long Sun, Lei Yang, Li-Ding Chen, Shou-Juan Li, Fang-Kai Zhao & Yong-Guan Zhu

  2. Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, David Keir Building, Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5AG, UK

    Manus Carey, Caroline Meharg & Andrew A. Meharg

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Li-Ding Chen, Shou-Juan Li & Fang-Kai Zhao

  4. Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Yong-Guan Zhu

Authors
  1. Long Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Manus Carey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lei Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Li-Ding Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shou-Juan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fang-Kai Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yong-Guan Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Caroline Meharg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Andrew A. Meharg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Lei Yang or Andrew A. Meharg.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 2458 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sun, L., Carey, M., Yang, L. et al. Source Identification of Trace Elements in Peri-urban Soils in Eastern China. Expo Health 11, 195–207 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-018-0290-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-018-0290-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation