Title: Spatial distribution and potential ecological risk evaluation of heavy metals in vegetable-growing soil based on GIS
Abstract: The present paper is aimed to introduce our findings of the spatial distribution of heavy metals in vegetable-growing soil based on the geographic information system(GIS).As the result of investigation,we have determined the concentrations of eight metals,i.e.Pb,Cd,Cr,Cu,Zn,Ni,As and Hg in 54 vegetable-growing plots sampled from the estuary areas of Jiulong River,Fujian.In addition,we have made assessments of the potential ecological risks of heavy metals in the above said soil samples,indicating that the mean concentrations of Pb,Cd,Cr,Cu,Zn,Ni,As and Hg in the soil were 57.8 mg/kg,0.16 mg/kg,49.5 mg/kg,33.4 mg/kg,129.2 mg/kg,20.3 mg/kg,9.5 mg/kg and 0.26 mg/kg,respectively.The highest variation coefficient of heavy metal concentrations has been found for Hg in the soil with a value of 100%,and lower(50%) of those metal concentrations observed for the four Pb,Cd, Zn and Ni.According to the up-limit of heavy metal concentrations stipulated by the farmland environmental quality evaluation standard for edible agricultural products(HJ 332—2006),most of the soil samples in the above mentioned estuary areas were contaminated to some extent,especially by the metals of Pb and Hg.For example,the concentrations of Pb and Hg in 63.0% and 38.9% of samples were found over the corresponding limits.Excessive heavy metal content in soil were found mainly distributed in the central areas of estuary coast,especially in the southern coast with the excessive contents of Zn,As,Cr,Pb,Hg and Ni,in comparison with the rest surrounding areas of Jiulong River.The evaluation of rotential ecological risks showed that the high potential ecological risks of Cd and Hg were found in most of the vegetable-growing soils in the studied areas,especially in the upstream areas of the estuary coast.
Publication Year: 2013
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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