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Distribution characteristics and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in paddy soil along both sides of river from typical lead/zinc mine area
Received:March 17, 2017  
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KeyWord:Pb-Zn mine area;Xinqiang River;paddy soil;cadmium;spatial distribution;potential ecological risk assessment
Author NameAffiliation
GUO Zhao-hui School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China 
TU Wei-jia School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China 
PENG Chi School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China 
HUANG Bo School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China 
XIAO Xi-yuan School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China 
XUE Qing-hua School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China 
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Abstract:
      Through a field investigation, the pollution of heavy metals in paddy soil from irrigation along both sides of Xinqiang River, which was downstream of an abandoned Taolin Pb-Zn mine, was studied. The pollution and distribution characteristics of heavy metals in paddy soil were evaluated using both the Nemero comprehensive index and a geo-accumulation index. The source of heavy metals was analyzed by relative analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis, and the potential ecological risk of heavy metals was assessed by a Hakanson potential ecological risk index. The results showed that the pollution of paddy soil mainly existed in Cd associated with multi-elements of As, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn together. The pollution of heavy metals distributed mainly within 3 km from the abandoned mine, and the point source pollution characteristics, are significant. Generally, the trends of heavy metal concentrations in paddy soil decreased following the flow direction of Xinqiang River. The spatial distribution characteristics of As, Cu, and Pb in paddy soil within 3 km of the abandoned mine, and that of Cd, Ni, and Zn ranging from 3~15 km of the paddy soil reached the Grade-Ⅱ Level of the Soil Environmental Quality Standard of China (GB15618-1995). The content of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn ranging from 15~30 km of paddy soil from the abandoned mine were below the Grade-Ⅱ level. That of Cd in paddy soil ranging from 30~50 km from the abandoned mine, however, was lightly excessed. Cadmium in over 50% of the paddy soils from both sides of the Xinqiang River had moderate or higher potential ecological risk. Along the flow direction of the Xinqiang River, the irrigated paddy soils located within 6 km of the abandoned mine exhibited a relatively high potential ecological risk, suggesting that prior control strategies should be taken.