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Pollution characteristics and speciation analysis of heavy metals in soils around a lead-zinc smelter area in Shaanxi Province, China
Received:August 25, 2018  
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KeyWord:lead-zinc smelter;soil pollution;heavy metals;pollution characteristics;speciation analysis
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
LIU Zhi-feng College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
School of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, China
Biological Resources Comprehensive Development Collaborative Innovation Center in Qin-Ba Mountain Area, Hanzhong 723001, China 
 
HU Shi-bin College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China hushibin2003@nwsuaf.edu.cn 
SONG Feng-min School of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, China
Biological Resources Comprehensive Development Collaborative Innovation Center in Qin-Ba Mountain Area, Hanzhong 723001, China 
 
ZHAO Zuo-ping School of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, China
Biological Resources Comprehensive Development Collaborative Innovation Center in Qin-Ba Mountain Area, Hanzhong 723001, China 
 
LI Chen School of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, China
Biological Resources Comprehensive Development Collaborative Innovation Center in Qin-Ba Mountain Area, Hanzhong 723001, China 
 
GE Hong-guang School of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, China
Biological Resources Comprehensive Development Collaborative Innovation Center in Qin-Ba Mountain Area, Hanzhong 723001, China 
 
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Abstract:
      In order to evaluate the effects of lead-zinc smelting on soil environmental quality, the characteristics and speciation of heavy metals were analyzed in soils recovered from a lead-zinc smelter area. The degree of heavy metal pollution was evaluated using the Single Pollution index (Pi) and the Nemero Synthesis Pollution index (PN). Our results showed that the concentrations (in mg·kg-1) of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn were 19.27, 135.32, 2.76 times, and 8.02 times higher,respectively, than their natural background values. The Pi values indicated that Cd reached heavy pollution levels (19.53), Zn and Pb reached slight pollution levels (1.78 and 1.09, respectively),and Cu was not found at significant pollution levels (0.56). Additionally, the PN values indicated that soils within a 10 km radius from the lead-zinc smelter were heavily polluted. In particular, the east side of the smelter was characterized by a higher degree of pollution than the west side. The results of the speciation analysis showed that the proportion of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn species generally declined in the following order:residual fraction (34.45%~45.98%) > oxidizable fraction (27.45%~30.57%) > reducible fraction (17.63%~23.61%) > exchangeable fraction (6.80%~14.41%). A correlative analysis showed that pH was negatively correlated with the exchangeable fraction proportion of Cd and Cu; also, it was positively correlated with the residual fraction proportion of Zn. Soil organic matter content was negatively correlated with the exchangeable fraction and the reducible fraction proportions of Cd, and positively correlated with the residual fraction proportion of Cd. In conclusion, the soils around the lead-zinc smelting plant were mainly contaminated with Cd, in addition to other metals. Atmospheric deposition from the smelting plant and dust from the mining field were the main sources of soil pollution. In order to prevent heavy metal pollution in the soils, the source of dust pollution in the smelting plant should be restrained and soil acidification should be prevented.