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Heavy metal characteristics and potential ecological risk assessment of the soil and sediment in the Digou coal mining subsidence area, Anhui, China
Received:September 15, 2020  
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KeyWord:soil;sediment;heavy metal;geoaccumulation index;potential ecological risk;coal mining subsidence area
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
CHEN Cheng School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Mine Ecological Restoration Engineering Laboratory, Anhui Province, Hefei 230601, China 
 
LU Xiao School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Mine Ecological Restoration Engineering Laboratory, Anhui Province, Hefei 230601, China 
 
YU Kun School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Mine Ecological Restoration Engineering Laboratory, Anhui Province, Hefei 230601, China 
 
ZHANG Ming-zhu School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Mine Ecological Restoration Engineering Laboratory, Anhui Province, Hefei 230601, China 
 
SUN Qing-ye School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
Mine Ecological Restoration Engineering Laboratory, Anhui Province, Hefei 230601, China 
sunqingye@ahu.edu.cn 
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Abstract:
      Understanding the characteristics and contamination status of heavy metals in the Digou coal mining subsidence area will shed light on how to use water and land appropriately. We collected 23 soil samples and 35 sediment samples in the subsidence area and analyzed the content of elements Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and As. We evaluated the status of heavy metal pollution and the potential ecological risks of the soil and sediment in the Digou coal mining subsidence area using the geological accumulation index and potential ecological hazard index methods. The results revealed the following:the As, Cd, and Cu content in the soil and sediment, and the Pb content in the sediment, is higher than the background value; the Cd content in 21.7% and 80% of soil and sediment samples, respectively, is significantly higher than the soil pollution filtered risk value of agricultural land, but still lower than the pollution risk control value; the overall heavy metal content in the Digou coal mining subsidence area is lower in the land area than the water area, higher in the central area, and lower in the east and west areas; and according to the evaluation results of the geoaccumulation index, the soil and sediment pollution status in the Digou coal mining subsidence area generally ranges from clean to slightly polluted, and the main pollutants are As and Cd. According to the evaluation results of the potential ecological risk index, the ecological risk of the soil and sediment in the Digou coal mining subsidence area is low, and the sequence of potential ecological hazards of heavy metals is Cd>As>Cu>Pb>Zn. The overall ecological pollution risk of the soil and sediment in the Digou coal mining subsidence area is relatively low, but the potential pollution risk of Cd and As should not be ignored.