Potential Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Cultivated Land Based on Soil Geochemical Zoning: Yishui County, North China Case Study

Various human production activities have caused tremendous damage to the soil ecological environment of cultivated land. Regional ecological risk assessments and the safe use of cultivated land have received widespread attention. The ecological risk assessment of heavy metals based on soil geochemical zoning has not been reported in the past. Using 14,389 topsoil samples, considering comprehensive geological background information, Yishui County in northern China was divided into three soil geochemical areas and 14 soil geochemical sub-regions by means of principal component factor superposition. The results of environmental quality and risk assessments of eight heavy metals based on soil geochemical zoning show that the single pollution index was greater than 1.0 and the Nemerow pollution index was greater than 0.7 for Ni in a sub-region, indicating that Ni pollution had reached the early warning limit, which demonstrates that Ni has a certain enrichment trend. Meanwhile, the geoaccumulation index of Ni and Cr was greater than zero in some sub-regions, indicating a slight pollution level. In addition, the potential ecological risk factor of the measured heavy metals was greater than 40 in 9 sub-regions, indicating a moderate ecological hazard, and the risk index was greater than 150 in a sub-region, revealing moderate ecological intensity, in which Hg and Cd were leading contributors to potential ecological hazards with a contribution rate between 58% and 76%. This method is suitable for the evaluation of soil environmental quality and safety for medium and large scales, and can provide a scientific basis for further zoning and grading prevention and control of soil pollution in cultivated land.

Automated summary

This study conducted ecological risk assessments of heavy metals based on soil geochemical zoning in Yishui County, Northern China. The results showed that some sub-regions had reached warning levels of Ni pollution, with certain enrichment trends, while others had slight pollution levels. Certain sub-regions also exhibited moderate ecological hazards, with Hg and Cd identified as leading contributors. The method presented can provide a scientific basis for further soil pollution prevention and control in cultivated land on medium to large scales.