Pollution characteristics and risk assessment of antimony and arsenic in a typical abandoned antimony smelter

Antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) co-contamination occurs in Sb smelting areas and is harmful to the surrounding ecological environment. The purpose of this study is to explore the spatial distribution characteristics of Sb and As in abandoned Sb smelting area and carry out risk assessments. Soil samples were collected from the smelting area profile and background points, and groundwater samples were also collected. Samples from two geological background sections were collected to understand the geological background characteristics of Sb and As. The spatial distribution was drawn via the inverse distance weighted interpolation method. The hazard assessment was carried out by the geo-accumulation index and potential ecological hazard methods. The results showed that special high geological background value of Sb and As in study area. Sb and As co-contamination is one of the characters in soil. And the contents of Sb and As decrease as depth increases, reflecting the weak migration capacity. The spatial distribution of Sb and As is affected by slag distribution and rainfall leaching. The Sb content in groundwater was higher in the wet and normal seasons than in the dry season, slag leaching may be one of the elements. The potential ecological hazards of Sb and As are high and considerable, respectively. In abandoned smelting area with high geological background values, it is necessary to focus on the pollution abatement and protection of ecological health.

Automated summary

This study aims to explore the spatial distribution characteristics of antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) and assess the associated risks in an abandoned Sb smelting area. Soil and groundwater samples were collected and the spatial distribution was mapped using the inverse distance weighted interpolation method. Hazard assessment was conducted using the geo-accumulation index and potential ecological hazard methods. The results showed high geological background values of Sb and As in the study area, with a decrease in their contents with increasing depth. The spatial distribution of Sb and As was influenced by slag distribution and rainfall leaching, and both showed high potential ecological hazards.