Quantitative analysis of the main sources of pollutants in the soils around key areas based on the positive matrix factorization method

Quantitative identification of the main sources of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils around multiple types of key areas is of great significance for blocking pollution sources. However, there is a lack of more comprehensive relevant research. In this study, Beijing was taken as the research area and four main sources were identified using the positive matrix factorization (PMF) method. The concentration of Pb, PAHs, Cr, and Hg in soils was significantly affected by the presence of landuse type, road traffic, natural factor, and industrial production, respectively, and the farmland, distance to main road, Proterozoic Changcheng-Jixian parent material and cinnamon soil type, and the gross industrial production make greater contributions to these four factors respectively than other variables. Moreover, the uncertainty of the PMF indicates that this four-factor PMF solution is stable and appropriate. These results provide support for the comprehensive control of soil environmental risks. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study conducted in Beijing, quantitative identification of the main sources of heavy metals and PAHs in soils was carried out using the PMF method. The concentrations of Pb, PAHs, Cr, and Hg in soils were found to be significantly influenced by landuse type, road traffic, natural factors, and industrial production, respectively. Factors such as farmland, distance to main roads, specific parent materials, soil types, and industrial production made greater contributions to these four factors. The four-factor PMF solution was deemed stable and appropriate, providing support for comprehensive control of soil environmental risks.