Heavy Metals in Soils From Intense Industrial Areas in South China: Spatial Distribution, Source Apportionment, and Risk Assessment

Heavy metal pollution from various industrial activities has raised global concern. The present study collected 71 surface and 67 subsurface soils from the area with intensive industrial activities in South China. The typical heavy metals, including Cd, As, Hg, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Cr concentrations, were detected for studying their spatial distribution patterns. Sources apportionment and risks were analyzed using geographical information system and combined approach, including principal component analysis (PCA), positive matrix factorization (PMF), and geo-accumulation index. The concentrations of Cd, As, Hg, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn (except Cr) were higher than relevant background levels while exhibiting different pollution degrees in surface and subsurface soils. The PMF results showed that agriculture, industry, transportation, and nature were the four primary contributing sources of heavy metals in soils from the study area. In general, anthropogenic activities were the dominant factors, significantly influencing heavy metal distributions in surface and subsurface soils. Health risks of heavy metals in soil to the population via soil inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion indicated the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were at an unacceptable level. Each exposure route contribution is higher for adults than for children, whereas there is a relatively high risk of cancer for adults than for children. Therefore, increasing attention shall be needed for monitoring the heavy metal pollution in soils in the areas with dramatic economic development, e.g., South China.

Automated summary

The present study investigated the heavy metal pollution in soils from an area with intensive industrial activities in South China. The results showed that the concentrations of Cd, As, Hg, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were higher than background levels in both surface and subsurface soils. The primary sources of heavy metals were identified as agriculture, industry, transportation, and nature. Anthropogenic activities significantly influenced the spatial distribution of heavy metals in soils. The health risks of heavy metal exposure via different routes were found to be at an unacceptable level, with higher risks for adults compared to children. Therefore, monitoring heavy metal pollution in soils in rapidly developing areas, such as South China, is of great importance.