Bioavailability and mobility of heavy metals in soil in vicinity of a coal mine from Huaibei, China

This study investigated the concentrations of Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in surface soil and corn cob samples collected from agricultural fields near a coal mine from Huaibei, China. Meanwhile, the mobility and availability of heavy metals in soil samples were evaluated by a modified three-step The European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction procedure. The total concentrations of metals in soil pose no ecological threats to the local plants. Transfer factors of essential metals, Cu and Zn, as well as those of non-essential metal Pb, were higher than those of the remained metals. The results of BCR fractionation analysis revealed that the acid soluble, reducible and oxidizable fractions of the Mn, Pb and Zn were higher than those of the residual fraction, suggesting that these elementsmay be more bioavailable. The pH and organic matter contents of soil were significant parameters affecting speciation of metals in soil samples. Hierarchical cluster analysis indicated significant correlations between metal levels in corn grains and more available (acid soluble and reducible) fractions in soil, indicating that heavy metals in the first two fractions were more available for corn crops. The elevated mobility and bioavailability of Pb in soil are of great concern in the study area.