Spatial Distribution and Quantitative Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Soil of a Typical Industrial Park, East of China.

Abstract

In order to illustrate the contamination, spatial distribution and sources identification of heavy metals in Bohai New Urban District (BHNUD), a total of 333 surface soil (< 0.5 m) and 159 core soil samples (0.5-2 m) were collected. Results showed that, the mean concentrations of Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, As and Hg in soil were 8.00-45.00 mg/kg, 10-58.00 mg/kg, 7.40-92.10 mg/kg, 0.02-0.35 mg/kg, 3.02-18.00 mg/kg and 0.002-0.21 mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of the six heavy metals were higher than their background values to different extent, indicating the accumulation of heavy metals in this area. Cu, Cd and Ni were mainly distributed in the agricultural region; As and Hg were mainly distributed in the northeast part of the industrial area; Pb had a randomized distribution across the study area. The source identification was quantitatively carried out with the positive matrix factorization (PMF) receptor model. It showed that Pb in this area was most influenced by traffic, followed by agricultural and industrial activities. Cu and Ni in this area were mainly associated with agricultural and industrial activities; Hg was predominantly due to atmospheric deposition; As was mainly affected by industrial activities; and Cd was mainly a consequence of agricultural activities. The results will underpin the development of appropriate methods for the soil pollution control and remediation in the future.