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Trace Metal Pollution in Topsoil Surrounding the Xiangtan Manganese Mine Area (South-Central China): Source Identification, Spatial Distribution and Assessment of Potential Ecological Risks

Author

Listed:
  • Feng Jiang

    (Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Shale Gas Resource Exploitation, Xiangtan 411201, China
    School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China)

  • Bozhi Ren

    (Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Shale Gas Resource Exploitation, Xiangtan 411201, China
    School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China)

  • Andrew S. Hursthouse

    (Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Shale Gas Resource Exploitation, Xiangtan 411201, China
    Computing Engineering & Physical Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK)

  • Yingying Zhou

    (Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Shale Gas Resource Exploitation, Xiangtan 411201, China
    School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China)

Abstract

In this study, we identified the sources of trace metals, investigated their spatial distribution in topsoil and assessed their potential ecological risk in the area surrounding a typical manganese mining area in Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China. The concentrations of Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr and Hg in the topsoil of the study area were measured. Except for Cr and Hg, all trace metals exceeded the corresponding soil background values for Hunan Province. The spatial variation in trace metals was visualized by GIS, and the results show that trace metals in topsoil are enriched mainly around mines and smelters. Two groups of trace metals were identified using the spatial distribution, trend analysis, Pearson’s correlation and principal component analysis: Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and Ni can be attributed to industrial and mining activities, whereas Cr and Hg are of natural origin. The results also revealed the extent of the influence of secondary processes such as the prevailing wind direction, erosion of mine tailings and rainwater runoff play significant roles in the wider dispersal and transfer of trace metals. In addition, the environmental risk of metal pollution was evaluated by applying the geoaccumulation index and potential ecological risk index (PERI) to the study area. The accumulated PERI for metals of concern is at highest risk level in the main manganese mine area. This decreases to a moderate risk around the manganese mine area, highlighting locations for further risk management concern. Furthermore, nearly 80% of the potential ecological risk was from Cd across the study area.

Suggested Citation

  • Feng Jiang & Bozhi Ren & Andrew S. Hursthouse & Yingying Zhou, 2018. "Trace Metal Pollution in Topsoil Surrounding the Xiangtan Manganese Mine Area (South-Central China): Source Identification, Spatial Distribution and Assessment of Potential Ecological Risks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:11:p:2412-:d:179369
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaoqian Li & Yaning Tang & Xinghua Wang & Xiaodong Song & Jiaxue Yang, 2023. "Heavy Metals in Soil around a Typical Antimony Mine Area of China: Pollution Characteristics, Land Cover Influence and Source Identification," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Jiajia Fan & Li Deng & Weili Wang & Xiu Yi & Zhiping Yang, 2022. "Contamination, Source Identification, Ecological and Human Health Risks Assessment of Potentially Toxic-Elements in Soils of Typical Rare-Earth Mining Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.
    3. Chenglin Yuan & Siqi Liang & Xiaohong Wu & Taimoor Hassan Farooq & Tingting Liu & Yu Hu & Guangjun Wang & Jun Wang & Wende Yan, 2022. "Land Use Changes Influence the Soil Enzymatic Activity and Nutrient Status in the Polluted Taojia River Basin in Sub-Tropical China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-10, October.
    4. Xinchun Liu & Yongde Kang & Hongna Chen & Hui Lu, 2021. "Application of a High-Precision Aeolian Sand Collector in Field Wind and Sand Surveys," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Zhao Liu & Ye Kuang & Shengtao Lan & Wenjia Cao & Ziqi Yan & Li Chen & Qianlong Chen & Qi Feng & Hong Zhou, 2021. "Pollution Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in a Karstic River Affected by Manganese Mining in Changyang, Western Hubei, Central China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    6. Yujie Pan & Hongxia Peng & Shuyun Xie & Min Zeng & Changsheng Huang, 2019. "Eight Elements in Soils from a Typical Light Industrial City, China: Spatial Distribution, Ecological Assessment, and the Source Apportionment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-17, July.
    7. Zhendong He & Bozhi Ren & Andrew Hursthouse & Zhenghua Wang, 2020. "Efficient Removal of Cd(II) Using SiO 2 -Mg(OH) 2 Nanocomposites Derived from Sepiolite," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-12, March.
    8. Guangjie Zhao & Xianqing Li & Jiewang Zhu & Xueyan Zhao & Jizhen Zhang & Jia Zhai, 2021. "Pollution Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Soils around the Yanzhuang Gold Mine Tailings Pond, Pinggu County, Beijing, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-16, July.
    9. Xin Luo & Bozhi Ren & Andrew S. Hursthouse & Jonathan R. M. Thacker & Zhenghua Wang, 2020. "Soil from an Abandoned Manganese Mining Area (Hunan, China): Significance of Health Risk from Potentially Toxic Element Pollution and Its Spatial Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-15, September.

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