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Ecological Risk, Input Flux, and Source of Heavy Metals in the Agricultural Plain of Hebei Province, China

Author

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  • Kui Cai

    (Institute of Geological Survey, Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang 050031, China
    Hebei Key Laboratory of Strategic Critical Mineral Resources, Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang 050031, China)

  • Chang Li

    (School of Economics and Management, Hebei University of Science & Technology, Shijiazhuang 050018, China)

Abstract

A large amount of heavy metal (HM) inputs exists in the farming areas of the Hebei plain of northern China. However, the potential ecological risk, source, and input flux of HMs in these areas have not been well-investigated. In this study, atmospheric deposition, fertilizer, irrigation water, and agricultural soil samples were collected from farming areas (~74,111 km 2 ) in Hebei Province, China. The HM index of geoaccumulation (I geo ) and potential ecological risk index (RI) of soil was calculated for eight HMs. The source and input flux of each element were predicted using the input flux and principal component score–multiple linear regression (PCS–MLR) methods. The results showed that Cd and Hg increased I geo values, and the maximum levels of As (29.5 mg/kg), Cu (228.9 mg/kg), Cd (4.52 mg/kg), and Zn (879.0 mg/kg) were greater than the health risk screening values in the soil quality standard of China. The potential ecological risk factor (Er) of Cd demonstrated a moderately potential ecological risk, accounting for 67.72%. The distribution map showed that Cd was mainly concentrated in eastern area of Baoding (BD) in the study area. The result of the atmospheric dry and wet deposition contributed more to soil pollution than the usage of fertilizer or irrigation water by calculating the input flux. The order was Zn (94%) > Cu (92%) > Pb (89%) > Cr (86%) > Cd (72%) > Hg = Ni (71%) > As (59%). Principal component analysis (PCA) results showed that there were four sources of HMs in soil. Geological sources contribute to the accumulation of As, Cr, and Ni in soil. Cu and Pb in the soil were attributable to the input from vehicular emissions and irrigation water. Cd and Zn in the soil were attributable to the farming activity, whereas Hg originates from the combustion of coal. The results of PCS–MLR demonstrated that the contribution rate of As, Ni, and Cr in the study area was 30.06%, 71.86%, 57.71% for the first group (natural source); Cu, Pb and Zn were 71.78%, 63.59%, and 30.72% for the second group (vehicle emissions); Zn was 60.93% for the third group (fertilizer application and irrigation water); and Hg was 85.16%, for the fourth group (coal combustion). These factors provide a valuable reference for remediating HM pollution.

Suggested Citation

  • Kui Cai & Chang Li, 2022. "Ecological Risk, Input Flux, and Source of Heavy Metals in the Agricultural Plain of Hebei Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2288-:d:751763
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kui Cai & Chang Li, 2019. "Street Dust Heavy Metal Pollution Source Apportionment and Sustainable Management in A Typical City—Shijiazhuang, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Yang, Shengtian & Dong, Guotao & Zheng, Donghai & Xiao, Honglin & Gao, Yunfei & Lang, Yang, 2011. "Coupling Xinanjiang model and SWAT to simulate agricultural non-point source pollution in Songtao watershed of Hainan, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(20), pages 3701-3717.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wenyu Ma & Yuchun Pan & Zaijin Sun & Changhua Liu & Xiaolan Li & Li Xu & Yunbing Gao, 2023. "Input Flux and the Risk of Heavy Metal(Loid) of Agricultural Soil in China: Based on Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity from 2000 to 2021," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-22, June.
    2. Jie Xiang & Peiwei Xu & Weizhong Chen & Xiaofeng Wang & Zhijian Chen & Dandan Xu & Yuan Chen & Mingluan Xing & Ping Cheng & Lizhi Wu & Bing Zhu, 2022. "Pollution Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils over the Past Five Years in Zhejiang, Southeast China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-14, November.
    3. Liping Li & Lanfang Han & Aiju Liu & Fayuan Wang, 2022. "Imperfect but Hopeful: New Advances in Soil Pollution and Remediation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-3, August.
    4. Yang Jin & Quanping Zhou & Xiaolong Wang & Hong Zhang & Guoqiang Yang & Ting Lei & Shijia Mei & Hai Yang & Lin Liu & Hui Yang & Jinsong Lv & Yuehua Jiang, 2022. "Heavy Metals in the Mainstream Water of the Yangtze River Downstream: Distribution, Sources and Health Risk Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-17, May.

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