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How Human Activities Affect Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil and Sediment in a Long-Term Reclaimed Area of the Liaohe River Delta, North China

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaolu Yan

    (Center for Studies of Marine Economy and Sustainable Development, Liaoning Normal University, No. 850, Huanghe Road, Shahekou District, Dalian 116029, China
    CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 72, Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110164, China)

  • Miao Liu

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 72, Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110164, China)

  • Jingqiu Zhong

    (Center for Studies of Marine Economy and Sustainable Development, Liaoning Normal University, No. 850, Huanghe Road, Shahekou District, Dalian 116029, China)

  • Jinting Guo

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 72, Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110164, China)

  • Wen Wu

    (JangHo Architectural College, Northeastern University, No. 195, Chuangxin Road, Shenyang 110169, China)

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution in soils and sediments is becoming a matter of wide concern, this study was carried out in Dawa County of the Liaohe River Delta, with the aim of exploring the impacts of land use levels on heavy metal contamination of soil and sediment. A total of 129 soil samples were collected in different land use intensities (LUI). Soil metals (Fe, Mn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and soil salinity, pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 − -N), available phosphorus (AP) and grain sizes were analyzed. Correlation analysis indicated that SOC and grain size played important roles in affecting the heavy metal distribution. The factor analysis results indicated that heavy metal contamination was most probably caused by industrial and agricultural wastewater discharges, domestic sewage discharge and atmospheric deposition. Using ANOVA, it found that human activities significantly changed soil physic-chemical properties through soil erosion, leaching and fertilizer application, further affecting the behaviors of heavy metals in the soil and sediments. The anthropogenic factors could lead to potential environmental risk, as indicated by the Geo-accumulation index ( I geo ) results of heavy metals. Overall, the heavy metals generally had approached or even exceeded moderately polluted (0 < I geo < 1, 1 < I geo < 2), but the Pb and Cu pollution level was low ( I geo < 0), and the Cd pollution level was moderately or strongly polluted (2 < I geo < 3, 3 < I geo < 4) in the five land use levels. This study will provide valuable information for appropriately determining how land should be used in future reclamation areas, as well as for the sustainable management of estuarine areas around the world.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaolu Yan & Miao Liu & Jingqiu Zhong & Jinting Guo & Wen Wu, 2018. "How Human Activities Affect Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil and Sediment in a Long-Term Reclaimed Area of the Liaohe River Delta, North China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:2:p:338-:d:129121
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Fu & Ma, Jing & Akhtar, Shahzad & Khan, Zafar Iqbal & Ahmad, Kafeel & Ashfaq, Asma & Nawaz, Hummera & Nadeem, Muhammad, 2022. "Assessment of chromium toxicity and potential health implications of agriculturally diversely irrigated food crops in the semi-arid regions of South Asia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    2. Yanhui Chen & Guosheng Li & Linlin Cui & Lijuan Li & Lei He & Peipei Ma, 2022. "The Effects of Tidal Flat Reclamation on the Stability of the Coastal Area in the Jiangsu Province, China, from the Perspective of Landscape Structure," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Yongxia Meng & Peng Li & Lie Xiao & Rui Wang & Shutong Yang & Jiangxue Han & Bingze Hu, 2022. "Heavy Metal Content and Pollution Assessment in Typical Check Dam Sediment in a Watershed of Loess Plateau, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-13, July.
    4. Kristina Baziene & Ina Tetsman & Ramune Albrektiene, 2020. "Level of Pollution on Surrounding Environment from Landfill Aftercare," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Yang Yu & Yue Ling & Yunzhao Li & Zhenbo Lv & Zhaohong Du & Bo Guan & Zhikang Wang & Xuehong Wang & Jisong Yang & Junbao Yu, 2022. "Distribution and Influencing Factors of Metals in Surface Soil from the Yellow River Delta, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-17, April.
    6. Akhtar, Shahzad & Khan, Zafar Iqbal & Ahmad, Kafeel & Nadeem, Muhammad & Ejaz, Abid & Hussain, Muhammad Iftikhar & Ashraf, Muhammad Arslan, 2022. "Assessment of lead toxicity in diverse irrigation regimes and potential health implications of agriculturally grown crops in Pakistan," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    7. Hongmei Dong & Jingbo Zhao & Mengping Xie, 2021. "Heavy Metal Concentrations in Orchard Soils with Different Cultivation Durations and Their Potential Ecological Risks in Shaanxi Province, Northwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-11, April.
    8. Fuyao Chen & Yongjun Yang & Jiaxin Mi & Run Liu & Huping Hou & Shaoliang Zhang, 2019. "Effects of Vegetation Pattern and Spontaneous Succession on Remediation of Potential Toxic Metal-Polluted Soil in Mine Dumps," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-13, January.
    9. Farid Ul Haque & Faridullah Faridullah & Muhammad Irshad & Aziz-Ur-Rahim Bacha & Zahid Ullah & Muhammad Fawad & Farhan Hafeez & Akhtar Iqbal & Rashid Nazir & Abdulwahed Fahad Alrefaei & Mikhlid H. Alm, 2023. "Distribution and Speciation of Trace Elements in Soils of Four Land-Use Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-13, October.

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