ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Distribution, Ecological Risk and Source Analysis
of Heavy Metals in Farmland Soil around
Chating Copper Ore in Xuancheng Region
of Southern China
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1
School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221000, China
2
National Engineering Research Center of Coal Mine Water Hazard Controlling, Suzhou University,
Suzhou 234000, China
3
Key Laboratory of Mine Water Resource Utilization of Anhui Higher Education Institute, Suzhou University,
Suzhou 234000, China
4
School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, China
Submission date: 2022-10-26
Final revision date: 2022-12-01
Acceptance date: 2022-12-16
Online publication date: 2023-02-08
Publication date: 2023-03-14
Corresponding author
Zhimin Xu
School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(2):1581-1594
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ABSTRACT
To study the effects of metal mineralization and mine operation on surrounding ecological
environment and human health, 69 farmland soil samples of study area were collected, tested with
seven heavy metals and analyzed with environmental risk assessment, spatial distribution, and source
identification. The Igeo values of Cu and Pb indicated light-moderate pollution level and Co belonged
to moderate pollution level. The EF values of Co represented moderately severe enrichment level,
and Cu and Pb belonged to moderate enrichment level. The Eri values were in decreasing order of
Co>Cu>Pb>Cr>Zn>Mn>Fe, moreover both Eri and RI values of seven heavy metals were at low
ecological risk level. The spatial distribution of Fe, Zn, Cr and Mn showed a trend “high in northwest
and low in southeast”, and Co and Cu were similar with the characteristics “the closer to Chating
copper ore, the higher the value”, and points with higher content for Pb were distributed along the
roads beside Gucheng Lake and irrigation canal. Pearson correlation analysis (CA), hierarchical cluster
analysis (HACA), and principal component analysis (PCA) were adopted to gradually identified the
characteristics, interactions, classifications and possible sources. PC1 was explained by Fe, Cr, Mn and
Zn and might be the natural source influenced by the crust and soil parent material; PC2 was dominated
by Pb and Zn and might be derived from transportation and mechanical operations; PC3 was loaded by
Cu and might be greatly affected by copper mining activities.