Effects of heavy metal pollution on farmland soils and crops:A case study of the Xiaoqinling Gold Belt,China

作者：Rui-ping Liu,You-ning Xu,Jiang-hua Zhang,Wen-ke Wang,Rafaey M Elwardany

摘要：This paper focuses on the heavy metal enrichment and heavy metal pollution degree associated with mining activities in some crops and the soils of different parent materials in the Xiaoqinling Gold Belt.According to the geochemical analysis results of the soils observed in the gold belt,the soils are most highly enriched in Pb,followed by Cr,Cu,and Zn.Furthermore,they are relatively poor in Hg,Cd,and As.It is also shown that the heavy metals in all kinds of soils have the same geochemical characteristics in the gold belt.As for the crops(such as corn and wheat)in the gold belt,Zn and Cu are the most abundant elements,followed by Pb and Cr.Meanwhile,Hg,Cd,and As were found to have relatively low concentrations in the crops.The heavy metals in wheat and corn have the same geochemical characteristics in the gold belt in general.Compared to the aeolian loess soils and the crops therein,heavy metals are more enriched in diluvial and alluvial soils and the crops therein.As shown by relevant studies,the Hg,Pb,Cd,Cu,and Zn pollution are mainly caused by mining activities.Corn and wheat in the gold belt have a high tendency of risk exposure to heavy metal pollution since they are mostly affected by mining activities and feature high background values of heavy metal concentrations.Furthermore,wheat is more liable to be enriched in heavy metals than corn is grown in all types of soils.The Hg pollution in soils leads to Hg accumulation,increasing the risk of Hg uptake in crops,and further affecting human health.This study will provide a scientific basis for the control and management of heavy metals in farmland soils of mining areas.

发文机构：Xi’an center Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effect in Arid Region of Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Geo-azards in Loess Area Field base of scientific observation of Shannxi Tongguan School of Environmental Science&Engineering of Chang’an University School of Earth Science and Land Resources of Chang’an University Faculty of Science

关键词：HeavymetalpollutionCROPSFARMLANDEnvironmentalinvestigationengineeringofsoilXiaoqinlingGoldBeltChina

分类号： S15[农业科学—土壤学]