Premium
Evaluation of Lead in Arable Soils, China
Author(s) -
Zhang Xiuying,
Chen Dongmei,
Zhong Taiyang,
Zhang Xiaomin,
Cheng Min,
Li Xinhui
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
clean – soil, air, water
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1863-0669
pISSN - 1863-0650
DOI - 10.1002/clen.201400569
Subject(s) - arable land , soil water , environmental science , smelting , china , irrigation , environmental protection , geography , agriculture , agronomy , soil science , biology , chemistry , archaeology , organic chemistry
Lead (Pb) contamination in arable soils is one of the most serious ecological problems due to its high toxicity on human health. Thus, we need to understand the concentration level, contaminated area, and spatial distribution of Pb in arable soils on regional or national scale. This paper reviewed the studies on Pb concentrations throughout Chinese arable soils, based on relevant 537 studies from 2002 to 2014. The results showed that the average Pb concentration was 34.41 mg/kg, higher than its background of 23.50 mg/kg, indicating that Pb has been introduced into soil from exterior sources. Mining and smelting activities, irrigation by wastewater, and urban development greatly contributed to Pb accumulation in arable soils. North China had lower Pb concentrations than the south, and many hotspots existed on the Pb concentration map due to mining and smelting activities. On the provincial scale, arable soils in Yunnan, Guangxi, and Shaanxi Provinces were moderately polluted by Pb, Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces were slightly affected by Pb, while the other provinces showed relative safe levels.