Open AccessSource analysis of heavy metals in topsoil and water in arid area: a case study in northwest China
Author(s) -
Hongwei Chen,
Lue Zhao,
Haitao Huang,
Xiangxun Peng,
Yu Zheng
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
iop conference series. earth and environmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.179
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1755-1307
pISSN - 1755-1315
DOI - 10.1088/1755-1315/601/1/012013
Subject(s) - topsoil , chromite , groundwater , dolomite , leaching (pedology) , soil salinity , environmental chemistry , salinity , arid , soil water , environmental science , geology , chromium , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , geochemistry , chemistry , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , oceanography , organic chemistry
To understand the origin of metals in the topsoil, surface and ground water in arid area, field investigation and statistics were used in a chromium contaminated site in northwest China. The strong positive correlations among the soil EC, salinity and pH are attributed to the extensive evaporation and leaching of the chromite, lignite, limestone and dolomite. The scarce precipitation is responsible for the accumulation of metals in the topsoil. The soil salinization influences the metal mobility. Cr, Fe, Ni, As, Hg, V and Sb in the topsoil correlate with the chromite and lignite. Se, Cu, Co and Zn are mainly from geologic origin. The increase of As, Cr, Fe, Hg and Ni in the artificial channel reveals the influence of the soil leaching and groundwater discharge. The high content of Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Cl − , SO 4 2- and HCO 3 − in the groundwater is resulted from the arid climate, artificial channel, limestone, dolomite and lignite. Cr, Fe, Ni and Hg in the groundwater primarily derive from the chromite and lignite, and Cd, Mn and Pb may be from the strata. Therefore, the factory synchronously makes the soil metals, EC, salinity and pH increase, and the salinization conversely influences the fate and transport of the metals.