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The problem of heavy metal pollution in agricultural fields has emerged as a pressing global environmental concern, significantly affecting agricultural productivity, food security, human health, and the integrity of ecosystems. Conducting soil heavy metal pollution prevention and remediation efforts to ensure environmental and food safety has become a critical practical requirement in the environmental field. This study investigates the levels of heavy metals, risk status, pollution sources, and contributions in rural, urban–rural interface, and urban agricultural lands in Chengdu, China. Additionally, it discusses the relationship between potential pollution factors and pathways and varying human pressures, aiming to assess the overall state of heavy metal pollution in agricultural lands in Chengdu, China. The research results indicate that rural, urban–rural interface, and urban agricultural lands in Chengdu exhibit varying degrees of heavy metal pollution, with arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) being the most severe pollutants. The concentrations of arsenic (As) (17.5 %, 15 %, 18.33 %) and cadmium (Cd) (23 %, 0.4 %, /) in soil samples from these areas all exceed the risk thresholds (Cd-0.6 mg/kg, As-20 mg/kg, pH > 8). Furthermore, the spatial variability of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) is high (CV > 35 %), suggesting significant influence from anthropogenic activities. Geostatistical analysis using the Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) and Enrichment Factor (EF) indicates that As and Cd are present at slight to moderately pollution and enrichment levels across all areas, with some areas also showing slight pollution/enrichment levels of nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), while lead (Pb) pollution was not detected. The APCS-MLR (Absolute Principal Component Scores-Multiple Linear Regression) analysis reveals that the sources of pollution in rural, urban–rural interface, and urban agricultural lands primarily include livestock manure and natural sources, as well as agricultural activities. In urban agricultural lands, pollution sources are more complex, including industrial activities. Livestock manure and natural sources contribute significantly to the presence of nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) (45.09 %–93 %), whereas agricultural activities have a high contribution rate to arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) (27 %–72 %). Industrial sources significantly influence the levels of Zn (44.03 %) and Ni (35.55 %) in urban agricultural lands, and they also affect the concentrations of arsenic (As) (5.15 %) and cadmium (Cd) (20 %) to a notable extent. Building on existing literature, this study focuses on the characteristics of heavy metal pollution in agricultural lands across different areas of Chengdu under varying anthropogenic pressures. It emphasizes the influence of areal organizational functions and socio-industrial structures on the levels of heavy metal risk in agricultural soils by establishing a robust APCS-MLR model and employing integrated data analysis methods that incorporate Geo-accumulation (Igeo) and Enrichment factor (EF), this research provides valuable insights into the risk level, pollution sources, and contribution of heavy metals in agricultural land in Chengdu, China. These findings facilitate a prompt comprehension of the sources of metals in soil, and then formulate targeted control measures. To better solve the problem of heavy metal pollution in agricultural land in Chengdu, China.
Peng et al. (Mon,) studied this question.