Potentially toxic elements (PTE) pollution from lead–zinc (Pb–Zn) production poses significant ecological risks, requiring systematic assessment across the industrial chain. This study investigated soil, surface water, and sediments near a Pb–Zn mining area, integrating pollution indices (Igeo, NIPI, RI) with human health risk models. A spatial analysis framework was established by combining proportional symbol mapping and Thiessen polygons to analyze contamination patterns under small-sample conditions. Results showed a clear pollution hierarchy: smelting > beneficiation > tailings ≈ mining. Smelting and beneficiation zones exhibited multi-element pollution; Hazard Index (HI) exceedance probabilities reached 89% and 95%, respectively, while carcinogenic risk (CR) exceedance approached 100% across all zones. Cd was the dominant ecological risk factor, particularly in mining and tailings zones, where risk was mainly driven by a single element. Source apportionment identified two industrial groups—smelting-related (Pb, Hg, Zn, Se) and ore-associated (As, Cd, Cu, Sb)—whereas Cr, Ni, Co, and V were mainly derived from natural sources. These results indicate the need for coordinated management of beneficiation and smelting processes and provide a spatial analysis approach for small-sample assessment.
Shi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.