Randomized trial assesses ecological risks of heavy metal pollution in farmland near mining areas, indicating significant contamination and risks.
Key Points
This research aims to analyze heavy metal pollution in farmland soil and assess the ecological risks associated with these toxic elements.
Collected 437 surface soil samples (0–20 cm) around the Baiyun Mountain mining area in Nanyang, China.
Developed an ecological risk assessment model based on the theory of matter element extension.
Employed the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model to analyze sources of heavy metal pollutants.
Average concentrations of heavy metals: Ag 0.06, Cu 17.50, Pb 22.72, Zn 66.84 mg·kg -1, with Zn, Mo, and Hg significantly exceeding Henan Province's background values.
93.82% of samples classified as clean, 5.49% at mild risk, and 0.69% at severe risk; Hg identified as the primary risk factor.
Pollution sources: natural parent material (26.1%), mixed mining and transportation sources (25.8%), pesticide use and mining emissions (19.8%), and atmospheric deposition (15.1%).