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. 2024 Apr 1:12:e17200.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17200. eCollection 2024.

Health and ecological risk of heavy metals in agricultural soils related to Tungsten mining in Southern Jiangxi Province, China

Jinhu Lai  1 , Yan Ni  2 , Jinying Xu  1 , Daishe Wu  1   3
Affiliations

Health and ecological risk of heavy metals in agricultural soils related to Tungsten mining in Southern Jiangxi Province, China

Jinhu Lai et al. PeerJ. .

Abstract

Background: Dayu County, a major tungsten producer in China, experiences severe heavy metal pollution. This study evaluated the pollution status, the accumulation characteristics in paddy rice, and the potential ecological risks of heavy metals in agricutural soils near tungsten mining areas of Dayu County. Furthermore, the impacts of soil properties on the accumulation of heavy metals in soil were explored.

Methods: The geo-accumulation index (Igeo), the contamination factor (CF), and the pollution load index (PLI) were used to evaluate the pollution status of metals (As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Mo, W, and Zn) in soils. The ecological risk factor (RI) was used to assess the potential ecological risks of heavy metals in soil. The health risks and accumulation of heavy metals in paddy rice were evaluated using the health risk index and the translocation factor (TF), respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to discuss the influence of soil factors on heavy metal contents in soil.

Results: The concentrations of metals exceeded the respective average background values for soils (As: 10.4, Cd: 0.10, Cu: 20.8, Cr: 48.0, Pb: 32.1, Mo: 0.30, W: 4.93, Zn: 69.0, mg/kg). The levels of As, Cd, Mo, and tungsten(W) exceeded the risk screening values for Chinese agricultural soil contamination and the Dutch standard. The mean concentrations of the eight tested heavy metals followed the order FJ-S > QL > FJ-N > HL > CJ-E > CJ-W, with a significant distribution throughout the Zhangjiang River basin. Heavy metals, especially Cd, were enriched in paddy rice. The Igeo and CF assessment indicated that the soil was moderately to heavily polluted by Mo, W and Cd, and the PLI assessment indicated the the sites of FJ-S and QL were extremely severely polluted due to the contribution of Cd, Mo and W. The RI results indicated that Cd posed the highest risk near tungsten mining areas. The non-carcinogenic and total carcinogenic risks were above the threshold values (non-carcinogenic risk by HQ > 1, carcinogenic risks by CR > 1 × 10-4 a-1) for As and Cd. Correlation analysis indicated that K2O, Na2O, and CaO are main factors affecting the accumulation and migration of heavy metals in soils and plants. Our findings reveal significant contamination of soils and crops with heavy metals, especially Cd, Mo, and W, near mining areas, highlighting serious health risks. This emphasizes the need for immediate remedial actions and the implementation of stringent environmental policies to safeguard health and the environment.

Keywords: Health risk assessment; Heavy metals; Paddy rice; Pollution assessment; Tungsten mines.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The study area and sampling sites of soils and paddy rice (site 1: FJ-N, site 2: FJ-S, site 3: HL, site 4: QL, site 5: CJ-W, site 6: CJ-E).
The little red points are samples of soil. The black triangles are sampling sits in study regin. The red five-pointed stars are tungsten mining aeras. The river is represented by blue curve. Other curves represent administrative areas on the map. Site1: FJ-N, Site 2: FJ-S, Site 3: HL, Site 4: QL, Site 5: CJ-W, Site 6: CJ-E; satellite image credit: Google Earth.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Concentration of heavy metal in soil (mg/kg).
The X-axis represents the sampling sites. The Y-axis represents the concentration of heavy metals. Box charts show the distribution of data. Different lowercase letters indicate the significance of concentration of heavy metals’ differences among sites.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) of heavy metal in soil in sampling sites (site 1: FJ-N, site 2: FJ-S, site 3: HL, site 4: QL, site 5: CJ-W, site 6: CJ-E).
The X-axis represents the sampling sites. The Y-axis represents the Igeo values of heavy metals. Box charts show the distribution of data.
Figure 4
Figure 4. ADD of heavy metal in paddy rice for non-carcinogenic in sampling areas (site 1: FJ-N, site 2: FJ-S, site 3: HL, site4:QL, site 5: CJ-W, site 6: CJ-E).
The X-axis represents the sampling sites. The Y-axis represents the ADD values of heavy metals. Box charts show the distribution of data.
Figure 5
Figure 5. ADD of heavy metal in paddy rice for carcinogenic in sampling areas (site 1: FJ-N, site 2: FJ-S, site 3: HL, site 4: QL, site 5: CJ-W, site 6: CJ-E).
The X-axis represents the sampling sites. The Y-axis represents the ADD values of heavy metals. Box charts show the distribution of data.
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