Geochemical Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soil and Fruit of Major Blueberry Growing Areas in Guizhou Province

Abstract

To investigate the health risk of heavy metals in soil and blueberry fruits in the blueberry growing area of Guizhou Province, the contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn were measured in nine blueberry parks. Using GB15618-2018, GB2762-2017, and GB2762-2012 as evaluation criteria, the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index method, potential ecological risk index method, and bio-concentration factors were used to evaluate the risk of planting soil and fruit in the producing areas. The results showed that the average values of As, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Zn in soil were higher than the background values in Guizhou Province, and 30.00%, 27.14%, 11.43%, 11.43%, 8.57%, and 7.14% of the As, Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Zn values exceeded the control values, respectively. According to the Nemerow pollution index and potential ecological risk index, soil in the study area was mildly polluted, while the comprehensive potential ecological risk revealed a slight or medium pollution level. The heavy metal content in blueberry fruits in the study area did not exceed the standard and the enrichment coefficient was less than 1. The overall degree of soil pollution degree and risk was low, revealing blueberry fruit to be safe for consumption.