Occurrence and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in the farmland soil

Abstract

Contents, enrichment levels, potential ecological risk degrees and sources of heavy metals in the suburban farmland soil of Xinxiang city were researched based on the index of geo-accumulation method, Hakanson potential ecological risk assessment model and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the enrichment degree of Cd, Ni and Zn got high level in each sampling points based on the index of geo-accumulation assessment. Results of potential ecological risk assessment showed that the risk ranking order was Cd > Ni > Zn > Cu. In short, the Cd and Ni should be the prior pollution controlling factors. From the results of principal component analysis, Ni and Cd, as the first principal component, were considered to root in battery industry, and Zn, as the second principal component, were considered to root in the natural activities. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.