Cadmium contamination in various environmental materials in an industrial area, Hangzhou, China

Abstract

Due to the location of manufacturing in north Hangzhou, many residential areas are close to trunk roads and factory areas. This potentially exposes citizens to pollution sources such as industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust. Because pollution by cadmium (Cd) is of great concern, an extensive survey was conducted in north Hangzhou city to study the current condition of Cd contamination and any resulting hazard. Environmental materials including water, bottom mud, urban green-land soil, street dust and moss were collected. Cd concentration and chemical partitioning in the samples were determined. The results indicate that all the media in north Hangzhou have elevated Cd concentrations, the Cd content trend being: factory area4traffic area4residential area. The chemical partitioning results show that Cd in topsoil and street dust presents are mobile (9 -61% Cd are bound in acetic acid extractable phase), which suggests a high ecological hazard potential. Environmental bioindicator moss samples were found to be loaded with Cd revealing high bioavailability of Cd in various media in north Hangzhou. This confirms the possibility of Cd being a potential biohazard in this location.