Contamination Evaluation and Source Analysis of Heavy Metals in Karst Soil Using UNMIX Model and Pb-Cd Isotopes

Abstract

Karst terrain is the typical area covered with a high background of heavy metals under geochemical anomaly. This research explored the accumulation of geochemical elements and soil sources in karst terrain from rock and soil exposed in carbonate areas. The comprehensive ecological risk and enrichment of heavy metals from parent rock weathered to soil was investigated in 11 formations in the carbonate and clastic areas of the Weining and Hezhang counties in northwest Guizhou. The single factor pollution index, geoaccumulation index, and the potential risk coefficient were used to assess the environmental risk. The results revealed that the heavy metals in an overall geologically high background level of soil in northwest Guizhou is at a slight risk level. However, except for Cd, the heavy metals did not exceed the standard pollution reference. Moreover, the UNMIX model and Cd and Pb isotopes were used to analyze the source of heavy metals, comprising of cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn), and the geochemical elements of silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca). The study showed that most elements in the soil carbonate area exceed the national standard, and the heavy metals in the soil showed a strong enrichment, while the major elements Si and Mg display strong loss. Heavy metal concentrations in soil in the carbonate area were higher than in the clastic area. Geological sources and atmospheric deposition were the main contributors to heavy metal concentrations in both carbonate and clastic areas, and their concentrations differ according to soils developing in different formations.