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Soil heavy metal pollution is one of the hottest topics in soil environmental research. There are a large number of small abandoned metal mines in China. Due to the lack of timely restoration and treatment, the heavy metal concentration in the soil within these mining areas often exceeds the local background levels, facilitating pollution spread to other natural factors such as precipitation, resulting in a wider extent of continuous contamination. This paper investigates the current status of heavy metal pollution in an abandoned small lead-zinc mine, particularly examining the concentrations of 10 specific heavy metals (V, Cr, Ni, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Cu, Co) in soil samples. Additionally, it explores the extent of contamination caused by these heavy metals within the area. Besides, principal component analysis and positive matrix factorization model (PMF) were adopted to determine the sources of these heavy metals. The risk assessment of the pollution status was also carried out. The provision of a scientific basis for mining area management under similar conditions holds significant importance. The results indicate a significant positive correlation among the majority of these 10 heavy metals in soil. The presence of these heavy metals in the soil within the concentrator and tailings reservoir area primarily stems from mining operations, construction activities, and discharges from the power system. Hg, Pb, Zn, and As in the surrounding agricultural land mainly come from the heavy metal spillover from the mining area. Furthermore, the area is plagued by severe contamination from As and Pb. The Nemerow comprehensive index method has confirmed substantial pollution in both the concentrator and tailings reservoir. Additionally, there exists a substantial ecological risk ranging from moderate to high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution in the environment is a major concern for humans as it is non-biodegradable and can have a lot of effects on the environment, humans as well as plants. At present, a solution to this problem is suggested in terms of a new, innovative and eco-friendly technology known as phytoremediation. Bast fiber plants are typically non-edible crops that have a short life cycle. It is one of the significant crops that has attracted interest for many industrial uses because of its constant fiber supply and ease of maintenance. Due to its low maintenance requirements with minimum economic investment, bast fiber plants have been widely used in phytoremediation. Nevertheless, these plants have the ability to extract metals from the soil through their deep roots, combined with their commercial prospects, making them an ideal candidate as a profit-yielding crop for phytoremediation purposes. Therefore, a comprehensive review is needed for a better understanding of the morphology and phytoremediation mechanism of four commonly bast fiber plants, such as hemp (Cannabis sativa), kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), jute (Corchorus olitorius) and Flax (Linum usitatissimum). This review article summarizes the existing research on the phytoremediation potential of these plants grown in different toxic pollutants such as Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and Zinc (Zn). This work also discusses several aids including natural and chemical amendments to improve phytoremediation. The role of these amendments in the bioavailability of contaminants, their uptake, translocation and bioaccumulation, as well as their effect on plant growth and development, has been highlighted in this paper. This paper helps in identifying, comparing and addressing the recent achievements of bast fiber plants for the phytoremediation of heavy metals in contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a laboratory study using terrestrial gastropods. Two different life stages of a cosmopolitan terrestrial gastropod Helix aspersa aspersa (syn. Cantareus aspersus or Cornu aspersum) were used. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cadmium on a target organism (H. aspersa aspersa) and the possible transfer of cadmium to the snail tissues. The sensitivity of different snails' life stages exposed to different levels of cadmium was evaluated. The ecotoxicity tests for juvenile snails were performed according to ISO 15952:2018 standard and lasted for 28 days. During that period, the growth inhibition (both in mass and shell diameter) was observed. The embryotoxicity experiments lasted for 14 days and the hatching success was evaluated. The IC50 (inhibition concentration) values for juveniles and eggs were calculated as 68.2 and 7.6 mg/L of Cd2+, respectively. All individuals were frozen for the determination of cadmium content by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The results proved the increased levels of cadmium in the tissues while the mass of the snails decreased. Our results confirm that snail H. aspersa aspersa (and its life stages) is a very suitable laboratory organism for soil ecotoxicity assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High concentrations of heavy metals in the environment will cause serious harm to ecosystems and human health. It is urgent to develop effective methods to control soil heavy metal pollution. Phytoremediation has advantages and potential for soil heavy metal pollution control. However, the current hyperaccumulators have the disadvantages of poor environmental adaptability, single enrichment species and small biomass. Based on the concept of modularity, synthetic biology makes it possible to design a wide range of organisms. In this paper, a comprehensive strategy of "microbial biosensor detection - phytoremediation - heavy metal recovery" for soil heavy metal pollution control was proposed, and the required steps were modified by using synthetic biology methods. This paper summarizes the new experimental methods that promote the discovery of synthetic biological elements and the construction of circuits, and combs the methods of producing transgenic plants to facilitate the transformation of constructed synthetic biological vectors. Finally, the problems that should be paid more attention to in the remediation of soil heavy metal pollution based on synthetic biology were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agro-Environment Science is the property of Journal of Agro-Environment Science Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Coal mining is a vital industrial activity but often associated with negative environmental effects, including the accumulation of waste containing heavy metals in tailings dump. These heavy metals, such as lead, chromium, copper, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and others, pose significant risks to the environment and human health. The mobility of these heavy metals is a major concern, as they can be released into soil and water during rain or erosion processes, contaminating water sources and affecting aquatic and terrestrial life. These metals can be taken over by plants and eventually end up in the trophic chain, including in humans. The toxicity of heavy metals is well known, with these substances having harmful effects on human health. In this paper, the main ways of transferring heavy metals into environmental components and their spatial distribution from sterile holes to water and soil environment components. As a case study, the sterile Balomir hole, an inactive hole for about 9 years resulting from the exploitation of the hule from the Uricani mine located in the Jiu Valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil pollution with heavy metals is a serious issue worldwide. Metal pollution has serious implications for the human health and environment. Phytoremediation is considered an economical and environmentally friendly method of exploiting plants to extract contaminants from soil. The purpose of this paper is to study the maize seedling, growing and behaviour in a soil polluted with heavy metals. Maize is known from literature as lead accumulators in artificially polluted soil with 1000, 2000 and 3000 mg/kg Pb of soil and in the presence of different treatments with EDTA as the mobilization agent. This means that the treatment for phytoextraction (Pb concentration, EDTA concentration) is expressed in the biomass. From the statistical calculation it results that in the variant with 1000 mg Pb/kg soil + ratio EDTA/Pb = 0.5 have no significant decrease in leaf weight. In conclusion, EDTA application does not influence hyperaccumulation. The toxicity of 3000 mg Pb/kg is too high and the plant does not tolerate this toxicity. Another ligand/lead ratio has to be chosen and other solutions are sought to stimulate plant growth and increase the accumulation of metals in the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxic pollutants of industrial origin can be dangerous for professionals who come into contact with them at work, and also for the people who live near the sources of environmental hazards. There is a known relationship between the soil pollution with heavy metals and the morbidity of the population. This paper reports a study of the soil pollution with ions of heavy metals in the Turkestan region, Kazakhstan. The study found technogenic geochemical anomalies of various size, intensity and origin in the soils of the Turkestan region. The distribution of lead, copper, barium, zinc, molybdenum, phosphorus and arsenic was mapped based on the ecological and geochemical survey of the upper soil layer. The most polluted city is Kentau, where concentrations of Pb, Mo, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Mn, Cr, Ni in the soil exceed the allowable level. The cause of pollution is erosion that occurs in the areas of technogenic waste storage. In some communities, the concentration of only one metal exceeded its MAC or the Clarke number, for example, only scandium exceeded its Clarke number by 1.1 in Lenger and only exceeded its Clarke number by 2.75 in Sholakkorgan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, there is relatively little research on the synergistic effects of heavy metals in soil, sediment, and bedrock on heavy metal pollution in water bodies. In this paper, heavy metals in soil, sediment, bedrock, and water of a typical karst watershed in southwest China were investigated. The results indicated that the average values of heavy metals in soil and sediment were relatively higher than those in bedrock except for Ni and As. During the research period, As and Cd were the main heavy metal elements polluting the soil and sediment in the study area, while water bodies were mainly polluted by Ni, As, and Cd. The pollution assessment indicated that there were instances of poor or very poor water quality in the study area during the study period; the soil as a whole was slightly polluted by Cd and As; sediment was subject to moderate Cd pollution and mild As pollution. Analysis of geochemical form for heavy metals showed that heavy metals in soil and sediment were mainly in residual form, and the proportions of exchangeable As and Cd were relatively high. Multiple statistical analysis showed that heavy metals in sediment, soil, and bedrock explained 23.8%, 16. 8%, and 16. 2% of the changes in heavy metals of water, respectively. The research results Can provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil heavy metal pollution has become one of the hot environmental issues of global concern, and its treatment and remediation has become a major scientific and technological demand for social and economic development. Soil animal earthworm-plant remediation has become a new way to control soil heavy metal pollution. Based on a large number of documents at home and abroad, this paper expounds the important role of earthworms in phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil from three aspects, including changing soil physical and chemical properties from earthworm activities to accelerate phytoremediation of heavy metals, promoting phytoremediation of heavy metals by earthworm and microbial interaction, change of heavy metal morphology by earthworm secretion and excrement to affect phytoremediation of heavy metals, so as to provide theoretical reference for subsequent related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination by heavy metals is a significant issue worldwide. In recent decades, soil heavy metals pollutants in China had adverse impacts on soil quality and threatened food security and human health. Anthropogenic inputs mainly generate heavy metal contamination in China. In this review, the approaches were used in these investigations, focusing on geochemical strategies and metal isotope methods, particularly useful for determining the pathway of mining and smelting derived pollution in the soil. Our findings indicate that heavy metal distribution substantially impacts topsoils around mining and smelting sites, which release massive amounts of heavy metals into the environment. Furthermore, heavy metal contamination and related hazards posed by Pb, Cd, As, and Hg are more severe to plants, soil organisms, and humans. It's worth observing that kids are particularly vulnerable to Pb toxicity. And this review also provides novel approaches to control and reduce the impacts of heavy metal pollution. Hydrometallurgy offers a potential method for extracting metals and removing potentially harmful heavy metals from waste to reduce pollution. However, environmentally friendly remediation of contaminated sites is a significant challenge. This paper also evaluates current technological advancements in the remediation of polluted soil, such as stabilization/solidification, natural attenuation, electrokinetic remediation, soil washing, and phytoremediation. The ability of biological approaches, especially phytoremediation, is cost-effective and favorable to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal area of China has faced major strategic planning and environmental pollution, including heavy metals pollution. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of Cd pollution on the ecology in coastal areas of China. A soil Cd pollution database of 300 counties or districts in coastal areas was screened from academic dissertations and academic journal papers. Based on the database, the ecological risk was evaluated using entropy methods and probabilistic ecological risk assessment (PERA), and the advantages and disadvantages of these methods were analyzed. In China's coastal areas, the soil Cd content in 10.33% of the counties was higher than the minimum of risk control value (1.5 mg/kg), and in 4.00% of the counties was higher than the maximum of risk control value (4.0 mg/kg). The ecological risks were highly compatible with national strategic planning areas. Guangxi Province, Zhejiang Province, and Guangdong Province ranked among the top three coastal areas for soil Cd contamination, and the ecological risks were 18.80%, 17.89%, and 15.77% at the maximum no-effect concentration/lowest effect concentration (NOEC/LOEC) level. This study can provide insights to policymakers regarding the protection of ecosystems threatened by heavy metals in the process of regional strategic planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper briefly describes the mechanism of phytoremediation, the advantages and the application of ornamental woody plants. Based on the article analysis, it is found that the concept of hyper accumulation has been emphasized too much in the study of phytoremediation, the usage of herbal hyper-accumulator plants can not last for a long period in field level as the economic benefits is fairly low. Thus, the outstand advantages of ornamental woody plants are outlined, such as more biomass, casier management, pollution remediation and improvement of cultural environments. Relevant studies of remediation by ornamental woody plants are focused on variety, absorption characteristics and resistance assessment. Conclusion: ornamental woody plants show strong resistance and significant ability of metal adsorption. Ornamental woody plants have great potential in remediation of heavy metal comminuted soil. In the future, the theory of resistance and absorption should be strengthened. Other studies are also important, such as expanding the types of ornamental woody remediation plants and screening out more economic and effective plants. As a result, more and more ornamental plants will be put into practice in remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution is a global environmental issue threatening food security and the environment. It is caused by the rapid growth of agriculture and industry. The development of new industries and the increasing number of people have also contributed to the rise in these conditions. Heavy metals that contaminate soils are mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr), these toxic substances are retained by the soil and act as a filter for their properties. The aim of this paper was to review the impact of heavy metals on soil, as well as the methods to combat their toxicity in agricultural ones. In order to achieve this goal, data belonging to national and international databases were used (Science Direct, NCBI). The finding of different strategies to combat pollution, particularly on the soil represented the goals for the majority of the studies. As such, bioremediation is a promising choice to reduce heavy metal concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the heavy metal-related deposits are distributed in watersheds of mountainous areas, and the enrichment of soil heavy metals were affected by both natural high background and anthropogenic source in the area. It is particularly important to formulate precaution countermeasures to accurately identify and quantify the source of soil heavy metal pollution in the ore-concentrating area. This paper studies the surface soil of a small basin in Beishan Reservoir which was rich in ores. Based on the evaluation of the heavy metal accumulation degree, the pollution sources identification and their contributions to soil heavy metals were studied by multiple methods including field investigation, multivariate statistical analysis, positive matrix factorization(PMF), spatial analysis, and other methods. Conclusively, the accumulated Cu and Cd in the top soil were higher than other heavy metals, the Cu and Cd average contents were 3.05, 3.47 times as high as the regional background value, and exceeded the soil risk screening values. About 10% of samples reached the level of moderate to severe enrichment. The heavy metal pollution sources in the topsoil were jointly affected by natural geological background, mining activities, and agricultural activities source. The contribution rates of mining activities to Cu and Cd are 68.92% and 56.31%, and natural geological backgrounds also contribute 21.05% and 38.35% to them. The natural source contributed most to As, Cr, and Ni, with contribution rates of 83.13%, 72.59%, and 78.76%, respectively. Hg mainly comes from agricultural activities, and its contribution rate was 81.79%. Zn and Pb were affected by both material migration and natural geological background. The reliability and rationality of the analytical results for the heavy metal pollution sources can be improved by the mutual verification of the combination using different methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper refers to the distribution of heavy metals in soil located near the Gornje Polje flotation tailings in Zvečan, in North Kosovo. Physical and chemical properties, determination of total metal concentration by acid digestion and sequential extraction scheme according to BCR (Community Bureau reference) were applied to soil samples. X-Ray diffractometry and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to analyze soil samples. The obtained results showed that the flotation tailings Gornje Polje still contain quite significant amounts of solid waste, which can release heavy metals into a potential source of pollution. The ratio between the mean concentrations of the tested metals was determined in the order: Pb (3862 mg/kg)>Zn (950.45 mg/kg)>Cu (386.75 mg/kg)> As (365.47 mg/kg)>Ni (220.87 mg/kg)>Cd (23.63 mg/kg). Pb, Zn and Cd showed the highest oncentrations in mobile fractions in soil, compared to other metals. According to the calculated index of potential environmental risk, it was confirmed that the mobility of Cd has a great impact on the environment. The order of potential environmental risk is Cd>As>Pb for all samples of the analyzed soil, and the most polluted places are near the tailings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sampling was done in order to follow the evolution of heavy metal concentration of solid fuel use, the ash from the filter within the ash and slag heap, the soil adjacent to potential sources of heavy metal emissions power plant and landfill. This paper presents the methodology of sampling and heavy metal pollution level Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Co, Hg in the area of coal power plants (CET Turceni) in 2010. In this sense, Quantitative analysis of metals in ash, soil and plant products was achieved by modern instrumental techniques Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). To assess the time evolution of the level of heavy metals in the soil are presented and the results of physico-chemical and biological weapons made in 1997, 2000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined with the existing research, the research progress of biochar remediation of heavy metal pollution is reviewed. This paper focuses on the mechanism of biochar immobilization of heavy metals in soil, the effect of biochar on the absorption of heavy metals by plants, the research results of the application of biochar in field engineering, and the risks and shortcomings o£ biochar as a soil improver. Finally, it is hoped that on the premise of meeting safe production, the popularization of biochar should be promoted in agricultural production, rather than limited to scientific research. Start the life cycle assessment of biochar and establish a biochar life cycle database to provide a comprehensive and effective scientific basis for the future use of biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal soil pollution severely threatens human health and food safety. This study used PRISMA to systematically review heavy metal-contaminated soil remediation patents in the Derwent Patent Database from 2003 to 2023. A total of 1744 patents were selected. The results of the analysis show that related patent applications are growing around the world. Among them, China has the most significant number of patents, but the layout of transnational patents needs to be revised. Countries have different preferences in transnational patent technology. Technological development is generally balanced, and there is no apparent monopoly. However, the need for continuous in-depth research on inventors is an obstacle to technological development. In addition, the technology in this field is concentrated in chemistry and engineering. Currently, the mainstream technology is soil remediation agents, and thermal desorption technology has also attracted much attention. Future technologies will use new polymer materials and advanced machinery to improve efficiency and control repair costs. In addition, remediation has shifted from the total amount of heavy metals to the control of practical parts. This study summarizes the current status of heavy metal-contaminated soil remediation technology and analyzes future development trends, providing a reference for technology development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jinding Zn-Pb mining area is a super large multi-metal deposit in Lanping county, Yunnan province, China. The development of mining industry has led to severe soil and water pollution, which made it an ideal place for studying the geological problems of mineral environment. This paper is based on systemically conducted experiments about a test of the contents of plumbum (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in soil samples and spectral response. Spectral characteristics of soil samples were analyzed in detail. The measured data were resampled to ASTER image. Partial least squares models (PLS) were constructed between heavy metal content and measured resampling spectra of the soil. And these models were applied into Zn-Pb mining area in Lanping, generating distribution map of heavy metal content. The results demonstrate that: (1) The contents of the two kinds of heavy metal elements (Zn, Pb) were beyond the soil standard, and there was a significant correlationship between them. (2) The partial least squares model between heavy metal content and fitting ASTER data was of higher accuracy, with R higher than 0.86. (3) The inversion results of ASTER showed that the Pb and Zn content centered the Lanping Zn-Pb mining area, and decreased when spreading around. The results of this study may provide technical support for predicting heavy metal content of large scale soil and for mapping heavy metal pollution in soil by satellite or aerial remote sensing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollution of agricultural soil by heavy metals is a significant environmental issue that has a serious impact on human health and food security. This study focused on investigating the presence of heavy metal pollution in sewage-irrigated soils in Taiyuan city. A total of 110 soil samples were analyzed for the presence of As, Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn. The results showed that the concentrations of these metals ranged from 0.06 to 26.74 mg/kg for As, 0.00 to 0.84 mg/kg for Hg, 0.03 to 0.69 mg/kg for Cd, 44.32 to 100.09 mg/kg for Pb, 9.85 to 42.19 mg/kg for Cr, 13.38 to 53.72 mg/kg for Cu, and 42.77 to 145.47 mg/kg for Zn. The average concentrations of these metals were found to be below the risk values specified in the "Soil environmental quality (GB15618-2018)", except for As and Cd in three sampling points in Xiaodian District. The heavy metal pollution in these areas can be attributed to various sources, such as industrial activities, the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and the irrigation process. According to the geo–accumulation index, the agricultural soil in the Taiyuan irrigation area was found to be uncontaminated by Zn, Cr, Cu, and As, and lightly contaminated by Cd, Hg, and Pb. The Nemerow Pollution Index indicated that the soil at all sampling points exhibited a slight level of pollution. Moreover, the ecological risk assessment indicated that all heavy metals posed a slight level of pollution. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for the development of effective policies and measures for soil environmental protection and pollution control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development and widespread use of ZnO nanoparticles (nZnO) in various industries have raised concerns about their potential environmental impact. Therefore, understanding the fate and role of nZnO in the natural environment is crucial for mitigating their hazardous effects on the environment and human safety. The purpose of the present study was to provide scientific support for understanding and eliminating the joint risk of nanoparticle and heavy metal pollution in the soil environment by revealing the co-transport characteristics of Cd(II) and ZnO nanoparticles (nZnO) in soil under different ionic strength (IS) and pH. The impacts of different IS and pH on the co-transport of Cd(II) and nZnO in a 20 cm long with an inner diameter of 2.5 cm acrylic column packed with 10 cm high soil samples were investigated in the present study. In the above system, a 500 μg L−1 Cd(II) loaded nZnO suspension pulse with varying IS or pH was introduced into the soil column for leaching over 5 PVs, followed up by 5 PVs background solutions without nZnO. The IS was 1, 10, or 50 mM NaCl, with pH6, or the pH was 6, 7 or 8 with 1 mM NaCl. Meanwhile, Sedimentation experiments for nZnO, adsorption of Cd(II) on soil, and nZnO, DLVO theory calculation for the same background condition were conducted. The presence of nZnO significantly increased the mobility of Cd(II) as a result of its strong adsorption capacity for nZnO-associated Cd(II). However, with the increase of IS, the co-transport of nZnO and Cd(II) was decreased and the retention of nZnO in the soil column due to more nZnO attended to aggregate and sediment during the transport and the decrease in the adsorption capacity of nZnO for Cd(II) by competition of Na+. When pH was 6, 7, and 8, the co-transport of nZnO and Cd(II) increased with higher pH due to the lower electrostatic attraction between nZnO and soil under higher pH. Meanwhile, the DLVO theory was fitted to describe the above co-transport process of nZnO and Cd(II). More attention should be paid to the presence of nZnO on the migration of Cd(II) in the natural soil to control the potential risk of nanoparticles and heavy metals to the environment. The risk of co-transport of nZnO and Cd(II) might be controlled by adjusting IS and pH in the soil solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term use of sewage to irrigate farmland will increase the content of heavy metals in the soil and cause soil pollution. Heavy metal pollution in soils will restrict the sustainable development of local agriculture and will have a negative impact on the ecological environment. In this paper, the irrigation areas using domestic sewage, mixed sewage and industrial sewage as an irrigation water source for many years have been selected as the research objects, and the content of the heavy metals lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) in the soil with the depth of 0-20cm, 20-50cm and 50-80cm of three kinds of sewage irrigation areas are assessed using single factor pollution index method and Nemerow comprehensive index method, and the potential ecological risks of heavy metals in the soil are assessed using Hakanson ecological risk index method. The results show that the content of heavy metals Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd in different depths of the three sewage irrigation areas does not exceed the national standard limit, and the heavy metal pollution grade in the soil belongs to the safety grade, indicating that the content of heavy metals in the soil has not reached the alert level. The potential ecological risks of heavy metals in the soil show minor ecological risks judging from single indexes, while Cd shows that the ecological risks are at a strong level. Judging from the comprehensive potential ecological risk index, the potential ecological risks of the heavy metals in the study area is minor in graded, but the heavy metals in the soil of the mixed sewage irrigation area and the industrial sewage irrigation area have a moderate grade of potential ecological risks at the depth of 50-80 cm. Therefore, although the content of the heavy metals in the soil of the three kinds of sewage irrigation areas in the study area is safe, the potential ecological risk of Cd is quite high, which should be paid attention to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of research on the use of sewage sludge from the municipal sewage treatment plant in Białystok for fertilization of urban lawns. To fertilize the ground two types of deposits were used: stabilized sludge after the dewatering process in the press and granular sludge after drying in the sludge dryer. Two doses of sludge were used - 5 and 10 kg/m2. Effective microorganisms (EM) were added to the test plots. Both doses of the applied sewage sludge contributed significantly to the growth of grass biomass. Aboveground biomass of the plants was significantly correlated with the concentration of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the surface layer of the soil. The addition of EM to soil containing the dewatered sludge from the press reduced significantly the content of heavy metals in the soil, as opposed to the sludge in a form of granules with addition of EM, which contributed to the increase of their concentration in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work deals with establishing the contents and pollution of heavy metals in samples collected from Ras Tanura along the Arabian Gulf. Using Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer ICPE-9820, the concentrations of metals have been measured. For soil samples the range values of metals concentrations (mg/kg) were: Cd (0.87–107), Co (0.32–0.72), Cr (0.27–4.61), Ni (0.01–3.92), Pb (0.18–3.26), Zn (0.23–3.46) and Zr (0.07–0.99). While in marine sediment samples, the range values of concentrations (mg/kg) were: 0.48–0.64 for Co, 1.28–4.21 for Cr, 21.8–80.4 for Cd, 1.28–2.62 for Ni, 1.46–2.09 for Pb, 0.42–1.32 for Zn and 0.59–0.82 for Zr. The contamination factor of metals in marine sediments was also calculated. The heavy metal concentrations in samples were within the acceptable standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to solve the problem of cadmium heavy metal ion pollution caused by the abuse of chemical fertilizers and activities such as mining, which pose a serious threat to the plant growth environment. We successfully synthesized DMAPAA (N-(3-(Dimethyl amino) propyl) acrylamide)/DMAPAAQ (N, N-Dimethyl amino propyl acrylamide, methyl chloride quaternary) hydrogels via free radical polymerization. Subsequently, we conducted experiments on this hydrogel for growing vegetables under cadmium stress conditions in aqueous solutions and soil. The cadmium capture capacity of DMAPAA/DMAPAAQ hydrogels under different cadmium ion concentrations and pH values was evaluated by using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP). The research results show that under the condition of pH = 7.3, the cadmium capture capacity of DMAPAA/DMAPAAQ hydrogels is the greatest. We used the Langmuir model to fit the adsorption data, and the correlation coefficient was as high as 0.96, indicating that the model fits well. The application of the hydrogels promoted the growth of vegetables in soil under cadmium stress conditions. The results showed that when the added amount of hydrogel was 4%, the dry weight of the vegetables was the largest. In addition, when the added amount of cadmium was 500 mg/kg and the added amount of hydrogel was 4%, the absorption of cadmium by the vegetables decreased to an undetectable level. In summary, the hydrogel successfully synthesized in this study can be effectively used to immobilize cadmium ions in soil while positively promoting the growth and yield of vegetables. This achievement has practical significance for solving the problem of heavy metal ion pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we investigated whether a different accuracy in sample cleaning prior to the analysis may affect the elemental composition of unwashed samples of the lichen Xanthoria parietina. To this purpose, samples of this lichen were collected from a remote area of Sardinia (Italy) and randomly divided into two aliquots, one cleaned very carefully (ca. 3-4 h to obtain ca. 200 mg of material for analysis) and the other cleaned with a lower efficiency (ca. 1-2 h). Samples were analysed by ICP-MS for the content of Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn. The results indicated that an accurate cleaning is effective for reducing the content of Al and Fe, i.e. soil-related elements, but that it has no effect on the concentrations of other elements less represented in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the operational factors that affect an integrated electrochemical remediation (IECR) process for the degradation and removal of both organic and heavy metal contaminants in low permeability soils. IECR aims to degrade the organic contaminants through chemical oxidation process and at the same time remove the heavy metals through electromigration. Hydrogen peroxide is used as an oxidant which is transported into the soil by the electroosmotic flow. The natural iron in the soil acts as a catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in a Fenton-like process. Kaolin soil was used as model low permeability soil. Soil was polluted with phenanthrene and nickel at concentrations of 500 mg/kg each. Experiments were carried out at a constant voltage gradient of 1 VDC/cm using 10 % HO as a flushing solution at the anode. The use of periodic voltage gradient and the recirculation of the cathodic solution to the anode favored the electroosmotic flow and the contaminant removal. Phenanthrene was eliminated from the soil in an average value of 30 %. Though electroosmotic flow was registered in all the experiments, negligible amount of phenanthrene was detected in the electrode solutions, confirming that the removal of phenanthrene is due to chemical oxidation. Nickel was solubilized and transported towards the cathode, but it was accumulated in the close vicinity of the cathode due to the high pH. Overall, this study showed that IECR has potential to remediate soils contaminated by both organic compounds and heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes a series of theoretical aspects concerning residual soil pollution by heavy metals. Heavy metals, unlike organic and radionuclide pollutants, are considered to be the most persistent/resistant polluting substances in the soil, displaying a tendency for accumulation. The behavior of heavy metals in the soil depends on the physical and chemical properties of the soil, as well as on their origin and source. Knowledge of the properties of heavy metals is very important, having in view the necessity of applying isolation measures for a contaminated site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Research of Environmental Sciences is the property of Research of Environmental Sciences Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The dismantling and disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) in developing countries is causing increasing concern because of its impacts on the environment and risks to human health. Heavy-metal concentrations in the surface soils of Guiyu (Guangdong Province, China) were monitored to determine the status of heavy-metal contamination on e-waste dismantling area with a more than 20 years history. Two metalloids and nine metals were selected for investigation. This paper also attempts to compare the data among a variety of e-waste dismantling areas, after reviewing a number of heavy-metal contamination-related studies in such areas in China over the past decade. In addition, source apportionment of heavy metal in the surface soil of these areas has been analysed. Both the MSW open-burning sites probably contained invaluable e-waste and abandoned sites formerly involved in informal recycling activities are the new sources of soil-based environmental pollution in Guiyu. Although printed circuit board waste is thought to be the main source of heavy-metal emissions during e-waste processing, requirement is necessary to soundly manage the plastic separated from e-waste, which mostly contains heavy metals and other toxic substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wanshan mercury mine is the largest cinnabar deposit in Guizhou, China. Few effective methods had been achieved to remedy Hg heavily contaminated field soils. In this paper, a modified EK method with approaching cathodes (AC-EK) and an I−/I2 lixiviant was described to remedy mercury-contaminated field soils near Wanshan mercury mine. Paddy Soil I and Paddy Soil II were sampled and contained 576.73 ± 45.50 and 491.35 ± 4.73 mg/kg Hg, respectively. Although they contained 6.9 and 9.4% organic matter respectively, more than 92 and 89% Hg were removed by AC-EK within 5 days. Removal ratio increased by 0.21 and 0.68 times using EK process with ACs over that with one single cathode (SC-EK). AC-EK method saved nearly 26.4–28.1% electric power as compared to SC-EK method. As an I−/I2 lixiviant solution was used to solubilize HgS(HgO) during EK process, the bonding of Hg to organic functional S groups should be less important than the binding to inner sites of organic matter in soil. The relationship between EK remediation effect and soil organic matter content was fitted to a linear model. It turned out that when soil OM increased by 1.0%, EK removal ratio (%) of Hg would decrease by 2.63%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic relationships with the roots of nearly all land-dwelling plants, increasing growth and productivity, especially during abiotic stress. AMF improves plant development by improving nutrient acquisition, such as phosphorus, water, and mineral uptake. AMF improves plant tolerance and resilience to abiotic stressors such as drought, salt, and heavy metal toxicity. These benefits come from the arbuscular mycorrhizal interface, which lets fungal and plant partners exchange nutrients, signalling molecules, and protective chemical compounds. Plants' antioxidant defence systems, osmotic adjustment, and hormone regulation are also affected by AMF infestation. These responses promote plant performance, photosynthetic efficiency, and biomass production in abiotic stress conditions. As a result of its positive effects on soil structure, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration, AMF contributes to the maintenance of resilient ecosystems. The effects of AMFs on plant growth and ecological stability are species- and environment-specific. AMF's growth-regulating, productivity-enhancing role in abiotic stress alleviation under abiotic stress is reviewed. More research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms that drive AMF-plant interactions and their responses to abiotic stresses. AMF triggers plants' morphological, physiological, and molecular responses to abiotic stress. Water and nutrient acquisition, plant development, and abiotic stress tolerance are improved by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. In plants, AMF colonization modulates antioxidant defense mechanisms, osmotic adjustment, and hormonal regulation. These responses promote plant performance, photosynthetic efficiency, and biomass production in abiotic stress circumstances. AMF-mediated effects are also enhanced by essential oils (EOs), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and phosphorus (P). Understanding how AMF increases plant adaptation and reduces abiotic stress will help sustain agriculture, ecosystem management, and climate change mitigation. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have gained prominence in agriculture due to their multifaceted roles in promoting plant health and productivity. This review delves into how AMF influences plant growth and nutrient absorption, especially under challenging environmental conditions. We further explore the extent to which AMF bolsters plant resilience and growth during stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial waste in the form of abandoned mine tailings from a former lead plant in South Kazakhstan amounts to about 2 million tons, and this has led to environmental pollution with heavy metals (HMs) in Shymkent city. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cd in the mine tailings were 1354.50, 262.90, and 61.08 mg/kg, respectively. The contamination of the adjacent soils with Pb, Zn, and Cd ranged from 7.76 to 551.49, from 8.25 to 245.74, and from 5.40 to 19.23 mg/kg, respectively. In this study, the phytoremediation properties of sweet potato on soils contaminated with HMs adjacent to mine tailings were investigated. The phytoremediation efficiency of sweet potato was assessed in terms of its capacity to biotransfer and bioaccumulate HMs. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cd in sweet potato in the experimental fields were 28.70–45.10, 70.0–94.20, and 1.19–1.80 mg/kg, respectively. It was determined that the pollution class of the studied soils according to Igeo was high pollution (5.28–8.80), and the potential risk of HM accumulation according to the ecological risk index proposed by Hakanson was moderate pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants can be used as bioindicators providing information on environmental quality or environmental change and as biomonitors when providing information on the amount of pollutants. The main polluter of the influence area of the thermal power plant is ash, resulting from the combustion of coal with a low content of heavy metals. The paper assesses the content of heavy metals in the local environment caused by Thermal Station. The control of the degree of pollution with heavy metals Zn ,Cu, Co, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd from soil, and vegetables crops are achieved by AAS instrumental analysis under optimum conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Science & Technology (1008-0864) is the property of Journal of Agricultural Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The assessments of heavy metal soil pollution in Kosovo are deficient. Considering that Kosovo is characterized by complex geological settings and high mining activity, it is important to assess the risk of heavy metal soil pollution. The research aims to evaluate the level and spatial distribution of some heavy metals and biogenic elements in soil samples throughout the whole territory of the country. The surface soil samples were collected at 0–25 cm depth from twenty-four sampling sites evenly distributed in the study area. Each site comprised five to ten sub-samples within a 50 × 50 m expanse. The concentration of elements (Cd, Pb, Co, Cu, Mn, and Ni) was determined by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) were used to determine the levels of Ca, Mg, Na, K, Zn, and Fe, while cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CVAAS) was used for the determination of Hg. For the processing of experimental data, statistical analyses (descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and linear regression) were applied, as were cluster and factor analyses. The concentrations of heavy metals and biogenic elements, based on their average values in the soil samples, exhibited the following trend: Fe > Mg > Ca > Mn > K > Cr > Na > Ni > Pb > Zn > Cu > Co > Cd > Hg. In specific sampling locations, the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Ni surpassed the maximum thresholds set by the EU directive. Long-term emission inputs from the mining industry, coal-fired power sources, and areas with heavy vehicular traffic are the main sources of these elements. The outcomes of this investigation provide precise information regarding potential sources of metal pollution in contaminated areas, thereby serving as a basis for future research endeavors and enabling relevant institutions to implement strategies aimed at reducing this form of pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal contamination is one of the significant concerns of environmental pollution. The present study was conducted to find out the correlation between soil and crop/food matrices grown at the exact location for Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Na, P, Zn, and Pb elements near the industrial areas of Narol, Changodar, Vatva, Makarpura, Nandesari, and Ankleshwar in Gujarat, India. Soil samples were collected from 64 sampling sites in an industrial area. Twenty of these sites contained crop/food matrices used for the correlation study. The ranges of concentration of Cr (17-74.4 mg.kg-1), Cu (9.6-82.4 mg.kg-1), Ni (10.6-55.9 mg.kg-1), Pb (4.5- 20.7 mg.kg-1), Zn (21.5-112.4 mg.kg-1), and Al (7075-44557.5 mg.kg-1) for Soil and for crop Cr (0.3-0.6 mg.kg-1), Cu (0.3-8.6 mg.kg-1), Zn (1.1-43.5 mg.kg-1), Fe (12.6-69.4 mg.kg-1), and Al (5.8-102.2 mg.kg-1). According to the study, there is a strong correlation between the soil and crop/food matrices at the different locations, like 0.97 for Fe and Ni, 0.94 for Mg, 0.95 for Mn, and 0.55 for Pb and Zn, and very little correlation between K, P, and Ca, while a negative correlation between Al, Cr, Cu, and Na. The DTPA extractable method was used for the elemental analysis, and analysis was done using the ICP-OES instrument following microwave-assisted digestion. The results show that metal contamination transforms from soil to crop/food matrices, which represents a serious concern and requires action to address the metal contamination by industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties and sources of soil heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, As, Hg, Cr, and Ni) need to be comprehensively analyzed to take effective steps to control and reduce soil pollutants. In this research, 416 soil samples were collected on a large scale in China. Two receptor models (PCA/MLR and PMF) were utilized to identify pollutant sources and quantify the contributions. The means of soil heavy metals (Zn, Cu, As, Hg, Cr, and Ni) were lower than the corresponding screening values and intervention values. Cd was greater than the intervention value, while Pb was between the screening value and the intervention value. Source apportionments suggested that mine sources were the most polluted (64.28%), followed by traffic sources (38.98%), natural sources (11.41–39.58%), industrial sources (9.8–18.65%), and agricultural sources (2.79–14.51%). Compared to the PCA/MLR model, the PMF model had a better effect in evaluating soil heavy metal pollution. It gave corresponding weights according to the data concentration and its uncertainty, which made the result reasonable. The ecological risk assessment indicated that Cd posed a significant risk, while Hg caused a mild risk and the other six heavy metals posed a low risk. The spatial distribution of ecological risk suggested that severe risk points were mainly distributed in the central area, while high-risk points were distributed in the southern region. The SRI method was developed to link pollution sources and their potential ecological risks and indicated better applicability to the PMF model. The study findings could provide guidelines for monitoring the main sources and reducing the pollution of soil heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of heavy metals in fields used as urban waste dump sites in Owerri, Imo state Nigeria was evaluated. Three dumpsites were selected from Avu (along Port Harcourt Road), Mechanic village (opposite Tipper Park) and Egbeada housing (along Onitsha Road). Site selection was based on the presence of the dumps for at least 10 years. Soil samples were collected from the dumpsites and 100 m away from the dumpsite as control, using soil auger at depth of 0 -15 cm and 15-30 cm. Cassava crops were planted on all the sites and the cassava roots were sampled alongside the soil for the study of heavy metal contents in plant roots. Routine soil analysis and plant root analysis were carried out to determine the physio-chemical characteristics and heavy metal contents of the soil and plant roots. Results showed that heavy metal contents of soils and plants are significantly (p = 0.05) higher in the dumpsites than the control except for Cd which did not show significant difference. Also results showed that Cd and Pb content of soil and plants are higher (4.17 and 3.17 mg/kg, respectively) for soil and (0.2 and 0.1 mg/kg, respectively) for plant roots. It is therefore recommended that farmers should avoid growing crops in urban waste dumpsites to avoid food contamination and health hazard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For evaluation environmental impact of emissions resulting from the combustion of lignite for thermoenergetic purposes the sampling was done in order to follow the evolution of heavy metal concentration of solid fuel use, the ash from the filter within the ash and slag heap, the soil adjacent to potential sources of heavy metal emissions power plant and landfill. This paper presents the methodology of sampling and heavy metal pollution level Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Co, Hg in the area of coal power plants (CET Turceni) in 2010. In this sense, quantitative analysis of metals in ash, soil and plant products, was achieved by modern instrumental techniques Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). To assess the time evolution of the level of heavy metals in the soil are presented and the results of physico-chemical and biological weapons made in 1997, 2000, 2010. Soil of the coal-fired thermal power plant is a ground with anthropogenic load of heavy metals, especially Cu, Pb, Ni Cd, Zn whose range values exceed the background content and even the limit for sensitive soils (Pb). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the role of land snails as the monitor for heavy metal pollution and to determine the species-specific accumulation of metals in Eobania vermiculata and Monacha obstructa. A field survey of heavy metals was carried out in two different areas in Ismailia city, Egypt. The study was conducted to evaluate the essential and non-essential heavy metals in the tissue of land snails and compared them with their levels in shell and soil to find out which can accumulate more biotic or abiotic?. The heavy metals concentrations of essential and non-essential heavy metals of soft tissues of two snail species and sediment collected from Ring Road, Ismailia, in Egypt had the highest levels of heavy metals as compared to another site in most seasons except in spring season levels of essential (Cu, Mn, Zn, Co, Mo, Ca and Mg) and non-essential metals (Cd, Pb, Al, and B) were higher in El-Balah Road than Ring Road. Therefore, El Balah Road was less polluted as compared with Ring Road which was more crowded with cars. The ranges of essential metals in samples of the soft tissue of E. vermiculata along with the two sites, Ring Road and El Balah Road, were higher for Ca and Mg than other essential metals. However, Al as a non-essential metal in soft tissue samples of E. vermiculata for the two sites was the most common metal. Moreover, the levels of the same metals were elevated in M. obstructa along with the two sites. The results indicated that E. vermiculata and M. obstructa soft tissues do not reflect the environmental bioavailability of heavy metals as the shells do. Therefore, the shells of E. vermiculata and M. obstructa could be considered as a more useful bioindicator for Co, Cu, Mn, Zn, Mo, Ca, Mg, and Pb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the exploration and distribution of various chemical elements in soils and vegetables from gardens in the region of Probištip, North Macedonia. This region was exposed to heavy metals pollution from Pb–Zn mining and flotation tailings landfill near the town of Probištip for 70 years. A total of 38 samples of various crops and vegetable products from 19 gardens were analyzed. The analyzes were carried out by ICP-AES (Al, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, V, and Zn) and by ICP-MS (As, Cd, Co, Cr, and Pb). It was found that the content of some potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in the soil samples from the gardens, exceeded the target values. From these results, it is clear that the contamination of the soils in this area is due to mining activities and the distribution of flotation wastes from the nearby flotation dump. It was also found that the contaminated soils lead to elevated levels of these elements in some vegetables from the gardens, especially those near the Zletovska River and the flotation waste landfill, exceeding the nationally permissible food content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shanghai is the major city on the north shore of Hangzhou Bay, and the administrative regions adjacent to Hangzhou Bay are the Jinshan district, Fengxian district, and Pudong new area (Nanhui district), which are the main intersection areas of manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture in Shanghai. In this paper, we collected a total of 75 topsoil samples from six different functional areas (agricultural areas (19), roadside areas (10), industrial areas (19), residential areas (14), education areas (6), and woodland areas (7)) in these three administrative regions, and the presence of 10 heavy metals (manganese(Mn), zinc(Zn), chromium(Cr), nickel(Ni), lead(Pb), cobalt(Co), cadmium(Cd), mercury(Hg), copper(Cu), and arsenic(As)) was investigated in each sample. The Nemerow pollution index (NPI), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (PERI) were calculated to assess the soil pollution levels. The hazard quotient (HQ) and carcinogenic risk (CR) assessment models were used to assess the human health risks posed by the concentrations of the heavy metals. The CR and HQ for adults and children in different functional areas descended in the following order: industrial areas > roadside areas > woodland areas > residential areas > education areas > agricultural areas. The HQ of Mn for children in industrial areas was higher than 1, and the risk was within the acceptable range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is widely used in agriculture to efficiently solve the problem of sludge. In this study, sludge-based biochar (referred to as BC1, BC2, and BC3) was prepared by mixing sludge with FeCl3, Na2SiO3, and Ca (H2PO4)2, respectively. Then, it was mixed with fresh soil to plant Brassica chinensis L. The analysis of the effects of the three biochar types showed that all of them were beneficial to the growth of Brassica chinensis L. We added the biochar to the soil and found that the concentration of heavy metals did not exceed the recommended threshold. Additionally, the aboveground part of Brassica chinensis L. met the standard requirement for food safety (GB 2761–2017). Notably, BC3 stood out with the best effect on the growth of Brassica chinensis L. and resulted in the improvement of the physical and chemical properties of soil such as ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium (BC3 was followed by BC2 and BC1). BC3 could efficiently inhibit the migration of heavy metals, thereby reducing the overall heavy metal pollution level and ameliorating the soil nutrients. BC3 could increase the organic carbon by 258.92%, available phosphorus by 234.45%, and available potassium by 37.12% compared with the CK group. The THQ and TTHQ estimates of Brassica chinensis L. were lower than one, indicating that the health risk of heavy metal intake was not prominent. Additionally, the application of the proposed biochar could reduce the form of F1 (acid extracted state) and increase the form of F4 (residue state) in soil. Overall, we conclude that the application of the proposed biochar can promote the root absorption of heavy metals and inhibit the migration of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution in the soil surrounding solid wastes from coking plants poses potential threats to human health and has attracted widespread attention. This study is the first to assess the spatial variability and risks of heavy metals in the soil surrounding solid waste from coking plants. The results showed that the concentrations of Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cd in the soil were much higher than the background value of the soil. Solid waste had a clear influence on the contents of Ni, Cd, Mn, Pb, and Cr in the soil. The ecological risk assessment of heavy metal pollution demonstrated that the pollution degree of Cu, Pb, and Cd was more serious than others, and the ecological risk of heavy metals was mainly caused by Cd in the soil. The human health risk assessment showed that adults and children near coking plants might face carcinogenic risk from exposure to Cr. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and management of soil heavy metal pollution surrounding solid waste in coking plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of heavy metals (HMs) in soil-plant systems was an important indicator of soil heavy metal pollution, and the migration and transportation abilities of HMs from soil to plants were of great significance for evaluating food safety and reducing health risks. This study was conducted to investigate the contamination and translocation of HMs in the soil-Paeonia lactiflora system in Bozhou, Anhui Province, China. The soil pollution was assessed by calculating the Geoaccumulation index (Igeo), Potential ecological risk index (RI), and Pollution load index (PLI). The transfer ability of HMs was evaluated by using the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF). The results showed that Fe, Mn, Cr, and As were the priority pollutants in soil. Paeonia lactiflora presented high potential to translocate Zn, Cu, and Fe from soil to roots, and had strong ability to translocate HMs except for Cd from roots to stems and leaves [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the variation in heavy metal concentrations in soil caused by anthropogenic activities in heavily contaminated areas is of great significance. The degree of heavy metal pollution in soil is primarily assessed by different indices with different standards and reference elements. However, these methods cannot be used to evaluate the degree of heavy metal pollution caused by anthropogenic activities. In this study, Zhuzhou, China was selected as the contaminated area, and Yueyang, China was selected as the background area, where geological and climatic conditions are similar to those of Zhuzhou, China. The concentrations of As (6.6-23.6 mg/kg), Cd (0.125-0.757 mg/kg), Cu (33-75 mg/kg), Hg (0.032-0.202 mg/kg), Pb (17-108 mg/kg), and Zn (74-122 mg/kg) in the vertical soil profiles in the contaminated area were higher than those in the background area (ranging 1.7-20.7, 0.085-0.210, 21-47, 0.030-0.105, 17-38 and 32-88 mg/kg, respectively). K2O/Al2O3, SiO2/Al2O3, and the weathering leaching coefficient (ba) showed little difference, suggesting that the weathering degree of soil in these two areas was similar. The weathering degree of soil governs the geochemical behavior of heavy metals and reference elements. According to the prediction models for heavy metal concentrations and organic carbon, K2O/Al2O3, and SiO2/Al2O3 in the soil profiles from the background area, the increase in heavy metal concentrations in the topsoil in the contaminated area was depicted. The heavy metal concentrations in topsoil were obviously affected by anthropogenic activities. This study provides a case study for evaluating the impact of anthropogenic activities on heavy metals in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil pollution with heavy metals is continuously expanding with the rapid development of industrialisation and agriculture. The current study was aimed to determine the skewed nature and spatial distribution of soil heavy metals pollution in southern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa. Fifty four soil samples were collected from the selected sites in southern districts and analysed for various soil physico-chemical and elemental concentrations. Various metals content, i.e. (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr) was determined after acid digested through atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results of the metals content in soil samples showed maximum values Pb (46.38), Cd(6.74), Ni(45.58), Cr(58.08) mg/kg, bluk density 1.46 g/cm3 and lowest pH value 6.53 for Lakki cement factory (LCF) site. Other parameters like soil electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, percent porosity and soil urease activity also indicated higher values, i.e. 504 µs/cm, 250 mg/lit, 66% and 440.50 respectively. Positive Pearson correlation was found between metals concentration and soil physico-chemical properties except percent porosity and bulk density exhibited negative correlation. The multivariate statistical analysis of the data formed principal component that accounted for a total variance of 71.1%, on the basis of which metal contamination is traced to both geogenic and anthropogenic sources. Spatial distribution of the metals concentration showed higher concentration of Cd, Cr, Ni in Lakki cement factory (LCF) soil except Pb content that was observed maximum in Indus highway Karak (IHK) soil samples. Geoamccumulation index (Igeo) of the samples sites showed moderate contamination for studied metals with some uncontaminated sites showing a value of Igeo> 0. The study concludes a baseline data for metals concentration in the area, which can be used as a beacon for various strategic plannings regarding soil resource management in order to address the metals related health issues and environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt was made to ascertain the environmental effects of animal wastes pollution on agricultural soil and water quality at the oldest teaching and research farm, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Physical, chemical, and bacteriological analyses of water (shallow well) and soil samples were carried out to determine the present quality status. Fifteen soil samples collected at the centre of the animal wastes dump and at a distance of 5 and 10 m, and three different samplings done on the water source were analyzed. The parameters determined using APHA standard procedures included: turbidity, temperature, pH, alkalinity, sulphide, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, total hardness, biochemical oxygen demand, total iron, nitrate, chloride, calcium, and heavy metals like copper, zinc, and lead. Most of the parameters indicated pollution including heavy metals presence with the exception of Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Cr that were not detected in water samples. Concentrations of nitrate, biochemical oxygen demand, SO42-, PO43-, and Cl- were 0.20, 3.20, 10.50, 3.5, and 20.4 mg/l respectively, while those of detected heavy metals such as Mg and Ni were 1.98 and 10.03 mg/l, respectively. Soil water holding capacity, porosity, pH, organic matter, organic carbon, and organic nitrogen ranged from 33.34 ± 3.73 to 59.06 ± 5.69, 34.6 ± 3.28 to 52.43 ± 5.5, 6.56 ± 0.03 to 7.54 ± 0.03, 2.32 ± 0.03 to 5.35 ± 0.03, 1.33 ± 0.01 to 3.11 ± 0.01, and 0.58 ± 0.07 to 1.13 ± 0.03%, respectively. The results showed that the well is strongly polluted with bacteria and pathogens and requires considerable treatment before use while the soil is suitable for crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]