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The government of China launched its first national soil quality and pollution survey (NSQPS) during April 2006 to December 2013. Data gathered in several earlier soil surveys were rarely used to understand the status of pollution. In this study, the dataset collected at the provincial level was analyzed for the first time. Concentrations, distribution, diversity, and human health risks of trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn) and organic pollutants (benzene hexachloride (BHCs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), phthalic acid esters (PAEs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs)) in surface soil samples collected across Jiangxi province,China were presented. The results showed that, the proportion of contaminants with concentrations higher than their corresponding regulatory reference value ranged from 0.12% to 17%. It is worth note that, the local residents are exposed to moderate non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks at some sites. The comprehensive analysis of soil pollutants provide baseline information for establishing a long-term soil environmental monitoring program in Jiangxi province, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is currently a wide variety of methods used to evaluate soil contamination. We present a discussion of the advantages and limitations of different soil contamination assessment methods. In this study, we analyzed seven trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) that are indicators of soil contamination in Dexing, a city in China that is famous for its vast nonferrous mineral resources in China, using enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution index (PI), and principal component analysis (PCA). The three contamination indices and PCA were then mapped to understand the status and trends of soil contamination in this region. The entire study area is strongly enriched in Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, especially in areas near mine sites. As and Hg were also present in high concentrations in urban areas. Results indicated that Cr in this area originated from both anthropogenic and natural sources. PCA combined with Geographic Information System (GIS) was successfully used to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic trace metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In China, soil pollution is very serious, which has jeopardized the ecology, food safety, the people''s health, and even the sustainable development of agriculture. In order to investigate the soil pollution situation, a total of 874 agricultural and non-agricultural topsoil samples were collected from Dexing area, northeast of Jiangxi Province, China. The total elemental concentrations of 17 elements (As, Hg, Mo, Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ti, Pb, Fe, Ca, K, Si, Al, Mg, and Na) were determined. The geochemical background and threshold was predicted with the method of the median±median absolute deviation (MAD). The agricultural soil median concentration of trace elements was similar to that of the non-agricultural soil. In contrast to Jiangxi soil background of trace elements, the geochemical background of the study area was obviously higher. The maps of the pollution indices for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Pb, Ti and Zn of non-agricultural soil and agricultural soils in the study area, showed that the highest level of pollution is distributed near and along the Lean River, especially in the neighboring and surrounding Dexing and Leping mining area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]