Advances in Earth Science ›› 2017, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (8): 875-884. doi: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2017.08.0875

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Regional Ecological Risk Assessment of Soil Heavy Metals in Pearl River Delta Economic Zone Based on Different Land Uses

Qingxia Zong 1( ), Lei Dou 2, Qingye Hou 1, *( ), Zhongfang Yang 1, Yuanhang You 3, Zhimin Tang 1, 4   

  1. 1.School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
    2.Guangdong Institute of Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510080, China
    3.No.3 Geological Brigade of Guangdong Bureau of Geology, Guangdong Shaoguan 512023, China
    4.Nanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing 210016, China
  • Received:2017-02-24 Revised:2017-07-07 Online:2017-10-20 Published:2017-08-20
  • Contact: Qingye Hou E-mail:qingxiazong@163.com;qingyehou@126.com
  • About author:

    First author:Zong Qingxia(1991-),female,Zigong City,Sichuan Province,Master student. Research areas include environmental geochemistry.E-mail:qingxiazong@163.com

  • Supported by:
    *Foundation item:Project supported by the China Geological Survey “Geochemical genesis and risk assessment of heavy metals in Pearl River Delta soil”(No.12120115050401) and “Genesis and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in Pearl River Delta soil”(No.121201108000150012-10)

Qingxia Zong, Lei Dou, Qingye Hou, Zhongfang Yang, Yuanhang You, Zhimin Tang. Regional Ecological Risk Assessment of Soil Heavy Metals in Pearl River Delta Economic Zone Based on Different Land Uses[J]. Advances in Earth Science, 2017, 32(8): 875-884.

Based on the results of regional eco-geochemical survey in Pearl River Delta Economic Zone and the local land use patterns, two conventional risk assessment models are introduced to evaluate the ecological risk of eight heavy metals in the topsoil (0~20 cm) of Pearl River Delta. The spatial distribution characteristics of risk caused by metals in the region were characterized by GIS. Results show that As、Cd、Cu and Hg in the topsoil are the primary heavy metals posing risk to the Pearl River Delta while Cr and Zn are negligible. Meanwhile, 23.89% of soil samples have a hazard index of more than 1 which suggests that it is likely to cause chronic diseases in the region. The soils with high hazard index are mainly distributed in the Quaternary area. 37.22% of soil samples have a negligible chronic risk level, of which the spatial distribution is consistent with granite area. Moreover, the spatial distribution of carcinogenic risk is similar to chronic risk, where 25.68% of samples exceed the cancer risk index (1×10-4) recommended by USEPA. Furthermore, the evaluation results presented at administrative units indicate that there are both higher chronic and cancer risk in Panyu and Nansha district where more attentions should be paid to.

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