Spatial Distribution and Source Apportionment of Soil Heavy Metals in Pearl River Delta, China

Abstract

The contents of ten heavy metals (HMs) (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr, Hg, As, Co, and Mn) in 80 surface soil samples (0–20 cm) were investigated in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), Guangdong Province, China. The average contents of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr, Hg, As, Co, and Mn were 16.45, 40.20, 45.10, 0.09, 12.93, 47.93, 0.13, 14.44, 5.68, and 199.66 mg/kg, respectively. The soil quality was generally good, though slightly higher levels (1.17, 1.61, 1.67, and 1.62 times) of soil Pb, Cd, Hg, and As contents were observed compared with the soil background values. The spatial distribution of soil HM pollution in the PRD showed that 36% of sample sites were evaluated as sites without soil pollution, 32% as sites with slight pollution, 20% as sites with nearly moderate pollution, 9% as sites with moderate pollution, and 3% as site with serious pollution. Source apportionment analysis showed that the source of 64.33% of soil HMs in the PRD could be explained by natural and industrial sources, 24.80% by transportation, and 10.87% by agricultural activities.