Effect of different industrial activities on soil heavy metal pollution, ecological risk, and health risk

Soil heavy metal (Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, V, As) concentrations in different areas were analyzed to investigate the effects of different industrial activities on heavy metal pollution status, potential ecological risk, and human health risk in Panzhihua. Our results showed that Cu and V enrichment in soil was due to ore smelting. Soil Cr accumulation was related to coal ore mining. Soil Cd, Zn, As, and Pb enrichment was attributed to high-temperature coal combustion. Under the effect of industrial activities, soils were moderately contaminated with Cd, uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with As and Zn, and uncontaminated with Cr, Cu, V, and Pb. Soil heavy metal potential ecological risk was considerable, and non-carcinogenic risks and carcinogenic risks of soil heavy metals were acceptable for adults but unacceptable for children. Thermal power generation was the dominated industrial activity that influence the soil heavy metal concentrations and environmental risks in Panzhihua, which posed considerable potential ecological risks and unacceptable heavy metal non-carcinogenic risks and As carcinogenic risk to both adults and children. This study indicates that industrial activities have great effects on heavy metal pollution, ecological risks, and health risk, and more attention should be paid to the ecological risk and health risks brought by thermal power generation.