Spatial distribution and risk assessment of heavy metal pollution at a typical abandoned smelting site
Rapid development of the smelting industry leads to a widespread problem of heavy metal pollution, particularly for non-ferrous metal smelting activities. Spatial distribution and migration of heavy metals in the soil-water system are significantly influenced by hydro-geological conditions of contam...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025013519 |
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| Summary: | Rapid development of the smelting industry leads to a widespread problem of heavy metal pollution, particularly for non-ferrous metal smelting activities. Spatial distribution and migration of heavy metals in the soil-water system are significantly influenced by hydro-geological conditions of contaminated sites, but it lacks detailed studies on this aspect. In this study, a comprehensive investigation was conducted on an abandoned smelting site in Chenzhou city, China, including on-site drilling and laboratory chemical analysis of the contaiminted region. The 3D geological model and spatial distribution map of pollution plumes were separatly established. Results demonstrated that the site soil environment was severely polluted by several primary contaminants, i.e., Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium and Thallium. The distribution of heavy metals exhibited a noticeable 'patchy aggregation' pattern and a significantly spatial heterogeneity. This pattern was dominated by the complex hydro-geological condition and past smelting activities. Vertical distribution map revealed that heavy metal pollutants were primarily concentrated in the low-permeability silty clay layer. In particular, severely polluted areas were mainly distributed at the site edge, which posed highly ecological risk to the surrounding environment. These findings provide valuable information for analyzing the transport characteristics of heavy metal pollutants and establishing a reasonable remediation strategies. |
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| ISSN: | 2590-1230 |