Determining the anthropogenic contribution of heavy metal accumulations around a typical industrial town: Xushe, China

Industrial emissions are the major sources of heavy metal pollutions. This study investigates the anthropogenic contribution of heavy metal accumulation surrounding an industrial town in China, using the component partition method. Results show that Cu, Ni, Pb, and As have higher concentrations compared with their background levels and the industrial town has a significant impact on heavy metal accumulations in its surrounding agricultural soil. Prevailing wind direction may explain the difference of heavy metal concentration in different directions. Anthropogenic components of Cu, Ni, Pb and As, which decrease with distance following exponential functions, account for 11.4%, 6.2%, 18.5% and 7.9% of their total concentrations, respectively. The natural components are modeled as the functions of physico-chemical variables through multiple regressions. The accumulating processes of heavy metals affected by industrial activities could be explained by anthropogenic and natural components, and thus, it could provide basic information for further simulation of heavy metal accumulations.

Research highlights► Partition of the anthropogenic contribution of heavy metal accumulations from industrial activities. ► The industrial town has a significant effect on Cu, Ni, Pb and As accumulations in Xushe, China. ► The accumulating processes of heavy-metals affected by industrial activities could be explained by anthropogenic and natural components.