Spatiotemporal distribution and health risk assessment of heavy metal concentrations in soils from pyrite and its typical associated mineral areas in China

DING Yi; CHEN Sisi; LI Ji

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202610021

Volume 44 Issue 10

Oct. 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2026 > 44(10): 210-222

DING Yi, CHEN Sisi, LI Ji. Spatiotemporal distribution and health risk assessment of heavy metal concentrations in soils from pyrite and its typical associated mineral areas in China[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(10): 210-222. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202610021

Citation:

DING Yi, CHEN Sisi, LI Ji. Spatiotemporal distribution and health risk assessment of heavy metal concentrations in soils from pyrite and its typical associated mineral areas in China[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(10): 210-222. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202610021

Citation:

DING Yi, CHEN Sisi, LI Ji. Spatiotemporal distribution and health risk assessment of heavy metal concentrations in soils from pyrite and its typical associated mineral areas in China[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(10): 210-222. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202610021

PDF( 2440 KB)

Spatiotemporal distribution and health risk assessment of heavy metal concentrations in soils from pyrite and its typical associated mineral areas in China

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202610021

College of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, China

Received Date: 2025-11-19
Available Online: 2026-11-10

Abstract

Abstract

The mining of pyrite and its associated ores （gold and lead-zinc deposits） continuously generates acid mine drainage （AMD） rich in sulfate and heavy metal ions， posing risks to surrounding soil-water environments and human health. This study systematically collected data on the concentrations of eight heavy metals （As， Cd， Cr， Cu， Hg， Ni， Pb， and Zn） in soils from pyrite， gold， and lead-zinc mining areas in China from 2013 to 2023， and analyzed their spatiotemporal distribution， ecological risks， and health risks. The results showed that the average concentrations of all heavy metals in these mining areas exceeded their corresponding provincial background values. Spatially， pyrite-related contamination was most severe in Central China， while gold and lead-zinc mining contamination was mainly concentrated in the northern and southern regions， respectively. According to the geo-accumulation index and potential ecological risk assessment， Cd， As， Pb， and Hg were identified as the elements with the highest ecological risks. The health risk assessment indicated that hand-to-mouth ingestion was the primary exposure pathway， with children being more vulnerable. Considering the health risks， more attention should be given to the exposure of As in regions dominated by pyrite and its typical associated mineral areas （gold and lead-zinc deposits）.
- pyrite mine,
- soil heavy metals,
- pollution assessment,
- ecological risk,
- health risk

FullText(HTML)

References(26)

References

[1]	TAO S Y,CHEN D,HUANG X Y,et al. Preliminary study on pollution characteristics and risk assessment methods of pyrite mining areas in China[J]. Environmental Protection Science,2023,49（5）:1-9. 陶诗阳,陈涤,黄芯仪,等. 我国硫铁矿区污染特征及风险评价方法初探[J]. 环境保护科学,2023,49（5）:1-9.
[2]	BIGALKE M,WEYER S,KOBZA J,et al. Stable Cu and Zn isotope ratios as tracers of sources and transport of Cu and Zn in contaminated soil[J]. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta,2010,74（23）:6801-6813.
[3]	MÜLLER G. Index of geoaccumulation in sediments of the Rhine River[J]. GeoJournal,1969（2）:108-118.
[4]	China environmental monitoring centre. Soil background values of elements in China[R]. 1990.
[5]	HAKANSON L. An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control:a sedimentological approach[J]. Water Research,1980,14（8）:975-1001.
[6]	LIU S,PAN G,ZHANG Y,et al. Risk assessment of soil heavy metals associated with land use variations in the riparian zones of a typical urban river gradient[J]. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety,2019,181:435-444.
[7]	WANG H,WU Q,HU W,et al. Using multi-medium factors analysis to assess heavy metal health risks along the Yangtze River in Nanjing,Southeast China[J]. Environmental Pollution,2018,243:1047-1056.
[8]	WANG J,LIU G,WU H,et al. Temporal-spatial variation and partitioning of dissolved and particulate heavy metal（loid）s in a river affected by mining activities in Southern China[J]. Environmental Science and Pollution Research,2018,25:9828-9839.
[9]	KUMAR V,PARIHAR R D,SHARMA A,et al. Global evaluation of heavy metal content in surface water bodies:a meta-analysis using heavy metal pollution indices and multivariate statistical analyses[J]. Chemosphere,2019,236:124364.
[10]	XIAO X,ZHANG J,WANG H,et al. Distribution and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in soils around coal industrial areas:A global meta-analysis[J]. Science of the Total Environment,2020,713:135292.
[11]	Environmental protection agency U S. Exposure factors handbook[R]. 2011.
[12]	MEANS B. Risk-assessment guidance for superfund. Volume 1. Human health evaluation manual. Part A. Interim report（Final）[R]. 1989.
[13]	DUAN X L. Exposure factors handbook of Chinese population[M]. Beijing:China Environmental Science Press,2013. 段小丽. 中国人群暴露参数手册[M]. 北京:中国环境科学出版社,2013.
[14]	U S Environmental Protection Agency,Office of Emergency and Remedial Response. Risk assessment guidance for Superfund:Pt. A. human health evaluation manual:V.1[M]. Washington:U S Environmental Protection Agency,1989.
[15]	Environmental protection agency U S. Supplemental guidance for developing soil screening levels for Superfund sites[R]. Washington:U S Environmental Protection Agency,2002:1-187.
[16]	FERREIRA-BAPTISTA L,DE MIGUEL E. Geochemistry and risk assessment of street dust in Luanda,Angola:a tropical urban environment[J]. Atmospheric Environment,2005,39（25）:4501-4512.
[17]	生态环境部. 建设用地土壤污染风险评估技术导则:HJ 25.3—2019[S/OL]. https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/fgbz/bz/bzwb/trhj/201912/W020191224560850148092.pdf. Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China. Technical guidelines for risk assessment of soil contamination of land for construction:HJ 25.3—2019[S/OL]. https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/fgbz/bz/bzwb/trhj/201912/W020191224560850148092.pdf.
[18]	CHENG Z,CHEN L J,LI H H,et al. Characteristics and health risk assessment of heavy metals exposure via household dust from urban area in Chengdu,China[J]. Science of the Total Environment,2018,619:621-629.
[19]	CAO S,DUAN X,ZHAO X,et al. Health risk assessment of various metal（loid）s via multiple exposure pathways on children living near a typical lead-acid battery plant,China[J]. Environmental Pollution,2015,200:16-23.
[20]	JIANG Y,CHAO S,LIU J,et al. Source apportionment and health risk assessment of heavy metals in soil for a township in Jiangsu Province,China[J]. Chemosphere,2017,168:1658-1668.
[21]	CHEN H,TENG Y,LU S,et al. Source apportionment and health risk assessment of trace metals in surface soils of Beijing metropolitan,China[J]. Chemosphere,2016,144:1002-1011.
[22]	CHEN L,ZHOU S,SHI Y,et al. Heavy metals in food crops,soil,and water in the Lihe River Watershed of the Taihu Region and their potential health risks when ingested[J]. Science of the Total Environment,2018,615:141-149.
[23]	LI Y,YAN X X,YANG X P. Distribution characteristics of heavy metals in soil and water of an abandoned pyrite slag area with historical legacy in Guizhou Province[J]. Coal and Chemical Industry,2025,48:129-135. 李艳,鄢兴旭,杨晓鹏. 贵州省某历史遗留废弃硫铁矿矿渣区水土中重金属分布特征[J]. 煤炭与化工,2025,48:129-135.
[24]	FENG X,LIU Q,WANG S,et al. Arsenopyrite weathering in acid rain:Arsenic transfer and environmental implications[J]. Journal of Hazardous Materials,2021,420:126612.
[25]	YE L,COOK N J,CIOBANU C L,et al. Trace and minor elements in sphalerite from base metal deposits in South China:A LA-ICPMS study[J]. Ore Geology Reviews,2011,39（4）:188-217.
[26]	HUBAL E A C,SHELDON L S,MCCURDY T R,et al. Children's exposure assessment:a review of factors influencing children's exposure,and the data available to characterize and assess that exposure[J]. Environmental Health Perspectives,2000,108（6）:475-486.