Abstract:
This paper is the result of geological survey engineering.
Objective The study area is a typical small watershed in the middle reaches of the Jinsha River. Identifying the ecological risks and pollution sources of soil heavy metals in the watershed is of great practical significance for the ecological and environmental protection of the Jinsha River Basin.
Methods A total of 120 soil samples and 9 rock samples were systematically collected from the watershed. The contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in both soil and rock samples, as well as soil pH values, were analyzed. The single-factor pollution index, Nemerow comprehensive pollution index, and geo-accumulation index were employed to assess the status of heavy metal pollution. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model were applied to quantitatively identify the sources of soil heavy metals.
Results The median pH values of the soil was 6.48. The average concentrations of Cd, Cu and Pb were 4.04, 3 and 6.40 times the corresponding background values, while those of the other elements ranged from 1.06 to 2.50 times the background values.The proportions of sampling sites where Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni and Cd concentrations exceeded the background values were 86.67%, 80.83%, 78.33%, 75.00% and 73.33%, and the ratios for the remaining elements were between 32.5% and 52.50%. For Cu, Cd and Pb, the percentages of sites exceeding the risk screening values were 57.5%, 50.83% and 31.67%. No sampling sites were found with Hg concentrations above the risk screening value, and the proportions for other elements ranged from 10.83% to 28.33%.Single factor pollution index evaluation indicated that Cu, Cd, Pb and Cr presented relatively severe pollution in the study area. The Nemerow comprehensive pollution index evaluation revealed that 85.83% of the total sites were polluted, suggesting a serious pollution status. According to the geo-accumulation index assessment, Cd and Pb were the primary pollutants with high pollution levels. PCA and PMF model analysis demonstrated that heavy metals in the soils of the study area mainly originated from ore bodies and widely exposed basalt.
Conclusions Pollution is widely distributed across the watershed. Ore bodies are the primary source of soil heavy metals in the study area, followed by basalt, while the impact of agricultural activities is relatively slight.