Geochemical characteristics and environmental quality of soil elements in Jinan City

Abstract: Taking the soil of Jinan as the study object, the authors used software R?2.6.1, semivariance function model and factor analysis methods to study the characteristics, structures and distribution of elements content, and evaluated soil environment quality. According to the results achieved, the majority of soil elements in the study area are controlled by natural factors; nevertheless, indicators like Cd, Hg, Pb, Se, As and pH in urban soils are impacted by human activities significantly, pH values in surface soil exhibit an increasing trend (alkalization trend) from the periphery to the urban center, and prevailing wind, which drifts in the downwind direction, also has an impact on the distribution superimposition of heavy metals in surface soils. Influenced by different time spans and intensities of human activities (mainly industrial pollution), the soil environment quality of Jinan urban area, Licheng district and Zhangqiu are generally lightly polluted, with local areas moderately or severely polluted by Hg, Cu, Cr, Cd, and the pattern of the pollution distribution is consistent with the layout of the industrial areas; however, the soil environmental quality of Changqing and Jiyang are farily good, generally within the warning limits. According to the soil comprehensive environmental quality indices, the soil quality becomes gradually worsen in order of Jiyang (0.73), Changqing (0.82), Zhangqiu (0.95), Licheng (1.03), urban area (1.10).