Heavy Metal Pollution and Potential Ecological Risks of Soils for Agricultural Cultivations in Fujian

Using the grid sampling methodology, 327 cultivated topsoil samples were collected in Fujian for this study. Contents of eight heavy metals(i.e., Cd, Hg, As, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn and Ni)were determined. The Single Factor Pollution Index (SFPI), Nemerow Integrated Pollution Index and Hacanson Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) were applied for the soil pollution and risk evaluation. The results showed that the quality of the cultivated soils in the province were generally good. Majority of the sampled soils (86.7%) belonged to the clean and relatively clean categories. The SFPI evaluation showed that Hg and Cd contents exceeded the limits. The PERI assessment indicated that, among all soils sampled, 73.1% were at a low risk, 22.0% at medium risk, 3.98% at high risk, and only 0.92% posted a severe risk. The contribution of various heavy metals on pollution was found to be in the order of: Hg>Cd>As>Pb>Cu>Ni>Cr>Zn.