Title: Spatial distribution and pollution evaluation of heavy metals in soils surrounding a typical municipal solid waste incineration plant in Hang-Jia-Hu plain

Authors: Shan Zhong; Hui Gao; Lishan Zhang; Hongfeng Su; Cheng Zhang

Addresses: College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China ' College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China ' College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China ' College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China ' College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China

Abstract: In this study, soil samples around the typical municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) plant in Hangzhou-Jiaxing-Huzhou Plain were collected. The concentrations of heavy metals were determined using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and mercury analyser. Mean concentrations of Cr, Mn, Cu, Pb and Fe were 174, 708, 47.68, 41.95 and 39,058 mg/kg in this region, respectively. Principal component analysis and cultural enrichment factor (CEF) analysis showed that Cr, Mn and Fe were present as background origin in soils surrounding the incineration plant. Combined with historic land use information, the results showed that the application of pesticide with high content of Cu probably contributed to Cu distributions in the study region. The MSWI plant with high Pb emission from stack resulted in the Pb distribution patterns in surrounding soils. The study highlighted that MSWI could contribute to heavy metal accumulation in surrounding soil.

Keywords: municipal solid waste incineration; MSWI; soil; heavy metal; spatial distribution; pollution assessment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2017.083563

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2017 Vol.19 No.1, pp.74 - 86

Accepted: 22 Dec 2016
Published online: 10 Apr 2017 *

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