Temporal and seasonal variations of As, Cd and Pb atmospheric deposition flux in the vicinity of lead smelters in Jiyuan, China

Özet

Atmospheric deposition from non-ferrous mining and smelting is one of the dominant sources of heavymetal pollution in soil. Jiyuan City in Henan Province, China produces about 900 000 tonnes of leadannually. Heavy metal soil contamination and elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) of local children in Jiyuanhave been reported. This work investigated As, Cd and Pb deposition fluxes over 17 consecutive monthsat collection sites about 1000 m from a major lead smelter in Jiyuan. Mean As, Cd and Pb depositionfluxes were 17.2, 3.45 and 88.8 mg/m2/(30 d), respectively, lower values occurred from July to Septemberduring the traditional rainy season. Decreasing deposition fluxes of Cd and Pb were observed during the17 month period, while As increased in the same period. Deposition fluxes of As, Cd and Pb of the sitesnear the smelter were 22.6, 29.2 and 29.4 times of those of a clean background site (0.762, 0.118 and3.03 mg/m2/(30 d), respectively) far away from the smelter. Annually, the deposition enriches agriculturalsoil (0e20 cm plow zone) at the sampling sites with 0.805, 0.161 and 4.16 mg/kg As, Cd and Pb,respectively.