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In order to protect public health and crops from soil heavy metal (HM) contamination at a coal mining area in Henan, central China, HM pollution investigation and screening of autochthonous HM phytoextractors were conducted. The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in surface soils exceeded the corresponding local background values and the China National Standard (CNS). The maximum potential ecological risk (RI) was 627.30, indicating very high ecological risk. The monomial risk of Cd contributed the most to the RI, varying from 85.48% to 96.48%. The plant community structure in the study area was simple, and was composed of 24 families, 37 genera and 40 species. B. pilosa, A. roxburghiana, A. argyi, A. hispidus were found to be the most dominant species at considerable risk sites. Based on the comprehensive analysis of Cd concentration, bioconcentration factor, translocation factor and adaptability factor, B. pilosa and A. argyi had potential for phytoextraction at considerable risk sites. A. roxburghiana had potential for Cd phytoextraction at moderately risk sites and A. hispidus seemed suitable for phytostabilization. The results could contribute to the phytoremediation of the similar sites.

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Heavy metals (HMs) pollution in the environment is a persistent issue and draws public attention constantly. However, there is rare research assessing the pollution level of HMs in the Henan section of Yellow River although the river is one of the most important water supply rivers in Henan province. In this research, the fraction contents of six HMs in the Henan section of Yellow River were investigated by adopting the European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction procedure. Moreover, the potential health risk caused by HMs was evaluated by adopting both the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and ecological hazard index method. The results indicate the presence of light HM pollution level in Yellow River generally. However, the health risk caused by Cd cannot be neglected. Fraction analysis indicates that the content of B2 fraction is high, which needs more attention. Overall, branch afflux might be one of the important pathways that anthropogenic activities influence the Yellow River. The results of both the Igeo and ecological hazard index indicate that the potential health risk caused by HMs is low in the Yellow River, and the Yellow River protection policies implemented by Henan province may be the underlying reason.

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