Characterization of Heavy Metals in Soil Near Coal Mines and a Power Plant in Huainan, China

Abstract

The environmental and health hazards posed by heavy metals are significant due to their toxicity and bioavailability. Thirty-two soil samples were collected from residential areas around three coal mines and a power plant to assess the environmental and health implications caused by mining activities. The concentrations of heavy metals in soil were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. To evaluate the risk levels, the geo-accumulation index and health risk assessment were determined. The concentrations of metals in power plant soil were generally higher than those in coal mine soil, suggesting a higher release during coal combustion. The results demonstrate that the soils in the vicinity of Xinzhuangzi Mine and Luohe Power Plant are moderately contaminated by arsenic and cadmium. The analysis of the health risk of the metals indicated that the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic adverse effects to residents due to heavy metal exposure are negligible. However, more attention should be paid around the power plant for the unacceptable level of carcinogenic risk. Based on the results of the environmental and health risk assessment, priority control components in Huaian have been identified. The study provides a comprehensive assessment of soil heavy metal implications derived from mining activity in this region in China and is helpful for pollution control and environmental management.

Spatial distribution characteristics and evaluation of soil pollution in coal mine areas in Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi

“…Chromium is a non-volatile element, which is related to aluminosilicate minerals 41 . In the mining process, chromium may be accumulated in coal, gangue or other tailings, and then enter the soil or water body through rain leaching 42 .…”

Characterization and ecological risk assessment of toxic metal contaminants around the coal gangue hill in Huainan, Central China

“…Mining activities are important sources of energy and provide resources for national and local economic development, coal gangue pile generated by mining activities have a great adverse impact on soil quality, ecological environment, human health, and become the primary source of toxic metal pollution in soil (Li et al, 2022). Longterm and high-load coal mining in the Huainan Coal eld has caused the accumulation of dozens of gangue hills, posing a huge challenge to conducting agricultural activities safely in the surrounding regions and the security of agricultural products (You et al, 2014). Therefore, studying the toxic metal contaminants in the soil is critical for protecting the environment and reducing the risk of pollution in the mining area.…”

Speciation Characteristics and Contamination Degree of Trace Elements in Coal Gangue Hill of a Mining Area in Huainan Coalfield, China

“…However, as a result of the long-term high-load mining activities lead to dozens of gangue dumps have accumulated to different scales, which occupies a great quantity of the land resource and poses a huge challenge to the safe development of agricultural activities and products [20]. While the trace elements in coal gangue have a great impact on the environment, limited studies have been conducted on the distribution characteristics and environmental quality evaluation of the trace elements in the soil of mining area in Huainan coalfield [19,[21][22][23][24], but no further researches carry out ecological risk assessment of trace elements in coal gangue. It is necessary to conducted on the speciation distribution and ecological risk assessment of trace elements in Huainan coalfield in terms of the stacking management and comprehensive utilization of coal gangue.…”