Distribution of Heavy Metal Pollution in Surface Soil Samples in China: A Graphical Review

Abstract

Soil pollution in China is one of most wide and severe in the world. Although environmental researchers are well aware of the acuteness of soil pollution in China, a precise and comprehensive mapping system of soil pollution has never been released. By compiling, integrating and processing nearly a decade of soil pollution data, we have created cornerstone maps that illustrate the distribution and concentration of cadmium, lead, zinc, arsenic, copper and chromium in surficial soil across the nation. These summarized maps and the integrated data provide precise geographic coordinates and heavy metal concentrations; they are also the first ones to provide such thorough and comprehensive details about heavy metal soil pollution in China. In this study, we focus on some of the most polluted areas to illustrate the severity of this pressing environmental problem and demonstrate that most developed and populous areas have been subjected to heavy metal pollution.

Sepiolite-Based Adsorbents for the Removal of Potentially Toxic Elements from Water: A Strategic Review for the Case of Environmental Contamination in Hunan, China

“…Soils in China also suffer from high degrees of contamination. A report of the national survey of soil contamination of China, which was published in 2014, showed that the exceedance of environmental standards for Cd, Hg, As, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, and Ni in soil samples reached 7.0%, 1.6%, 2.7%, 2.1%, 1.5%, 1.1%, 0.9%, and 4.8%, respectively [6]. …”

Integration of Cadmium Accumulation, Subcellular Distribution, and Physiological Responses to Understand Cadmium Tolerance in Apple Rootstocks

“…The application of urban composts, metal-based pesticides, ripening agents, and fertilizers and wastewater irrigation have resulted in increasing cadmium (Cd) accumulation in orchard soil of many parts of the world especially in developing countries (Andreu and Gimeno-García, 1996; Pinamonti et al, 1997; Li et al, 2014; Wang et al, 2015b; Duan et al, 2016). Cd contamination in orchard soil could inhibit net photosynthesis, decrease chlorophyll, repress plant growth, alter carbohydrate concentrations, limit fruit cultivation, and poses a threaten to human health (Hamurcu et al, 2010; López-Climent et al, 2011; Podazza et al, 2012; Stachowiak et al, 2015; Wang et al, 2015b).…”

Enumeration, Antagonism and Enzymatic Activities of Microorganisms Isolated from Railway Station Soil

“…Soil from places like railway station is composed of many heavy metals that is a inhibiting factor for microorganism to survive. Generally, microorganisms end up in forming separate colonies in order to produce useful enzymes like lipases, proteases, amylases and cellulases [3,4]. This enzymatic production enable them to utilize virtually every organic compound present in their niche [5].…”