Evaluation of heavy metal contamination to planting base soil in Shenyang, China

The distribution and accumulation of heavy metals in the planting base soils in Shenyang, northeast of China, were investigated. Sixty soil samples were collected and characterized for heavy metals contents (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, Cu and Zn). Concentration data were processed using correlation analysis and soils pollution assessment was carried out using geoaccumulation and PI. The results revealed that eight heavy metals contents of planting base all reached pollution level, which Pb and Hg pollution relatively serious, reached 2.41 and 2.1 respectively. The order of heavy metal pollution levels are: Pb> Hg> Zn = Cu> As> Ni> Cd> Cr. A significant correlation exists in Pb-Cd, Pb-Cu, Cd-As, Cu-Ni, while an extremely significant correlation exists between Zn-Cu. In addition to the parent material soil, the sources of soil heavy metals are mainly by the industrial, agricultural, transportation or other human activities and the effect of atmospheric transport and deposition.