Contaminations of Heavy Metals in Surface Soils of Various Lands and Their Health Risks in Tianjin Qilihai Ancient Lagoon Wetlands,China

A total of 36 surface soil profiles were set at the wetlands in Qilihai Ancient Lagoon Wetlands,Tianjin,the surface soils of 0-20 cm depth were sampled at various use types of lands to provide information on the concentrations of heavy metals in the coastal wetlands.Total concentrations of arsenic(As),cadmium(Cd),copper(Cu),lead(Pb),chromium(Cr)and zinc(Zn)were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic absorption spectrometry(ICP-AES)to address the pollution levels in the sampling sites.The results showed that the concentrations of Cd,Cu in the soils disturbed by human activities intensively,the Phragmites australis marshes,the farmland,the brushes decreased in turn;among the sites,the concentrations of As,Cd and Cu were the highest in the soil of build-up areas,while the concentrations of Pb and Zn were the higher in the soil of farmland.The mean concentrations of Cu,Cr,Cd,Pb,Zn and As in the soils of 0-20 cm depth were 38.74 mg/kg,83.52 mg/kg,0.19 mg/kg,34.27 mg/kg,121.7 mg/kg and 18.77 mg/kg,respectively.The contamination indices of As were on the high pollution level in the soils of farmland and disturbed by human activities intensively;the concentrations of Cd in the soils of the marshes and farmland were at the moderate pollution level,while that in the soil disturbed by human activities intensively was at high pollution level.The values of comprehensive contamination index demonstrated that the variation of As contents was the maximum in the soils,Cd pollution reached to a high level.Geoaccumulation index showed that As pollution was at moderate level,and Cd,Cu and Zn pollution were at slight level,and the Pb and Cr pollution wasn’t found in the build-up areas.