DISTRIBUTION AND CONTAMINATION ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN AGRICULTURAL SOIL FROM NORTHERN SUBURB OF SUZHOU CITY, NORTHERN ANHUI PROVINCE, CHINA

Thirty-nine soil samples were analyzed for Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, V and As by using X-ray fluorescence (XRF); samples were collected from northern suburb of Suzhou city. Calculation of enrichment factor and index of geo-accumulation, distribution of the heavy metals, as well as a multivariate statistical analysis have been processed for evaluating the pollution degrees and sources of heavy metals. The results indicate that the soils are not polluted by Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb and V, whereas As pollution is observed when compared to the soil environment background value of China. Three sources, including lithogenic contribution, household garbage and agriculture, have been identified by the analyses of multivariate statistical distribution. The household garbage (PC2) and agriculture (PC3) have more contribution to the sources of As and Cu, respectively; otherwise, all the heavy metals have high positive loadings over lithogenic contribution (PC1).