Heavy metal contamination and environmental concerns on orchard at abandoned tungsten mine, southern China

A series of stream water, soil and fruits samples in the orchards were collected from Lianhuashan tungsten area in Guangdong Province. The concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu and Ni in the samples were determined. This study targeted at the impacts of Lianhuashan wasteland on the orchards at the downstream. The results showed that the stream water was severely polluted by heavy metals, especially As and Cd, with low pH value and high electric conductivity (EC). Compared to the background orchards, the soils in the orchards at the downstream were polluted by As and Cd. The fruits in the orchards surrounding the polluted stream were seriously polluted by As and Cd. Acid waste water derived from the tailings of Lianhuashan tungsten mine entered the streams and resulted in elevated concentrations of heavy metals, lower pH values and higher EC in the stream water. The polluted streams caused soils and fruits pollution by As and Cd in the surrounding orchards.