Potential Ecological Risk Assessment and Sources Analysis of Heavy Metals in the Corn Farmland Soil from the Xinxiang City

Contents, enrichment levels, potential ecological risk degrees and sources of heavy metals in the suburban corn farmland soil of Xinxiang city were researched based on instrumental analysis, the index of geo-accumulation method, Hakanson potential ecological risk assessment model and factor analysis (FA). The results showed that Cd, Ni and Zn were in higher degree of enrichment in the corn farmland soil of the Xinxiang city by the reference of national quality standard for soil environment (GB15618-1995). Ranking order based on index of geo-accumulation assessment was Cd＞Ni＞Zn＞Cu. Results of coefficients of potential ecological risk index showed that the risk ranking order was Cd＞Ni＞Cu＞Zn, and Cd was in the class of extremely potential ecological risk, and Ni was in the class of heavily to extremely potential ecological risk. Result of integrated Hakanson potential ecological risk assessment showed that this corn farmland soil from the Xinxiang city was under condition of very high potential ecological risk. In short, the Cd and Ni should be the prior pollution controlling factors. From the results of factor analysis, Ni and Zn, as the first principal component, were considered to root in battery industry, and Cd, as the second principal component, were considered to root in not only the natural activities but also industry waste water irrigation.