# Ecological Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Potential Toxic Elements in Farmland Soil of Nanyang Basin, China

## TL;DR

This study assessed the distribution and ecological risks of toxic elements in farmland soil in China's Nanyang Basin and identified their sources.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the spatial distribution and sources of toxic elements in farmland soils in the Nanyang Basin.

## Key findings

- The mean contents of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Hg exceeded Henan Province's background values.
- Hg and Cd posed relatively high ecological risks, with moderate risk indexes.
- Sources of elements included agriculture, industry, coal combustion, and mixed origins.

## Abstract

This study investigated spatial distribution features and ecological risks of eight potential toxic elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Cd, and Hg) in surface soil samples (0–20 cm) collected from farmland in the Nanyang Basin, China. This research also aimed to analyze the sources of these elements. Its findings revealed that the mean contents of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Cd, and Hg were 54.35, 26.57, 25.20, 82.09, 22.17, 8.27, 0.17, and 0.13 mg·kg−1, respectively, all of which were lower than their corresponding risk screening values. However, the mean contents of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Hg exceeded the background values of Henan Province. Spatial distribution analysis revealed that Cr and Ni exhibited similar patterns, with high contents primarily observed in the western part of the research area. Generally speaking, Cu, Zn, and Pb contents were higher in the south and lower in the north, whereas Hg, As, and Cd displayed a scattered distribution of high-value areas. Ecological risk assessment indicated that Hg and Cd posed relatively high risks, with their comprehensive ecological risk indexes (RIs) predominantly classified as moderate. Source identification suggested that As primarily originates from agriculture, Cd from industry sources, Hg from coal combustion, and the remaining elements from mixed sources, including parent material, transportation, and agriculture.