Heavy metals pollution from smelting activities: A  threat to soil and groundwater

This study provides a complete assessment of the soil contamination caused by heavy metals in China's mining and smelting regions. The study of heavy metals (HMs) includes an examination of their potential adverse impacts, their origins, and strategies for the remediation of soil contaminated by heavy metals. The presence of heavy metals in soil can be linked to both natural and anthropogenic processes. Studies have demonstrated that soils contaminated with heavy metals present potential health risks to individuals. Children are more vulnerable to the effects of heavy metal pollution than adults. The results highlight the significance of heavy metal pollution caused by mining and smelting operations in China. Soil contaminated with heavy metals poses significant health concerns, both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic, particularly to children and individuals living in heavily polluted mining and smelting areas. Implementing physical, chemical, and biological remediation techniques is the most productive approach for addressing heavy metal-contaminated soil. Among these methods, phytoremediation has emerged as a particularly advantageous option due to its cost-effectiveness and environmentally favorable characteristics. Monitoring heavy metals in soils is of utmost importance to facilitate the implementation of improved management and remediation techniques for contaminated soils.PMID:38461579 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116189
Source: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: research