Abstract:
Objective The aim was to elucidate the spatial distribution and pollution of heavy metals in soil along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway.
Methods Field investigation and soil sampling were carried out along 37 typical sections of Qinghai-Tibet Highway (Xining - Naqu Section). A total of 122 topsoil samples were collected from the roadbed at 0 m, 50 m and 100 m, and the contents of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) were determined. Nemerow Pollution Index (Ip), ground cumulative pollution index (Igeo) and potential ecological risk index (RI) were used to evaluate the heavy metal pollution risk according to the Screening Value of Agricultural Land Soil Pollution Risk.
Results The average contents of Cd, Pb and As in soil along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway were 0.13 ± 0.05, 33.20 ± 14.64 and 18.10 ± 18.25 mg kg−1, respectively, which were all higher than the soil environmental background values. From the perspective of lateral variation trend of road area, the soil heavy metal content at the bottom (0 m) of highway subgrade slope was significantly greater than that at 50 m and 100 m, and decreased with the increase of highway distance. The Nemerow pollution index ranged from 0.17 to 0.88, which is generally below the safety line, but there are some points of local alarm value in Golmud-Tanggula Mountain section. The results of the ground accumulation index of three different heavy metals showed that Cd was in the range from pollution-free to moderately polluted at most points, and the other two heavy metals were pollution-free. The potential ecological risk index along the highway belongs to the light pollution level on the whole, but there is a moderate pollution point of 150 < RI < 300 in the Golmud-Tanggula mountain section.
Conclusion The average contents of Cd, Pb and As in the surface soil along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway are higher than the background values, and the pollution risk of Cd is relatively high. The content of heavy metals in soil is inversely proportional to the horizontal distance from the highway, and the Golmud-Tanggula mountain section is relatively high and local pollution risk is moderate.