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Pollution and Health Risk Assessment of Cadmium and Lead in Cultivated Soils and Crops Surrounding a Lead-Zinc Mine in Yunnan Province
Received:March 25, 2014  
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KeyWord:heavy metal;soil;crop;pollution;health risks
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
ZOU Xiao-leng College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China  
ZU Yan-qun College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China zuyanqun@ynau.edu.cn 
LI Yuan College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China  
ZHAN Fang-dong College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China  
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Abstract:
      Mining activities have contaminated the surrounding soils and crops. A field investigation was conducted in a lead-zinc mine in Yunnan Province to determine concentrations of Cd and Pb in cultivated soils and crops(potato and maize) and to evaluate their health risk. The average contents of Cd and Pb in soils were 12.93 mg·kg-1 and 2 246.48 mg·kg-1, respectively, belonging to heavy pollution. The contents of Cd and Pb in plants were respectively 1.41 mg·kg-1 and 11.45 mg·kg-1 in potato and 1.18 mg·kg-1 and 12.50 mg·kg-1 in maize. Significant positive relationship was observed between soil Cd and soil Pb contents, and between soil available Cd and soil total P content and available P contents. At soil pH≤6.5, total Cd and Pb were significantly positively correlated with total P and available P. The present results indicate that soil and crop contamination by heavy metals from mining has threatened the health of local residents.