Determining environmental risk and source of heavy metal(loid)s in the surrounding farmland soil of a zinc smelter in water source area, Northwest China

To explore the impact of metal smelting activities on surrounding environment in water source area Mid–route South–to–North Water Transfer Project China, soil samples farmland around a zinc smelter this were collected and pollution, risk, heavy metal(loid)s (As, Cu, Cr, Pb, Mn, Ni, V, Zn) determined study. The contents measured by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry their pollution levels ecological risks assessed geoaccumulation index, Nemerow synthetic index,and potential risk index. possible sources metals(loid)s identified multivariate statistical analysis methods. results show that mean all analyzed above local background values except Mn; As, Zn, Ni downwind direction decreased with distance increasing between sampling site smelter; investigated soils moderately to seriously polluted presented as whole; Zn mainly originated from zinc–smelting activities; V primarily derived natural source; came activities, partly source. activity influenced content, particularly soil. government should strengthen cooperative monitoring agricultural products, well pollutant emission control.