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eISSN: 2083-5906
ISSN: 1230-1485
ISSN: 1230-1485
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Characteristics, Source Apportionment,
and Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment
of Heavy Metals in Cultivated Soils from
the Jiamusi Section of the Lower Songhua River
1
Harbin Natural Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Harbin 150086, Heilongjiang, China
2
Observation and Research Station of Earth Critical Zone in Black Soil, Ministry of Natural Resources, Harbin 150086, China
3
Heilongjiang Ranyi Geological Survey Co., Ltd., Harbin 150000, China
Submission date: 2026-04-08
Final revision date: 2026-08-23
Acceptance date: 2026-08-27
Online publication date: 2026-11-03
Corresponding author
Shang Jilong
Hydrogeology and Water Resources Investigation Office, Harbin Natural Resources Comprehensive Survey Center，CGS, Baojian Road Sub-district, 150086, Harbin, China
Hydrogeology and Water Resources Investigation Office, Harbin Natural Resources Comprehensive Survey Center，CGS, Baojian Road Sub-district, 150086, Harbin, China
KEYWORDS
black soilheavy metal pollutionecological riskshealth risksthe lower reaches of the Songhua River in Jiamusi City
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The Jiamusi section of the lower Songhua River is an important commodity grain production area
in China, and the environmental quality of its cultivated soils is directly linked to regional food security
and ecosystem stability. To clarify the status of heavy metal pollution in soils in this area, identify
pollution sources, and assess potential risks, this study established sampling units in typical cultivated
land in the Jiamusi section in 2023, collected 276 topsoil samples (0-20 cm), and determined the
contents of eight heavy metals, namely As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn, as well as physicochemical
indicators such as soil pH. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis were used to identify
heavy metal sources; the single-factor pollution index method, Nemerow comprehensive pollution
index method, and geo-accumulation index method were used to evaluate pollution levels; and a human
health risk assessment model was used to assess carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks for adults
and children. The results showed that the average soil pH in the study area was 6.51. The average
concentrations of eight heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) were 10.38, 0.23, 53.77, 22.83,
0.09, 21.63, 29.17, and 83.89 mg/kg, respectively, all of which are below the soil background values of
the region. Compared with the soil pollution risk screening values for agricultural land, Cd exceedance
was the most prominent, with 63 sampling sites exceeding the standard. As, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn each had
1-6 sites exceeding the standard, while Hg and Ni had no exceedance sites. Correlation and principal
component analyses showed that soil heavy metals mainly originated from natural parent materials (Cr,
Ni), industrial activities (Zn, Cu), traffic activities (Pb, Cd), and a composite source associated with
other anthropogenic activities (Hg). Pollution assessment results indicated that the soils in the study area generally ranged from unpolluted to mildly polluted: 72.82% of the sampling sites were unpolluted,
11.23% were at the warning level, 11.59% were slightly polluted, and 4.34% were moderately to
heavily polluted. Health risk assessment showed that oral ingestion was the main pathway of heavy
metal exposure, and the non-carcinogenic risk to children (mean HI 0.87, 19.93% of sampling sites with
HI>1) was higher than that to adults (mean HI 0.15). The carcinogenic risk indices at all sampling
sites were less than 10‒4, within the acceptable range. These results provide a scientific basis for the
prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in cultivated soils, green agricultural development, and
ecological and environmental protection in the Jiamusi section of the lower Songhua River.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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| eISSN: | 2083-5906 |
| ISSN: | 1230-1485 |
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