ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Sources and Pollution Evaluation of Heavy Metals in Urban Green Space Soil of Suzhou City, Anhui Province, China
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School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou, 234000, Anhui, China
 
 
Submission date: 2025-06-13
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-09-02
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-09-07
 
 
Online publication date: 2025-11-17
 
 
Corresponding author
Jiying Xu   

School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou, 234000, Anhui, China
 
 
 
KEYWORDS
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ABSTRACT
To investigate the heavy metal pollution in the soil of different parks in Suzhou city, surface soil samples were collected from 37 sampling points in 6 parks in Suzhou city. Pollution characteristics analysis, ecological risk assessment, and source analysis were conducted for the elements Hg, Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Zn in these samples. The results showed that the order of the excess rate of heavy metals at the sampling points was Cd > Hg > Pb > Cu > Zn > Cr. According to the analysis of the Nemerow Comprehensive Pollution Index and geoaccumulation index, it was found that Cd and Hg were the most serious pollutants. These two elements were the most important contributing factors to potential ecological risks. Pollution Load Index analysis indicated that all parks exhibited moderate pollution. Among them, Chengnan Park shows the lowest pollution level, while Xuefeng Park demonstrates the highest pollution level. Principal component analysis revealed that three sources were apportioned, which were parent material and agricultural activities (32.705%), transportation (29.162%), and mining and coal-burning activities (19.189%). The research results can provide a basis for the improvement of urban green spaces and the treatment of heavy metals in Suzhou City.
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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