Abstract
Twenty-eight soil samples collected from the Nam Co Basin, Tibetan Plateau, have been analyzed for heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Mn), arsenic (As) and rare earth elements (REEs). In addition, for establishing the basic physio-chemical characteristics of the soil, pH, total organic concentration, electrical conductivity, and effective cation exchange capacity were measured. The results indicate that soil in the Nam Co Basin is still at an early alkaline weathering stage (pH = 7.94). Mean concentrations of heavy metals and As decreased as follows: Mn > Cr > Zn > Pb > Ni > Cu > As > Cd. The values of Cd, Cr, As, Pb and REEs in soil from the Nam Co Basin are higher relative to averaged background values over China. The chondrite-normalized diagrams of REEs suggest high REE(ΣLa → Eu)—enrichment, HREE(ΣGd → Lu)—depletion and Eu—depletion. Vertical profiles indicate that both heavy metals (except As) and REEs primarily exist in the surface soil. However, heavy metals and REEs vary in the surface soil between the southern and the northern bank of Nam Co. These differences are controlled mainly by parent materials.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersen MK, Raulund-Rasmussen K, Hansen HCB, Strobel BW (2002) Distribution and fractionation of heavy metals in pairs of arable and afforested soils in Denmark. Eur J Soil Sci 53:491–502
Bowen (1979) Environmental chemistry of the elements. Academic press, London, pp 316
Cheng YA, Tian JL (1993) Background value and distribution characteristic of soil of Tibetan province (in Chinese). Science Press, Beijing, pp 3–45
Chengdu Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, The Ministry of Land and Resources P.C.R (1998) Geological map of the Tibetan plateau and its adjacent regions(1:1.5 million) (in Chinese). Geology Press, Beijing
Ding WX (1994) The basic REEs condition of Chinese soil (in Chinese). Chin Rare Earths 15:44–48
Doelsch E, Van de Kerchove V, Saint Macary H (2006) Heavy metal content in soils of Reunion (Indian Ocean). Geoderma 134:119–134
Egashira K, Aramaki K, Yoshimasa M, Takeda A, Yamasaki S (2004) Rare earth elements and clay minerals of soils of the floodplains of three major rivers in Bangladesh. Geoderma 120:7–15
Gao DY (2005) The mountain environmental meteology of China (in Chinese). Henan Science and Technology Press, pp 257–263
Gao YX (1985) Tibetan soil (in chinese). Science Press, Beijing, pp 2–15
General environment monitor station of China (1990) Background value of chinese soil elements (in Chinese). Science press, Beijing, pp 87–90
Hansen H, Larssen T, Seip HM, Vogt RD (2001) Trace metals in forest soils at four sites in southern China. Water Air Soil Pollut 130:1721–1726
Haskin LA, Haskin MA, Frey FA, Wildeman TR (1968) Relative and absolute terrestrial abundances of the rare earths. In: Ahrens LH (ed) Origin and distribution of the elememts. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 889–912
Lu AX, Wang LH, Yao TD (2006) The study of Yamzho Lake and Chencuo Lake variation using remote sensing in Tibet Plateau from 1970 to 2000(in chinese). Remote Sens Technol Appl 21:173–177
Martin CW (1997) Heavy metal concentrations in floodplain surface soils, Lahn River, Germany. Environ Geol 30:119–125
Moon JW, Moon HS, Woo NC, Hahn JS, Won JS, Song Y, Lin X, Zhao Y (2000) Evaluation of heavy metal contamination and implication of multiple sources from Hunchun basin, northeastern China. Environ Geol 39:1039–1052
Oliver MA (1997) Soil and human health: a review. Eur J Soil Sci 48:573–592
Purohit KK, Mukherjee PK, Khanna PP, Saini NK, Rathi MS (2001) Heavy metal distribution and environmental status of Doon Valley soils, Outer Himalaya, India. Environ Geol 40:716–724
Rawlins BG, Lister TR, Mackenzie AC (2002) Trace-metal pollution of soils in northern England. Environ Geol 42:612–620
Taylor SR, McLennan SM (1985) The continental crust: its composition and evolution. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 45–49
Tiller KG (1989) Heavy metals in soils and their environmental significance. In: Stewart BA (ed) Advances in soils science, vol 9. Springer, New York, pp 113–142
Van Wesemael B (1993) Adsorption complex, pH relastionships in some Mediterranean forest soil profiles. Zeit Pflanz Bodenk 156:25–31
Zhang S (1990) Content and distribution of REE in the soils from MT Qomolangma region. Geogr Res 9:58–66
Zhang CS, Wang LJ, Zhang S, Li XX (1998) Geochemistry of rare earth elements in the mainstream of the Yangtze River, China. Appl Geochem 13:451–462
Zhang XP, Deng W, Yang XM (2002) The background concentrations of 13 soil trace elements and their relationships to parent materials and vegetation in Xizang (Tibet), China. J Asian Earth Sci 21:167–174
Zhang DD, Peart M, Jim CY, He YQ, Li BS, Chen JA (2003) Precipitation chemistry of Lhasa and other remote towns, Tibet. Atmos Environ 37:231–240
Acknowledgments
This study is supported by the “Talent Project” and the Innovation Project (KZCX3-SW-339) of Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China (40401054), National Basic Research Program of China (2005CB422004). We thank Mr. Shaopeng Gao for his excellent work on measurements, Fei Zhang for help on charts, Susan Kaspari and Bjorn Grigholm for editing English.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, C., Kang, S., Wang, X. et al. Heavy metals and rare earth elements (REEs) in soil from the Nam Co Basin, Tibetan Plateau. Environ Geol 53, 1433–1440 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0752-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0752-4