Long-term assessment of ecological risk from deposition of elemental pollutants in the vicinity of the industrial area of Puchuncavi-Ventanas, central Chile

摘要

The present work investigates soil pollution by elemental contaminants and compares ecological risk indexes related to industrial activities for the case study of Puchuncavi-Ventanas: a relevant industrial zone located in central Chile. Selected elements (As, Pb, Cd, Ni, Hg, V, Mn, Zn, Sr, Sb, Cr, Co, Cu, K, and Ba) were analyzed during a long-term period (yearly sampling campaigns during 2007-2011), at 5 sampling stations representing different degrees of impact PCA and cluster analysis allowed identifying a copper smelter and a coal-fired power plant complex as major pollution sources. Geoaccumulation index (l_(geo)), enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (C_f), contamination degree (C_(deg)). and integrated pollution index (IPI) are critically discussed for quantitative ecological risk assessment I_(geo). EF and C_f indexes are producing comparable environmental information, showing moderate to high pollution risks in the area that demands further monitoring and adoption of prevention and remediation measures. Capsule: Long term assessment of elemental pollution around an industrial area. New insight on ecological risk indexes for trace element pollution in soils, by critical comparison among them.