ASSESSMENT OF TRACE-METAL DISTRIBUTION AND CONTAMINATION IN SURFACE SOILS OF HONG-KONG

An intensive investigation was conducted to study the distribution of trace metals in surface soils of Hong Kong and to assess the soil envi ronmental quality. From results of cluster analysis, and comparisons a mong soil types and areas, it is clearly shown that increases in trace metal concentrations in the soils were generally extensive and obviou s in urban and orchard soils, less so in vegetable soils, whilst rural and forest soils were subjected to the least impact of anthropogenic sources of trace metals. However, some of the forest soils also contai ned elevated levels of As, Cu, and Pb. Urban soils in Hong Kong were h eavily polluted by Pb from gasoline combustion. Agricultural soils, bo th orchard and vegetable soils, usually accumulated As, Cd, Cu, and Zn originating from applications of pesticides, animal manures, and fert ilizers. In general, trace metal pollution in soils of the industrial areas and Pb pollution in the soils of the commercial and residential areas were obvious. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.