[Enzyme activities in soils contaminated by abandoned copper tailings]

Studies on the enzyme activities and heavy metal contents in soils polluted by abandoned copper tailings showed that the contents of heavy metals in contaminated soils were higher than those in no-polluted soils, and the enzyme activities, especially dehydrogenase and urease activities were decreased significantly with increasing contamination. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that soil dehydrogenase activity was very significantly correlated with the combined effect of several heavy metals, and urease, protease or acid phosphatase activity was significantly related to the combined effect of them. The total enzyme activity of soil might be a useful index in management of these highly contaminated soils, and hence, it is feasible to use this index as a primary biochemical parameter to evaluate heavy metals compound pollution.