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Updated: Apr 19, 2026
Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses
Published on: October 21, 2016
Three-dimensional distribution characteristics of multiple pollutants in the soil at a steelworks mega-site based on
Yixuan Hou1, You Li2, Huan Tao2
1Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Damage Assessment and Remediation, Beijing 100101, China.
Abstract:
Soil pollution at steelworks mega-sites has become a severe environmental issue worldwide. However, due to the complex production processes and hydrogeology, the soil pollution distribution at steelworks is still unclear. This study scientifically cognized the distribution characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and heavy metals (HMs) at a steelworks mega-site based on multi-source information. Specifically, firstly, 3D distribution and spatial autocorrelation of pollutants were obtained by interpolation model and local indicators of spatial associations (LISA), respectively. Secondly, the characteristics of horizontal distribution, vertical distribution, and spatial autocorrelations of pollutants were identified by combining multi-source information such as production processes, soil layers, and properties of pollutants. Horizontal distribution showed that soil pollution in steelworks mainly occurred in the front end of the steel process chain. Over 47% of PAHs and VOCs pollution area were distributed in coking plants and over 69% of HMs in stockyards. Vertical distribution indicated that HMs, PAHs, and VOCs were enriched in the fill, silt, and clay layers, respectively. Spatial autocorrelation of pollutants was positively correlated with their mobility. This study clarified the soil pollution characteristics at steelworks mega-sites, which can support the investigation and remediation of steelworks mega-sites.
