Standardized framework for assessing soil quality at antimony smelting site by considering microbial-induced resilience and heavy metal contamination

Jiang, Shasha, Deng, Xiaoyu, Ma, Liyuan, Wang, Hongmei, Wang, Xingjie, Feng, Liang, Zhu, Feng, Xue, Shengguo and Mohammad, Arif ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1815-5073 2024. Standardized framework for assessing soil quality at antimony smelting site by considering microbial-induced resilience and heavy metal contamination. Journal of Environmental Sciences 148 , pp. 306-320. 10.1016/j.jes.2023.12.031

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Abstract

Antimony smelting activities damage the soil and vegetation surroundings while generating economic value. However, no standardized methods are available to diagnose the extent of soil degradation at antimony smelting sites. This study developed a standardized framework for assessing soil quality by considering microbial-induced resilience and heavy metal contamination at Xikuangshan antimony smelting site. The soil resilience index (SRI) and soil contamination index (SCI) were calculated by Minimum Data Set and geo-accumulation model, respectively. After standardized by a multi-criteria quantitative procedure of modified Nemerow's pollution index (NPI), the integrated assessment of soil quality index (SQI), which is the minimum of SRINPI and SCINPI, was achieved. The results showed that Sb and As were the prominent metal(loid) pollutants, and significant correlations between SQI and SRI indicated that the poor soil quality was mainly caused by the low level of soil resilience. The primary limiting factors of SRI were Fungi in high and middle contaminated areas, and Skermanella in low contaminated area, suggesting that the weak soil resilience was caused by low specific microbial abundances. Microbial regulation and phytoremediation are greatly required to improve the soil quality at antimony smelting sites from the perspectives of pollution control and resilience improvement. This study improves our understanding of ecological effects of antimony smelting sites and provides a theoretical basis for ecological restoration and sustainable development of mining areas.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Engineering
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: Title: This article is under embargo with an end date yet to be finalised.
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	1001-0742
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	9 January 2024
Date of Acceptance:	26 December 2023
Last Modified:	06 Jan 2025 02:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/165361

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