Comprehensive Source Identification and Apportionment Analysis of five Heavy Metals in Soils in Wenzhou City, China

Source identification and apportionment of heavy metals (HMs) has been a vital issue of soil contamination restoration. In this study, qualitive approaches (Finite mixture distribution model (FMDM) and raster based principal components analysis (RB-PCA)) as well as quantitative approach (positive matrix factorization (PMF)) were composed to identify and apportion sources of five HMs (Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr) with the help of several crucial auxiliary variables in Wenzhou City, China. The result of FMDM showed Cd, and Pb fitted for single log-normal distribution, while Hg fitted for double log-normal mixed distribution, and As, Cr presented triple log-normal distribution. Each element was identified and separated from natural or anthropogenic sources. An improved score interpolation map of PCA attached with corresponded auxiliary variables analysis suggested three main contribution sources including parental materials, mines exploiting and industrial emissions contributes most in the whole study area. Each element was further discussed for quantitative contributions through PMF model. Parental materials contributed to all elements (Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr) as 89.22%, 84.81%, 7.31%, 35.84%, 27.42%. Industrial emissions had a contribution as 2.94%, 80.77%, 15.93%, 4.79%, 25.63% for each element respectively. While Mine exploiting mixed with fertilizers inputs has dedicated for such five HMs as 7.84%,11.92%, 48.23%, 10.40% and 46.95%. Such results could efficiently be devoted to scientific decisions and strategies making regarding HMs pollution regulation in soils.