Pollution characteristics and risk assessment of uranium and heavy metals of agricultural soil around the uranium tailing reservoir in Southern China

For the first time the pollution of the paddy soil within 2km around the uranium tailingreservoir was investigated. The concentrations of U, Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, Hg and As were determined by ICP-MS. The study showed that there was severe pollution in the first area (within 0-1km of the tailing reservoir), which was caused by Cd, As, U and Hg. The pollution level of the second area (within 1-2km) was relatively low. Hg and As were the main pollutants. In the first area, the contamination degree and risk of elements were positively correlated with the distance from the tailing reservoir. The second area was less polluted and influenced by mining and human activities because of mountain barriers.