Analysis and Assessment of the Soil Environment Around a Plateau Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Plant

To understand the source, distribution and degree of pollution of heavy metals in the soil around a plateau municipal solid waste incineration plant, a municipal solid waste incineration plant in Lhasa was taken as the research object in this study. The soil surrounding the facility was sampled, and the contents of heavy metals, including Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, As, and Hg, in the soil were analyzed. Then, heavy metal pollution and risk assessments were conducted using the geoaccumulation index method, Nemerow index method, and potential ecological risk index method. Additionally, correlation and principal component analysis were used to determine the correlation between heavy metals in the soil and their sources of pollution. The results showed that based on the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index, the soil surrounding the incineration plant generally had a low level of pollution. Through the analysis of individual potential ecological risk indices, it was found that only the heavy metal Cd presented moderate potential risks, while the other seven heavy metals had mild potential risks. The average value of the total potential risk coefficient was 107.31, which was less than 150, indicating that there was a slight potential risk associated with the soil around the incineration plant. There was significant correlation between six heavy metals, namely, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, and Cd, in the soil around the incineration plant. Their pollution sources were similar, and their levels tended to be affected by the incineration plant. However, there was no significant correlation between the heavy metals As and Hg and the other six heavy metals. These two heavy metals had independent sources of pollution but were also influenced by human activities.

Automated summary

This study focused on a municipal solid waste incineration plant in Lhasa to investigate the pollution of heavy metals in the surrounding soil. Various assessment methods were used to evaluate the pollution and risks, and correlation analysis was conducted to determine the sources of heavy metal pollution. The results indicated that the pollution level in the soil around the incineration plant was generally low, with only cadmium showing a moderate potential risk.