Pollution and ecological risk assessment of heavy metal elements in urban soil

The content and distribution of heavy metal elements, including cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), in urban soil of Harbin was studied to assess the heavy metal integrated pollution and potentially ecological hazards. The results showed that the content of heavy metal had high accumulation in Harbin urban soil by comparison to the background concentration of soil elements in SongLiao Plain. Analysis the possible sources of heavy metal elements in the different areas. The heavy metals integrated pollution from high to low is industrial area>;traffic area>;suburbs farmland>;botanical garden. The potentially ecological risk is moderate in industrial area and traffic area, but it is light in suburbs farmland and botanical garden.