Pollution Characteristics and Environmental Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Typical Electroplating Contaminated Site

An electroplating base was taken as an example to analyze the pollution characteristics of heavy metals at the site. The results showed that the base was polluted by heavy metals such as chromium, copper, nickel, zinc and silver and by cyanide, with the concentrations of some pollutants exceeding more than 60 times over the standard values. The spatial variation of the pollutants was significant. By using US EPA Soil Screening Guidance, the human health environmental risks were evaluated. It was found that the environmental risk values of chromium (VI) and nickel, etc. were more than the carcinogenic threshold limit value (10^-6) and non-carcinogenic risk limit value (1), indicating that there existed some environmental risk of chromium (VI) and nickel in the area. Therefore, in the reclamation of contaminated sites, the remediation treatment should be carried out for the areas with environmental risks.