Investigation and Risk Assessment of Cadmium Pollution in Agricultural Lands in the Representative Regions of Eastern Fujian

The present situation and development trend of cadmium (Cd) pollution in agricultural land in the representative regions of eastern Fujian were studied and the risk degree was analyzed, in order to provide technical support for the Cd control in agricultural land soil and the quality safety of agricultural products in eastern Fujian. A total of 495 soil samples were collected from the agricultural lands in eastern Fujian (329 paddy fields, 78 vegetable fields, 41 orchards, and 47 tea gardens). The content of Cd in soil was determined by using the method of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Then, the Cd pollution of agricultural lands in the representative regions of eastern Fujian was evaluated by using the Nemerow pollution index method and potential ecological risk index method. The results showed that the accumulation of Cd in agricultural lands was large in the representative regions of eastern Fujian. The mean values of total Cd of heavy metals in agricultural lands of the eight regions were 0.227, 0.167, 0.177, 0.162, 0.128, 0.205, 0.166 and 0.249 mg·kg^-1, respectively, but the effective state contents were all lower than 0.080 mg·kg^-1, indicating slight contamination and a small amount of Cd that could flow into the food chain. Because of the significant differences among regions, and the increasing trend of total Cd and available Cd contents in a single region, the ecological risk was strong.