Evaluation on Heavy Metal Pollution in Agricultural Soils of Wuxi, China

In order to investigate the quality of agricultural environment in Wuxi, agricultural soils in 371 sampling points of seven areas in Wuxi were sampled and tested for heavy metal concentrations. Single and compositive pollution indexes were used for the evaluation of the soils. The results showed that the level of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils of Wuxi is low, and the average compositive pollution index is 0.514, a safe grade. But the compositive pollution indexes in Binhu, Xishan and Suburb districts were higher than 0.7, a cautionary grade. The single pollution index of Cu in Xishan district was higher than 1.0, a grade of light pollution. The levels of heavy metal pollution were higher in the areas near city zones, because of dense population and concentrated industries. The major heavy metal pollutants are Cu, Hg and Cd.