Heavy metal contamination of urban soils in China:status and countermeasures

The heavy metal contamination of urban soil in China is caused by industrial pollutant discharge, metal mining and smelting, family coal combustion, rubbish exudation and vehicle emission. Contents of heavy metals in urban area is higher than that of countryside. In urban area, many human activities and heavy urban traffic make heavy metal contents high. Heavy metal availability in urban soils is higher than that of agricultural soils, and the section character is not distinct owning to human disturbance. Contaminated soils do harm to human health by contact direct and indirect. Urban residents contact soils frequently, so the pollution of heavy metal in urban soils should be granted more concern than agricultural soils. The comprehensive measures should be taken to control heavy metal contamination of urban soils. It is urgent to establish criteria for the evaluation of urban soils in China.