Abundance and potential ecological risk of heavy metals in peat of northern Shaanxi

Adopting adsorption spectrophotometry the heavy metals in peat of Mengjiawan, Hewan and Erlintu in northern Shaanxi were analyzed. Based on these data,the potential ecological risk of heavy metals was assessed by using the method of potential ecological risk index presented by Hakanson. The resalts show that the content of Cd has exceeded national environmental standard. The potential ecological risk index of Cd is very high,while those of Mn,Cu,Cr,Pb are lower than standards. Of three areas,the potential ecological risk of heavy metals of Erlintu is high, Hewan and Mengjiawan are in middle level,having a rule of Erlintu 〉 Hewan 〉 Mengjiawan.