Research on ground fissure origins and mechanisms in Hebei Plain, P. R. China

Abstract

In order to assess the geological environment impact of a city landfill by the Yangtze River, soils from different depths in the dumpsite were sampled and analyzed. It was found that pollutants content at the site was distinctly higher than that in nearby environments. The content of heavy metals, such as Cd, Hg, As, Pb and Cu, reduces as depth increases; the content of elements F, Cl and N is the contrary. Pollutants migration driven by underground water flow was analyzed, considering the hydro-geological conditions of the site. It is believed that, due to leaching after rainfall infiltration, pollutants in the garbage layer migrates deeper, the cohesive soil in the underlying surface prevents them from spreading to the deeper aquifer; additionally, the high pressure tolerance of the deep groundwater is a key factor in preventing pollutants from entering the aquifer. Furthermore, human control has reduced the annual fluctuation range of water level in nearby rivers, weakening the hydrodynamic relations with phreatic water, and thus reducing the spreading of pollutants to nearby surface waters.