Kriging-Based Spatial Analysis and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Leon Province
摘要
This study conducts a comprehensive assessment of heavy metal pollution risk in the Province of León, Spain, utilizing data gathered from 900 sampling points distributed across the region. Concentration data pertaining to manganese, iron, copper, and zinc were collected and subjected to statistical analysis to ascertain key descriptive statistics. Variograms of the transformed variables, employing the natural logarithm, were computed, and the geostatistical method of Kriging was applied to predict transformed concentration values. Subsequently, the transformation was reversed. Contamination factors and modified contamination degrees within the study area were computed. Findings reveal heightened manganese concentrations exceeding background levels in the El Paramo and Elsa Campos regions, thereby indicating moderate contamination levels in these areas as determined by contamination factor analysis. Nonetheless, the overall contamination level in the region can be deemed negligible or very low based on the modified contamination degree index. This research offers valuable insights into the spatial distribution of heavy metal elements and the corresponding pollution risk across the Province of León. These findings hold significant implications for environmental management strategies and public health initiatives in the region.