Multivariate analysis of soil heavy metal pollution and landscape pattern in Changhua county in Taiwan

This study applied factor analysis and landscape indices of 55 sampling sites in Changhua county in Taiwan to characterize the factor patterns of eight soil heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) and the interrelation patterns of these soil heavy metals, landscape and human activities. The landscape analysis results indicated that landscape indices can elucidate spatial landscape patterns, urbanization and industrialization, demonstrating that higher landscape diversity corresponded to a higher ratio of urban planning area to the number of industrial plants. Factor analyses revealed that soil heavy metals and data concerning landscape data could be grouped into a six-factor model that accounts for 82% of all the variation of data. Moreover, the first factor included the concentration of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn, and urbanization and industrialization landscape indices. These variables together explained 34.5% of the variation in the concentration of the soil heavy metals and landscape indices data of this study area. Local urbanization and industrialization caused local soil pollution by heavy metals on the selected sampling sites in Changhua county in Taiwan. Geographic information system can fully display the spatial patterns and relationships among landscape indices and concentration of soil heavy metals in this study area.