This paper is the result of mine environmental geological survey engineering.

Objective This paper investigates the status and risk of heavy metal pollution in the soil surrounding a tin mining area, focusing on 7 heavy metal elements, namely Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, As and Hg, found in 114 surface soil and three column soil group.

Methods The pollution level, potential ecological risk and human health risk in the area were evaluated using the geo-accumulation index method, potential ecological risk index method and health risk assessment model.

Results The average content of soil heavy metals in the study area manifested that As > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd > Hg. In terms of spatial distribution, the elements Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and As are predominantly concentrated near the mine area, exhibiting a decrease in content as the soil depth increases and tend to be stable below 60cm. The Cr element is primarily localized within congested area. While the Hg element displays a uniform distribution. The results of the cumulative land show that the As and Cd exhibit high levels of pollution, while Cu, Pb and Zn display low-heavy level polluted. The Cr and Hg elements show low-no level pollution in the study area. Potential ecological results reveal that the study area experiences high pollution levels, with As and Cd posing the most severe ecological risks. Health risk assessment shows that As and Pb elements in the soil are the main non-carcinogenic factors and the As element is the main carcinogenic factor. The As element is the main risk of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenicity. The oral ingestion is the main route of exposure, and children are more vulnerable to heavy metal pollution.

Conclusion To varying degrees, anthropogenic activities have influenced the presence of all seven heavy metals within the study area. The As and Cd elements are the most influenced by humans, followed by Pb, Zn and Cu. The Cr and Hg elements have been less affected by humans.