Environmental Survey and Impact Assessment on the Relocation Site of an Electroplate Factory

Samples from a newly relocated electroplating factory in Shanghai were analyzed to assess the environment quality of soil, groundwater and wastewater. Soils were analyzed for 11 proxies of pH, CN^- and the concentrations of heavy metals. Beside the proxies for soil samples, the proxies of COD_Cr and volatile phenols were determined for wastewater samples. Groundwater samples were analyzed for 24 proxies of the major elements, heavy metals, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, total dissolved solids, total hardness, CN^-, volatile phenols and permanganate. The results showed that the soil is alkaline and the integrated pollution index is 0.67, with pollution indexes of most elements, except Zn and Ni in individual samples, being less than 1, which indicates that the soil environment is good in this area. The comprehensive indices of the groundwater range from 4.27 to 7.58, indicating poor quality for drinking water. The main pollutants of the groundwater were NH₃-N, chloride, dissolved solids and total hardness, however, the proxies of heavy metals, cyanide, volatile phenols and permanganate were less than the Ⅳ standard for groundwater. For wastewater, the indicators of heavy metals, volatile phenols and CN^-, except pH, were in line with the emission standards. The work provided a good experience for soil environment assessment where some polluting enterprises relocated from the city center to the suburbs.