Abstract:In order to understand the pollution status and vertical migration of heavy metals in soil in Pb/Zn smelter, topsoil and profile soil samples were collected from different functional area of a Pb/Zn smelter. The total and water-soluble Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr and Ni in these soil samples were determined, which can verify the pollution status and migration characteristics of soil heavy metals in different functional areas. The results show that the total content of heavy metals in soil in different functional areas all higher than the local environmental background value, and the mean content of Cd and Pb is 384.0 and 63.5 times of the background value. The water-soluble content of heavy metals in these soil samples all within the Environmental Quality Standard for Surface Water of China (GB 3838—2002). The results of profiles soil samples indicate that heavy metals contents in soil drop with the increase of depth, which can be attributed to the hardened ground and high soil pH value. The geoaccumulation index reveals that Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in different functional areas are polluted to different degrees, except for Cr and Ni (unpolluted). The pollution load index reveals that the order of soil pollution degree in different functional areas is: forest land > gate of the smelter > production area > office area > control area, and the forest land and gate of the smelter are strongly polluted due to the impact of the artificial filling, wastewater, waste gas and waste residue.