Abstract:In order to investigate the environmental risk of heavy metals in the abandoned copper mine tailings area, an abandoned copper mine tailings depot in Yunnan Province was chosen as the research object, and soil, groundwater, surface water and waste residue were sampled and analyzed through the investigation of historical changes of the plot and site survey. The single factor pollution index, Nemerow comprehensive pollution index and comprehensive potential ecological risk index were used to evaluate the heavy metal pollution. The results show that the waste slag in the project area belongs to the Class Ⅰ general industrial solid waste, the surface water and groundwater can meet the class Ⅲ standard limit requirements, but there are heavy metals As, Cu and Ni in the soil of agricultural land and non-agricultural land around the slag farm. The evaluation results of single factor pollution index show that the overall soil in the project area is slightly polluted or below, but the two heavy metals As and Cd are between the warning line classification standards, and more attention should be paid to these two heavy metals. According to the Nemerow comprehensive potential ecological risk index analysis, the comprehensive potential ecological risk index of soil in the project area ranges from 33.200 to 62.162, indicating a low overall ecological risk. In view of the phenomenon of heavy metals in the soil surrounding the landfill are higher than acceptable, in order to avoid the intrusion of these heavy metals into human body through the food chain and other potential ways, which may cause potential health risks. It is recommended to suspend the cultivation of food, vegetables, fruits and other plants in the affected area of the study area until the problem of heavy metal pollution in the study area is effectively solved. So as to avoid potential risks and hazards that may be caused to human health.