To investigate the sources and spatial distribution of heavy metals in soil, samples were collected at two scales from the alluvial
plains of Shenyang, China. Statistical analysis at small scale showed average concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr and As of 36.76,
33.33, 100.06, 37.98, 91.26, and 7.99 mg/kg, respectively. Corresponding large-scale concentrations were 34.11, 46.38, 82.44, 32.51,
83.77, and 24.06 mg/kg. At both scales, Ni and Cr were mainly controlled by parent materials and Pb by anthropogenic activities.
The main sources of Cu, Zn and As varied with scale. To describe the spatial structure of heavy metals, geostatistical analysis and
geographic information systems were used to visualize and compare levels in different areas at both scales. The samples at small
scales were located in the region of strong variation at large scale, indicating that the sampling strategy is appropriate for obtaining
more reliable interpolation results. Health risk assessment based on 95th percentile concentrations of total elemental concentrations
indicated that noncancer effect and cancer effect of children and adults were acceptable at the two different scales.