Yan, K;
Li, W;
Yang, H;
Xi, Y;
Tan, Y;
Teng, Y;
Wang, H;
(2026)
Heavy metals and PAHs drive ecological and health risks in Chinese water level fluctuation zones.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
, 501
, Article 140728. 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140728.
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Abstract
Water-level fluctuation zones (WLFZ) adjacent to rivers, lakes and reservoirs are ecologically sensitive areas, regulating water quality and maintaining ecological health. However, research on the pollution characteristics, their spatiotemporal variability and primary sources as well as the pollution-related ecological and health risks in WLFZ soils remains limited. This study developed a comprehensive dataset of soil pollutants in Chinese WLFZs, covering nearly 3000 sampling locations across 353 sites. The findings revealed that heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the key pollutants, with the Three Gorges Reservoir identified as the primary focus area. Among the heavy metals, Cd exhibited relatively severe contamination, with Monte Carlo simulations indicating a 68.5 % probability of moderate or higher contamination levels. The pollution levels of heavy metals decreased in the order: Cd > As > Pb > Cu > Zn > Cr > Hg > Ni. Although the non-carcinogenic risks posed by heavy metals were limited, the average carcinogenic risk indices for children due to As (1.42e-05) and Cd (2.19e-06) were relatively high and warrant attention. Some Chinese WLFZs are contaminated with PAHs, with BaP identified as the dominant carcinogenic compound. Pollution in Chinese WLFZs is primarily attributed to coal combustion, industrial and agricultural activities, and navigation. Furthermore, current research on emerging pollutants in WLFZs remains limited, and risk assessments of their impacts on ecosystems are urgently needed. Our results provide the scientific basis for developing management strategies for pollution control in Chinese WLFZs.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Heavy metals and PAHs drive ecological and health risks in Chinese water level fluctuation zones |
| Location: | Netherlands |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140728 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140728 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. It has been made open access under the Creative Commons (CC BY) licence under the terms of the UCL Intellectual Property (IP) Policy and UCL Publications Policy. |
| Keywords: | Science & Technology, Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Engineering, Environmental, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Sciences & Ecology, Water-level fluctuation zone, Soil pollution, Risk assessment, China, 3 GORGES RESERVOIR, SUBTROPICAL COASTAL RESERVOIR, AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS PAHS, SOURCE APPORTIONMENT, SPATIAL VARIATIONS, SOIL, IDENTIFICATION, POLLUTION, FLUXES, SEWAGE |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Dept of Geography |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10220290 |
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