Assessment of the sources and health risks of heavy metals in the soil-rice system based on positive matrix factorization and Monte Carlo simulation

In recent years, the harmful effects of heavy metal pollution in soil and rice on public health have garnered widespread attention. However, most studies focus only on the evaluation of heavy metal pollution in either soil or rice, often overlooking the fact of the combined effects of heavy metal po...

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Main Authors: Lei Tong, Aoran Yang, Mingyue Fan, Dan Wang, Yi Liu, Xiangqiang Huang, Lian Xiang, Rongsheng Fu, Longfeng Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1558308/full
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author Lei Tong
Aoran Yang
Mingyue Fan
Dan Wang
Yi Liu
Xiangqiang Huang
Lian Xiang
Rongsheng Fu
Longfeng Cheng
author_facet Lei Tong
Aoran Yang
Mingyue Fan
Dan Wang
Yi Liu
Xiangqiang Huang
Lian Xiang
Rongsheng Fu
Longfeng Cheng
author_sort Lei Tong
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, the harmful effects of heavy metal pollution in soil and rice on public health have garnered widespread attention. However, most studies focus only on the evaluation of heavy metal pollution in either soil or rice, often overlooking the fact of the combined effects of heavy metal pollution. We conducted an integrated assessment of the heavy metal pollution levels in both soil and rice. This study examined eight common heavy metals (Cd, Ni, As, Cu, Hg, Pb, Cr, and Zn) within the soil-rice system of Wanzhou District, Chongqing City. We employed Positive Matrix Factorization and Monte Carlo simulation to identify the sources of soil pollution and assess associated health risks. The findings revealed an average Impact Index of Comprehensive Quality (IICQ) value of 3.60 for the soil-rice system, indicating a pollution level exceeding “slight pollution”. The primary contributors to soil heavy metal contamination were identified as metal smelting and processing, pesticide and fertilizer use, manure application, geological background and rock weathering, agricultural activities, and coal combustion. Among the assessed metals, As, Cr, Cd, and Ni posed the greatest health risks and should be prioritized for monitoring and control. Given the heightened health risks associated with prolonged consumption of rice contaminated by heavy metals, addressing pollution in the agricultural soil-rice system is an urgent necessity.
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issn 2296-665X
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-48b50eb631c1444b86d552d2aefb25ae2025-08-20T02:08:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-04-011310.3389/fenvs.2025.15583081558308Assessment of the sources and health risks of heavy metals in the soil-rice system based on positive matrix factorization and Monte Carlo simulationLei Tong0Aoran Yang1Mingyue Fan2Dan Wang3Yi Liu4Xiangqiang Huang5Lian Xiang6Rongsheng Fu7Longfeng Cheng8School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College, Chongqing, ChinaSchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College, Chongqing, ChinaSchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College, Chongqing, ChinaSchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Environment and Food Hygiene, Chongqing Wanzhou District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Environment and Food Hygiene, Chongqing Wanzhou District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Environment and Food Hygiene, Chongqing Wanzhou District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Environment and Food Hygiene, Chongqing Wanzhou District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Environment and Food Hygiene, Chongqing Wanzhou District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, ChinaIn recent years, the harmful effects of heavy metal pollution in soil and rice on public health have garnered widespread attention. However, most studies focus only on the evaluation of heavy metal pollution in either soil or rice, often overlooking the fact of the combined effects of heavy metal pollution. We conducted an integrated assessment of the heavy metal pollution levels in both soil and rice. This study examined eight common heavy metals (Cd, Ni, As, Cu, Hg, Pb, Cr, and Zn) within the soil-rice system of Wanzhou District, Chongqing City. We employed Positive Matrix Factorization and Monte Carlo simulation to identify the sources of soil pollution and assess associated health risks. The findings revealed an average Impact Index of Comprehensive Quality (IICQ) value of 3.60 for the soil-rice system, indicating a pollution level exceeding “slight pollution”. The primary contributors to soil heavy metal contamination were identified as metal smelting and processing, pesticide and fertilizer use, manure application, geological background and rock weathering, agricultural activities, and coal combustion. Among the assessed metals, As, Cr, Cd, and Ni posed the greatest health risks and should be prioritized for monitoring and control. Given the heightened health risks associated with prolonged consumption of rice contaminated by heavy metals, addressing pollution in the agricultural soil-rice system is an urgent necessity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1558308/fullheavy metalsIICQ indexPMF modelMonte Carlo simulationhealth risks
spellingShingle Lei Tong
Aoran Yang
Mingyue Fan
Dan Wang
Yi Liu
Xiangqiang Huang
Lian Xiang
Rongsheng Fu
Longfeng Cheng
Assessment of the sources and health risks of heavy metals in the soil-rice system based on positive matrix factorization and Monte Carlo simulation
Frontiers in Environmental Science
heavy metals
IICQ index
PMF model
Monte Carlo simulation
health risks
title Assessment of the sources and health risks of heavy metals in the soil-rice system based on positive matrix factorization and Monte Carlo simulation
title_full Assessment of the sources and health risks of heavy metals in the soil-rice system based on positive matrix factorization and Monte Carlo simulation
title_fullStr Assessment of the sources and health risks of heavy metals in the soil-rice system based on positive matrix factorization and Monte Carlo simulation
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of the sources and health risks of heavy metals in the soil-rice system based on positive matrix factorization and Monte Carlo simulation
title_short Assessment of the sources and health risks of heavy metals in the soil-rice system based on positive matrix factorization and Monte Carlo simulation
title_sort assessment of the sources and health risks of heavy metals in the soil rice system based on positive matrix factorization and monte carlo simulation
topic heavy metals
IICQ index
PMF model
Monte Carlo simulation
health risks
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1558308/full
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