Pronounced transition of heavy metal pollution sources in Chinese agricultural surface waters: The rising prominence of non-point source pollution

Summary: Despite strict government controls on pollutant discharges, heavy metal (HM) levels in China’s surface waters remain elevated above background values. Accurate source identification of HM pollution is essential for effective environmental management and public health protection. This study...

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Main Authors: Shaobo Sui, Mingshi Wang, Mingya Wang, Wanqi Ma, Shili Yang, Fan Zhang, Luhao Jia, Tong Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:iScience
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225007850
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author Shaobo Sui
Mingshi Wang
Mingya Wang
Wanqi Ma
Shili Yang
Fan Zhang
Luhao Jia
Tong Liu
author_facet Shaobo Sui
Mingshi Wang
Mingya Wang
Wanqi Ma
Shili Yang
Fan Zhang
Luhao Jia
Tong Liu
author_sort Shaobo Sui
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Despite strict government controls on pollutant discharges, heavy metal (HM) levels in China’s surface waters remain elevated above background values. Accurate source identification of HM pollution is essential for effective environmental management and public health protection. This study collected and analyzed water samples from the southwestern North China Plain to assess HM contamination levels, sources, and health risks, employing the absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model for robust source apportionment and quantification of pollution source contributions. Surface water HMs remained at “clean” levels but exceeded background values by 1–50 times. Source apportionment identified three primary sources: livestock/poultry (48.3%) > industrial (31.6%) > hybrid sources (20.1%), demonstrating a transition from point to non-point source (NPS) dominance. Monte Carlo simulation revealed serious carcinogenic risks for 1.1% of children and 19.5% of adults. These findings highlight evolving HM pollution patterns in China’s agricultural regions, offering important implications for developing nations.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2589-0042
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series iScience
spelling doaj-art-8a10051bcb704c9eb4dc8910f618c4542025-08-20T03:49:03ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422025-05-0128511252410.1016/j.isci.2025.112524Pronounced transition of heavy metal pollution sources in Chinese agricultural surface waters: The rising prominence of non-point source pollutionShaobo Sui0Mingshi Wang1Mingya Wang2Wanqi Ma3Shili Yang4Fan Zhang5Luhao Jia6Tong Liu7College of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, ChinaCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China; Corresponding authorCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, ChinaCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, ChinaCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, ChinaCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, ChinaCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, ChinaCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, ChinaSummary: Despite strict government controls on pollutant discharges, heavy metal (HM) levels in China’s surface waters remain elevated above background values. Accurate source identification of HM pollution is essential for effective environmental management and public health protection. This study collected and analyzed water samples from the southwestern North China Plain to assess HM contamination levels, sources, and health risks, employing the absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model for robust source apportionment and quantification of pollution source contributions. Surface water HMs remained at “clean” levels but exceeded background values by 1–50 times. Source apportionment identified three primary sources: livestock/poultry (48.3%) > industrial (31.6%) > hybrid sources (20.1%), demonstrating a transition from point to non-point source (NPS) dominance. Monte Carlo simulation revealed serious carcinogenic risks for 1.1% of children and 19.5% of adults. These findings highlight evolving HM pollution patterns in China’s agricultural regions, offering important implications for developing nations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225007850Environmental sciencePollutionAquatic science
spellingShingle Shaobo Sui
Mingshi Wang
Mingya Wang
Wanqi Ma
Shili Yang
Fan Zhang
Luhao Jia
Tong Liu
Pronounced transition of heavy metal pollution sources in Chinese agricultural surface waters: The rising prominence of non-point source pollution
iScience
Environmental science
Pollution
Aquatic science
title Pronounced transition of heavy metal pollution sources in Chinese agricultural surface waters: The rising prominence of non-point source pollution
title_full Pronounced transition of heavy metal pollution sources in Chinese agricultural surface waters: The rising prominence of non-point source pollution
title_fullStr Pronounced transition of heavy metal pollution sources in Chinese agricultural surface waters: The rising prominence of non-point source pollution
title_full_unstemmed Pronounced transition of heavy metal pollution sources in Chinese agricultural surface waters: The rising prominence of non-point source pollution
title_short Pronounced transition of heavy metal pollution sources in Chinese agricultural surface waters: The rising prominence of non-point source pollution
title_sort pronounced transition of heavy metal pollution sources in chinese agricultural surface waters the rising prominence of non point source pollution
topic Environmental science
Pollution
Aquatic science
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225007850
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