Md Samrat Mohay Menul Islam, Md Nure Alam Siddik, Md Ashraful Islam, Sharmin Ahmed Trisha, Mahbub Alam, Md Hasan Ali, Goutam Kumar Kundu, Suman Das, Saikat Das, Md Rezaul Karim, Dipankar Chakraborty, Sreebash Chandra Bhattacharjee, Barun Kanti Saha
{"title":"Polyaromatic hydrocarbons and trace metals in road-deposited soil, source apportionment, and risk analysis: evidence from the largest port city of Bangladesh.","authors":"Md Samrat Mohay Menul Islam, Md Nure Alam Siddik, Md Ashraful Islam, Sharmin Ahmed Trisha, Mahbub Alam, Md Hasan Ali, Goutam Kumar Kundu, Suman Das, Saikat Das, Md Rezaul Karim, Dipankar Chakraborty, Sreebash Chandra Bhattacharjee, Barun Kanti Saha","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02752-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-025-02752-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study assessed the concentration of 6 trace metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Fe) and 16 USEPA priority polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in road-deposited soil in Chattogram, the largest port city of Bangladesh. The soil texture analysis conducted during this study revealed the presence of several soil types with variable quartz content. The basic nature and high electrical conductivity (EC) indicate high amount of dust deposition by the moving traffic, while low content of organic carbon indicate regular road construction can be prevalent in the studied area. The physicochemical characteristics did not affect the trace metal and PAH accumulation pattern. Among the metals studied, Pb pollution was observed to be moderate to high, whereas potential toxicity of PAHs' was significant. Both Chronic Daily Dose (CDD) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) values were higher for Fe especially in children associated with ingestion. Children's total cancer risk (TCR) was low from trace metals and also there was no significant health risk linked to PAHs for either adults or children. Petroleum was shown to be the primary source of PAHs using the Molecular Diagnostic Ratios (MDRs). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) highlighted several overlapping sources of trace metals and PAHs, including traffic emissions, industrial activities, and pyrogenic processes, indicating significant anthropogenic impacts. These findings underscore the necessity for pollution control actions to mitigate health and environmental vulnerabilities along the major roads.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 10","pages":"446"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145079782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Atif Muhmood, Haonan Guo, Lorenzo Pugliese, Shubiao Wu
{"title":"Phosphorus transformations and leaching potential in rewetting drained peatlands: Exploring the influence of land use and temperature.","authors":"Atif Muhmood, Haonan Guo, Lorenzo Pugliese, Shubiao Wu","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02751-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-025-02751-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding phosphorus (P) transformation dynamics during peatland rewetting is crucial for developing effective management strategies, supporting ecological restoration initiatives and mitigating potential environmental risks. This incubation study explored the temporal variations in P transformation in peatlands under different land uses (cut grass, grazing, unmanaged) along with the potential risk of leaching by simulating rewetting conditions for four months at varying temperatures (10 and 20 °C). Overall, only a small fraction of the initial total phosphorus (P) was leached during rewetting. Among land uses, soils under grazing showed the highest release (0.34%), followed by cut grass (0.19%) and unmanaged land (0.13%). A higher risk of leaching at the beginning of the rewetting was observed to be associated with a high transformation rate of P from organic form to inorganic form but mitigated by resorption with ongoing rewetting. Soil organic carbon, initial contents of P, iron, and aluminium as well as temperature were found to be the main factors controlling P transformation and leaching during the rewetting process. Increasing incubation temperature from 10 °C to 20 °C raised P release by 33-41%. Moreover, a projected 1.5 °C increase in temperature due to climate change is estimated to increase the rate of phosphorus (P) transformation and release by approximately 24%, based on temperature sensitivity analysis. More research is needed to comprehensively explore complex interactions involving seasonal variations, microbial activity, and geological processes. This is also necessary for a holistic understanding of how these ecosystems may respond to ongoing climate changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 10","pages":"442"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12443872/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sze Yee Wee, Didi Erwandi Mohamad Haron, Muhammad Raznisyafiq Razak, Norbaya Hashim, Nasehir Khan E M Yahaya, Nirmala Devi Kerisnan Kerishnan, Raja Baharudin Raja Mamat, Ahmad Zaharin Aris
{"title":"Untangling the connection between endocrine disrupting compounds, river pollution classes, and socioeconomic factors.","authors":"Sze Yee Wee, Didi Erwandi Mohamad Haron, Muhammad Raznisyafiq Razak, Norbaya Hashim, Nasehir Khan E M Yahaya, Nirmala Devi Kerisnan Kerishnan, Raja Baharudin Raja Mamat, Ahmad Zaharin Aris","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02760-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-025-02760-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The contamination of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) stands as an emerging environmental concern, leading to subsequent environmental and human exposure. A comprehensive analysis identified a total of 18 EDCs, including pharmaceuticals, hormones, and plasticizers, in Malaysian rivers classified into distinct pollution classes: \"Clean\", \"Moderately Polluted\", and \"Polluted\". The highest concentration of EDCs was observed in the \"Moderately Polluted\" Kim Kim River, notably containing 16.25 µg/L of caffeine. Caffeine exhibited ubiquitous presence across all pollution classes, with the Klang River (\"Polluted\") showing the peak concentration at 13.62 µg/L. In contrast, the \"Clean\" Kuantan River displayed the highest EDC concentration at 1.28 µg/L of bisphenol A. All individual EDCs posed negligible ecological risks, with RQ values below 0.01 (RQ<sub>m</sub> < 8.70 × 10⁻<sup>3</sup>). Similarly, negligible risks were observed for most EDCs under the worst-case scenario (RQ<sub>ex</sub> < 2.36 × 10⁻<sup>3</sup>). Noteworthy findings included the detection of previously undetected pharmaceuticals such as diphenhydramine on a global scale. Variability in the distribution of EDCs among river pollution classes exhibited statistically significant differences in their concentrations. The socioeconomic impact was evident, with gross domestic product (GDP) and population size positively influencing EDC concentrations, emphasizing the interconnected dynamics of urbanization, healthcare development, and pharmaceutical consumption. Additionally, the study identified negligible to low ecological risks associated with both individual and combined exposures to EDCs under general and worst-case scenarios. However, higher EDC risks were observed even in rivers classified as \"Clean\" or \"Moderately Polluted\", highlighting the need for more comprehensive monitoring strategies that account for emerging contaminants.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 10","pages":"444"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Smart nano-fertilizers: a path to sustainable agriculture.","authors":"Puja Gupta, Hena Dhar, Yudhishther Singh Bagal, Sundeep Jaglan","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02749-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-025-02749-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nano-fertilizers are one of the greatest innovations for the improvement of agriculture, promoting nutrient uptake efficiency and minimizing nutrient loss and environmental pollution index as to conventional fertilizers. The important properties of nano-fertilizers that enhance their efficiency and help minimize the phenomena involving overuse and harmful runoff are characterized as a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, high solubility, and controlled-release mechanism. Numerous nanomaterials, such as carbonaceous and metal-based ones, have been explored for their potential to modulate nutrient delivery and absorption. The coupling of nanosensors and nano-fertilizers with precision farming ensures real-time nutrient monitoring with targeted fertilization, which helps to eradicate wastage while improving crop productivity. This review addresses the synthesis, mechanisms of action, delivery pathways, and effects on soil microbiota, including comparative advantages and environmental implications. In viewing the possible advantages, key challenges hindering the mass use of nano-fertilizers include potential toxicity, production costs, farmer adoption, scalability, and regulatory compliance. Long-term effects on soil health and ecology require further study. Future research should focus on developing biodegradable, sustainable nano-fertilizers with clear regulatory frameworks.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 10","pages":"443"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nicholas Khundrakpam, Biwel Binong, Rebekha Mushahary, Anamika Nath, Mebaaibok L Nonglait, Pratibha Deka
{"title":"Levels of elements in road dust of Shillong, Northeast India: characterization, source apportionment and health risk assessment.","authors":"Nicholas Khundrakpam, Biwel Binong, Rebekha Mushahary, Anamika Nath, Mebaaibok L Nonglait, Pratibha Deka","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02741-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-025-02741-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The study analyzed eleven elements in road dust from residential areas, traffic areas, commercial areas, and plastic paper and e-waste collection sites in Shillong, Northeast India. Elemental concentrations followed the order: Al > Fe > Mg > Mn > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Co > Ni > Cd. Among these, Cd showed the highest enrichment (EF = 63.01), followed by Pb (EF = 24.78), and contributed 92% and 6% of the ecological risk, respectively. Pollution indices confirmed significant contamination in all sites. The geoaccumulation index (I<sub>geo</sub>) indicated extreme pollution for Cd, moderate to extreme for Pb, and low to moderate levels for other elements. Strong positive correlations were observed among Al-Mg, Co-Cu, Co-Mn, Pb-Zn, and Pb-Cd, with moderate correlations (r = 0.4-0.6) for Cd-Zn, Cu-Zn, and Fe-Cr. PCA revealed three major sources: anthropogenic and crustal, traffic and e-waste, and geogenic. The hazard index exceeded 1 for children at all sites, indicating potential non-carcinogenic risk, primarily via ingestion. Chromium was the main contributor to cancer risk, though overall levels remained within safe limits. FTIR and PXRD analyses confirmed quartz as the dominant mineral, along with silicate, carbonate, and others. The study recommends pollution control measures to aid urban planning and safeguard public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 10","pages":"441"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145069369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sergio Adrián Salgado-Souto, Fredderick Arroyo-Díaz, Rafael Del Rio-Salas, Oscar Talavera-Mendoza, Verónica Moreno-Rodríguez, René Loredo-Portales, Alicia Sarmiento-Villagrana, José Luis Aguirre-Noyola, José Luis Farfán-Panamá
{"title":"Mobility and traceability of potentially toxic elements in soils after 500 years of mining: a case study of the Taxco de Alarcón mining site, southern Mexico.","authors":"Sergio Adrián Salgado-Souto, Fredderick Arroyo-Díaz, Rafael Del Rio-Salas, Oscar Talavera-Mendoza, Verónica Moreno-Rodríguez, René Loredo-Portales, Alicia Sarmiento-Villagrana, José Luis Aguirre-Noyola, José Luis Farfán-Panamá","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02756-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-025-02756-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The concentrations of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE) and the isotope composition of Pb in the soils of the Taxco de Alarcón region were analyzed to assess the impact of abandoned mine tailings on soils in this region. PTE concentrations in the soils exceeded the international recommended limits for Cd, Ni, Cu, Ba, Pb, Zn, and Mn. Additionally, phytoavailability and sequential extraction procedures values indicated the mobility of Pb-Zn-Mn and Pb-Zn-Mn-Cd, respectively, due to a high percentage in the more labile fractions. Environmental indices (e.g., EF, MPI, and RAC) revealed that the concentration of most soils is moderately to severely enriched in PTE, suggesting that erosion and dispersion of mine tailings are likely the main contributors to soil composition. Furthermore, the Pb isotope composition, combined with a Bayesian statistics-based model, indicates that mine tailings are the main source of Pb for soils. Although the soils in this mining region appear unaffected by mining waste, PTE concentrations and Pb isotope data indicate otherwise, highlighting that oxidation, erosion, and dispersion processes are impacting the soils. The geochemical features of these soils pose a danger to the environment and human health since they are often used for agricultural and livestock purposes, increasing PTE mobility into the food chain.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 10","pages":"439"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145069308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring influential indicators for cultivating selenium-rich lily using a random forest model.","authors":"Hao Gong, Liangliang Dai, Jie Luo, Qiaohui Zhu","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02759-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-025-02759-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Selenium (Se) is a vital nutrient for human health and closely associated with various bodily functions. Human intake of Se is often increased through the diet, and the Se level in crops is not solely dictated by soil Se levels. For example, it also depends on the interactions between plants and soil elements. This study explored the factors influencing the Se bioaccumulation coefficient in lilies in karst areas, based on 1:50,000 land-quality geochemical survey data. Utilizing a random forest, two indicators (Se and nitrogen) were selected from 49 soil indicators to predict the Se content in lilies, thereby providing a more flexible and scientific approach to planning Se-rich agricultural products. The results show that the random forest model predicts Se content in lilies more accurately and precisely than traditional multiple linear regression. These findings provide theoretical support for the rational layout of Se-rich agricultural production areas and promotes the high-quality, sustainable development of regional specialty agriculture.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 10","pages":"440"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145069293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrated source apportionment and risk assessment prioritizes heavy metal control at an abandoned antimony smelter.","authors":"Xiao-Hong Ma, Zhuan-Ling Shao, Yu-Han Wang, Wei-Di Tu, Li-Bang Ma, Jiao Wang","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02754-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-025-02754-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mining and smelting constitute primary anthropogenic sources of persistent heavy metal (HM) contamination in soils, posing severe ecological and health threats globally. Conventional risk assessment often fails to discriminate between natural weathering inputs and anthropogenic emissions while struggling to prioritize pollution sources by risk severity, hindering targeted remediation. This study overcomes these limitations by integrating positive matrix factorization (PMF) source apportionment with ecological risk assessment (ERA) and health risk assessment (HRA) frameworks to quantify source-specific risks. Applied to soils surrounding an abandoned antimony smelter in Gansu Province, HM concentrations (excluding Cr and Ni) exceeded background levels, with Sb reaching 935.28 mg/kg. Extreme pollution by Sb and Cd was observed, while 95% of samples showed moderate to heavy contamination levels. PMF identified four primary pollution sources: industrial activities (27.82%), mining (30.43%), natural sources (21.11%), and transportation (20.64%). ERA indicated extreme ecological risks attributable primarily to Sb, Cd, and Hg, with substantial contributions from industrial (50.11%) and mining (31.83%) origins. HRA revealed unacceptable non-carcinogenic (24.90 for children, 4.06 for adults) and carcinogenic risks (1.83 × 10<sup>-4</sup> for children, 1.11 × 10<sup>-4</sup> for adults). Ingestion served as the predominant exposure pathway, primarily from Sb and As for non-carcinogenic risks and carcinogenic risks, respectively. Integrated risk apportionment demonstrated dominant non-carcinogenic risk contributions from mining (53.33%) and industrial (43.62%) activities primarily via Sb, while industrial (36.60%) and natural (35.81%) sources were major carcinogenic risk contributors with Ni and Cd as the key contaminant. This quantitative source-risk linkage provides a science-based foundation for prioritising control measures and enabling safe reclamation of polluted industrial sites.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 10","pages":"438"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145069319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Establishing a partition interpolation method for PAHs in site soil based on different pollution causes.","authors":"Pengwei Qiao, Yue Shan, Guanghui Guo, Qianyun Zhao, Shuo Wang, Peiran He, Zhongguo Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02739-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-025-02739-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>PAHs are recognized as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Acquiring spatial distribution information of PAHs is a prerequisite and foundation for soil pollution prevention and control on site. However, the presence of extremely high concentrations (outliers) limits the predictive accuracy of the spatial distribution of PAHs. This study focuses on fluoranthene (FLT), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (InP), which have relatively high detection rate. Using geostatistical analysis, geodetectors, solute transport models, and multiple regression methods, we analyzed the spatial distribution characteristics and main influencing factors of these PAHs, and developed a new partition interpolation method. The research results are as follows: (1) The proportion of points exceeding the screening and risk intervention thresholds for BaP (16.10% and 4.23, respectively) was higher than that of the other three PAHs. The outlier values were primarily distributed in coking areas and wastewater treatment stations, where pollution was mainly due to leaks and affected areas within a 10-m radius, exhibiting high variability. Atmospheric deposition was the main influencing factor for zones excluding outliers, where variability was weaker; (2) We used solute transport models to simulate PAH distributions for the outlier zones and multiple linear regression models for the gentle zones without outliers. This approach reduced RMSE by over 90% compared to traditional interpolation methods, and reflected both localized highly-variable structures and overall distribution characteristics. This is of great significance for improving the accuracy of spatial distribution prediction of PAHs pollution with outlier values in the site soil.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 10","pages":"437"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microplastic and trace element contamination in coastal agricultural soils of southern India: a comparative risk assessment of mulched and unmulched fields.","authors":"Chattanchal Ashwathi, Anish Kumar Warrier, Monalisha Murmu, Udita Priyadarsini, Santhosh Prabhu","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02746-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-025-02746-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates the occurrence and ecological risks of microplastics (MPs) and trace elements in coastal agricultural soils from Karnataka, southern India. Surface and subsurface soils from mulched (watermelon) and unmulched (rice) fields were analyzed for MP abundance, morphology, polymer composition, and trace elements. Microplastics were identified using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and metals were quantified via Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) confirmed elemental associations on MP surfaces. Risk was assessed using the Polymer Hazard Index (PHI), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Geoaccumulation Index (I<sub>geo</sub>), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI). Results showed higher MP concentrations in surface soils and mulched fields, with polyethylene (PE) as the dominant polymer. Most MPs were 0.1-0.3 mm (49-50%) or 0.3-1 mm (40-47%) in size. Films were the most common type (61%), followed by fibres and fragments, with fibres dominating deeper layers. Transparent MPs were the most abundant, followed by blue, white, and black. The Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) indicated high risk. The Coefficient of Microplastic Impact (CMPI) showed a moderate impact, while the Pollution Load Index (PLI) values for MPs indicated low to moderate pollution, with particularly elevated levels in mulched soils. The Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) classified risk levels as low to moderate, with higher values also observed in mulched fields. Among trace elements, the concentration followed the order: Fe > Zn > Mn > Cr > Pb. While PLI and I<sub>geo</sub> suggested low to moderate contamination, PERI indicated low ecological risk. These findings highlight how plastic mulching increases MP accumulation and alters metal dynamics in soil. The co-occurrence of MPs and metals raises concerns for soil health and food safety. Sustainable land management and regular monitoring are critical to mitigate long-term risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 10","pages":"436"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12433925/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145058444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}