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Effects of Land-Use Patterns on Heavy Metal Pollution and Health Risk in the Surface Water of the Nandu River, China

Author

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  • Changchao Chen

    (School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China)

  • Wen Zhang

    (College of Life Science, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
    Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Haikou 571101, China)

  • Ping Li

    (School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China)

  • Yuanhao Ma

    (School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China)

  • Longru Liang

    (School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China)

  • Wanman Wu

    (School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China)

  • Jianlei Li

    (School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China)

  • Xiaoshan Zhu

    (School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China)

Abstract

Rapid land-use changes have significantly changed the occurrence of heavy metals (HMs) in tropical watershed systems. However, the influence of land-use patterns on the spatial and temporal distribution of HMs in tropical river systems remains poorly understood. This study aims to explore the relationship between land-use types and HM pollution in the China’s largest tropical watershed, the Nandu River. Eight heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, As, Hg, and Sb) in the surface water were monitored across river, estuary, and nearshore zones during wet and dry seasons. Our findings show a higher total concentration of eight heavy metals (ΣHMs) in the wet season (30.52 μg/L) compared to the dry season (21.53 μg/L). In the wet season, ΣHM concentrations followed the order: estuary (70.96 μg/L) > basin (31.03 μg/L) > nearshore (8.07 μg/L). In the dry season, it was basin (31.56 μg/L) > estuary (23.26 μg/L) > nearshore (7.49 μg/L). Land-use patterns had higher interpretation rates for HM distribution in the dry season (65.8–73.0%) compared to the wet season (31.0–42.4%). The 2000 m buffer zone had a greater impact on HM distribution than the 500 m and 1000 m zones. Agricultural land and construction areas were the primary contributors to HM pollution in the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Noteworthy, in the river basin, chromium (Cr) presented carcinogenic risks to both children and adults through ingestion in both seasons and arsenic (As) posed a risk to children in the dry season. This study provides valuable insights for the sustainable management of land use and improving river water quality by highlighting the relationship between land use and HM contamination in tropical river ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Changchao Chen & Wen Zhang & Ping Li & Yuanhao Ma & Longru Liang & Wanman Wu & Jianlei Li & Xiaoshan Zhu, 2025. "Effects of Land-Use Patterns on Heavy Metal Pollution and Health Risk in the Surface Water of the Nandu River, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4622-:d:1658666
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. L. F. Schulte-Uebbing & A. H. W. Beusen & A. F. Bouwman & W. de Vries, 2022. "From planetary to regional boundaries for agricultural nitrogen pollution," Nature, Nature, vol. 610(7932), pages 507-512, October.
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