| Citation: | Junqi Li, Yao Du, Teng Ma, Dian Li, Ziyan Cai, Yu Xu. Spatiotemporal Characterization, Risk Assessment, and Source Identification of Dissolved Trace Elements in the Zijiang River, Central China. Journal of Earth Science, 2026, 37(2): 752-762. doi: 10.1007/s12583-023-1841-3
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The Zijiang River Basin is home to the world's largest antimony reserves, but it also grapples with severe ecological contamination. Notably, there is a lack of information on surface water pollution, particularly with regard to trace elements (TEs). In order to gain a better understanding of the situation, risk, and sources of TEs, we conducted an extensive study on the Zijiang River. Our findings revealed that 95.83% of the samples had antimony levels exceeding China's drinking water limit of 5 μg/L. By using multiple multivariate statistical techniques, we identified five main sources of TEs. Sr, Mn, Co, Ni, and Ba are primarily derived from the natural weathering of rocks. Human activities, such as industrial emissions, are major contributors to the presence of Pb, Cu, Zn, and Sn. P and Ti are released from sediment influenced by cascading reservoirs. Sb, As, and Se stem from antimony mining activities. The hazard index indicated that antimony poses a non-carcinogenic risk to human health, with children being especially vulnerable. Furthermore, antimony was found to be the most significant factor for residential exposure. Consequently, we recommend paying close attention to antimony pollution and intensifying research efforts on antimony in the Zijiang River Basin.
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