Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Characteristics and Potential Ecological Risks of Heavy Metal Content in the Soil of a Plateau Alpine Mining Area in the Qilian Mountains

Researchers analyzed heavy metal contamination in soil samples from an alpine mining area in the Qilian Mountains and found that cadmium, mercury, and arsenic were the primary pollutants exceeding background levels. The study used multiple assessment methods to evaluate pollution status and identified both mining activities and natural geological sources as contributors. The findings provide baseline data for guiding ecological restoration efforts in high-altitude mining regions.

2023 Land 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Non–Negligible Ecological Risks of Urban Wetlands Caused by Cd and Hg on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China

Researchers assessed heavy metal contamination in the Huangshui National Wetland Park on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, finding that cadmium and mercury pose non-negligible ecological risks across the urban wetland's three zones.

2023 Toxics 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterizing surface soil heavy metal contamination and source attribution in the Qinghai Lake Basin

Researchers analyzed 227 soil samples across China's Qinghai Lake Basin to map heavy metal contamination, finding generally low pollution levels with transportation as a key source; they recommend future research examine the combined threat of heavy metals and microplastics in alpine ecosystems.

2026 Scientific Reports
Article Tier 2

Heavy metal pollution and ecological risk under different land use types: based on the similarity of pollution sources and comparing the results of three evaluation models

Researchers analyzed heavy metal contamination across five land use types on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, finding that industrial activities like metallurgy and mining were the primary sources of cadmium, copper, and lead pollution, with the highest risk levels in watered and urban lands rather than grasslands.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of Soil Heavy Metal Pollution and Health Risks in Chenzhou City

Researchers analyzed 600 soil samples in Chenzhou City, China, and found that while most areas had low to moderate heavy metal contamination, about 3% of samples showed high ecological risk from metals like mercury and cadmium near industrial zones. While focused on heavy metals rather than microplastics, the study is relevant because microplastics in soil can absorb and transport these same toxic metals, potentially increasing human exposure through crops grown in contaminated areas.

2024 Processes 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterizing Surface Soil Heavy Metal Contamination and Source Attribution in the Qinghai Lake Basin

Researchers collected 227 surface soil samples across the Qinghai Lake Basin to characterize the spatial distribution and source attribution of twelve heavy metals using enrichment factors, geo-accumulation indices, and absolute principal component analysis, distinguishing natural geogenic contributions from anthropogenic inputs.

2025
Article Tier 2

An integrated evaluation of potentially toxic elements and microplastics in the highland soils of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Researchers conducted the first integrated assessment of toxic elements and microplastics in grassland and farmland soils on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. They found microplastic abundances ranging from 200 to over 3,600 particles per kilogram, with polypropylene dominating in grasslands and polyethylene in farmlands. The study reveals that even remote highland ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau are not immune to microplastic contamination.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on the Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Different Soil-Crop Systems and Ecological Risk Assessment: A Case Study of Jiao River Basin

Researchers assessed heavy metal accumulation in four crops (wheat, corn, potatoes, and leeks) and soils from the Jiao River Basin, evaluating ecological risk from eight heavy metals including copper, lead, cadmium, and arsenic. The study found that cadmium and arsenic posed the highest ecological risks, with crop type influencing heavy metal uptake patterns.

2023 Agronomy 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Soil contamination and carrying capacity across the Tibetan plateau using structural equation models

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it assesses soil contamination levels and soil environmental carrying capacity across the Tibetan Plateau, focusing on heavy metals and nutrient conditions.

2023 Environmental Pollution 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of microplastics in soils on the high-altitude area of the Tibetan Plateau: Multiple environmental factors

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in soils across different land use types on the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau, a remote and sparsely populated region. The study found that microplastic abundance varied with land use, altitude, meteorological conditions, and distance from roads, with greenhouse soils showing the highest concentrations, indicating that even remote high-altitude environments are not free from microplastic pollution.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soil of Lalu Wetland Based on Monte Carlo Simulation and ACPS-MLR

Researchers assessed the ecological and health risks of heavy metals in soil from Lalu Wetland, the world's largest plateau urban wetland in Lhasa, China. They found that overall risk levels were low, with cadmium being the primary pollutant and traffic emissions contributing over half of the contamination. The Monte Carlo simulation-based health assessment indicated no non-carcinogenic risks, though acceptable carcinogenic risks were present, with children being more vulnerable than adults.

2023 Water 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution characteristics and pollution evaluation of soil heavy metals in Wulongdong National Forest Park

Researchers investigated the spatial distribution and pollution levels of seven heavy metals in soils across Wulongdong National Forest Park at different altitudes and slope orientations. The study found that while most heavy metal concentrations were near natural background levels, certain elements showed localized enrichment, highlighting the importance of monitoring even protected natural areas.

2024 Scientific Reports 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation Characteristics and Pollution Evaluation of Soil Heavy Metals in Different Land Use Types: Study on the Whole Region of Tianjin

Researchers analyzed heavy metal accumulation across different land use types throughout Tianjin, China, finding that pollution levels and spatial distribution varied significantly by land use, with industrial and traffic-related activities identified as primary contamination sources.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Multiple evaluations, risk assessment, and source identification of heavy metals in surface water and sediment of the Golmud River, northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

This study assessed heavy metal concentrations in surface water and sediment of the Golmud River on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, identifying pollution sources and evaluating ecological risks to this environmentally sensitive region.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Science 8 citations
Article Tier 2

[Distribution and Influencing Factors of Microplastics in Cultivated Soil in Northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau].

Researchers analysed 95 cultivated soil samples from the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau using density separation, metallographic microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, finding microplastic abundances ranging from 68 to 3,668 particles per kilogram in surface soils.

2025 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Synergy of plastics and heavy metals weakened soil bacterial diversity by regulating microbial functions in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Researchers studying soils on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau found that the combined presence of microplastics and heavy metals reduced soil bacterial diversity more than either pollutant alone. The synergy between plastic-derived chemicals like phthalates and metals disrupted key microbial functions, which could affect soil health and ecosystem services in this sensitive high-altitude environment.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic characteristic in the soil across the Tibetan Plateau

Researchers systematically investigated microplastic pollution across the Tibetan Plateau, finding widespread contamination averaging 47 items per kilogram of soil, with fibers predominating and concentrations influenced by proximity to human activities.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 129 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact Imposed by Urbanization on Soil Heavy Metal Content of Lake Wetland and Evaluation of Ecological Risks in East Dongting Lake in China

This Chinese study measured heavy metal contamination in wetland soils of East Dongting Lake, finding elevated concentrations of several metals linked to nearby industrial and agricultural activities. Wetland contamination with heavy metals often co-occurs with microplastic pollution, and these combined stressors can have synergistic harmful effects on wetland ecosystems.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of heavy metal sources and health risks in soil-crop systems of fragmented farmland

Researchers assessed heavy metal contamination in farmland soils and crops in a fragmented agricultural area of Chongqing, China. They found that cadmium and arsenic posed the highest health risks, with children being more vulnerable than adults. The study identifies both natural geological sources and human activities like mining and farming as contributors to the contamination.

2025 Frontiers in Public Health 2 citations
Article Tier 2

New insights into the distribution, potential source and risk of microplastics in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, one of the world's most remote regions, and found contamination in water, sediment, and soil samples. Water samples had the highest concentrations, averaging over 7,000 particles per cubic meter. The presence of microplastics even in this isolated high-altitude environment shows how far plastic pollution has spread globally.

2023 Environment International 59 citations