Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Heavy Metal Pollution and Potential Ecological Risk Assessment in a Typical Mariculture Area in Western Guangdong

Researchers assessed heavy metal contamination in seawater, sediments, and feed in a mariculture area of western Guangdong, China, finding that lead and copper exceeded standard limits in breeding wastewater and that the sediment was at low to moderate ecological risk from chromium, copper, arsenic, cadmium, and lead.

2021 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological risk assessment of aquatic organisms induced by heavy metals in the estuarine waters of the Pearl River

Researchers monitored five heavy metals — arsenic, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc — across eight estuaries of China's Pearl River throughout 2020, finding that copper and zinc posed the greatest ecological risks to aquatic organisms, particularly threatening crustaceans, mollusks, and certain fish species. These findings provide a foundation for setting water quality standards and protecting biodiversity in one of China's most heavily developed coastal regions.

2023 Scientific Reports 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution characteristics, ecological risk assessment, and source analysis of heavy metal(loid)s in surface sediments of the nearshore area of Qionghai

Analysis of 93 surface sediment samples from the nearshore area of Qionghai found heavy metal contamination from natural weathering, agricultural, and industrial sources, with geo-accumulation indices and ecological risk assessments identifying priority elements of concern.

2024 Frontiers in Marine Science 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Contaminant Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Heavy Metals in Seawater and Sediments in a Typical Mariculture Bay in South China

Researchers assessed heavy metal contamination in seawater and sediments of Qinzhou Bay, a major mariculture area in South China, finding seasonal variations in metal concentrations influenced by river input, aquaculture activities, and hydrodynamic conditions.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, pollution, and human health risks of persistent and potentially toxic elements in the sediments around Hainan Island, China

Researchers measured six potentially toxic elements — including cadmium, arsenic, and lead — in marine sediments around Hainan Island, China, finding that cadmium and zinc showed the highest pollution levels linked to human activities, and that zinc contamination in one city posed potential carcinogenic health risks to children and adults.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial Distribution and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Sediments of the Mangrove Ecosystem in Ras Mohammed Protectorate, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea

Researchers measured heavy metal concentrations (including lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc) in mangrove sediments of Ras Mohammed Protectorate in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, and assessed ecological risks. The spatial distribution showed variation across sites, with some metals elevated above background levels in areas closer to human activities.

2023 Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries 4 citations
Review Tier 2

Ecological-Health Risk Assessments of Heavy Metals (Cu, Pb, and Zn) in Aquatic Sediments from the ASEAN-5 Emerging Developing Countries: A Review and Synthesis

This review compiled copper, lead, and zinc concentrations in aquatic sediments across five ASEAN countries from 1981 to 2021, finding elevated heavy metal levels at sites with high human activity and assessing ecological and health risks from sediment contamination.

2021 Biology 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Heavy-Metal Pollution in Coastal Pinqing Lagoon (Southern China): Anthropogenic and Hydrological Effect

Researchers examined spatiotemporal patterns of heavy metal pollution in Pinqing Lagoon, a coastal lagoon in South China, using core and surface sediment samples to assess enrichment, contamination factors, and ecological risk. The study found that Cu was the chief pollutant while Cd posed the highest ecological risk, with century-scale anthropogenic disturbance, industrial activity, and wastewater discharge driving contamination patterns.

2023 Water 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Heavy metal mobility and bioavailability in sediment fractions of major tourist beaches on the south-west coast of India: Implications for coastal ecological health

Researchers applied sequential extraction to sediments from four tourist beaches in Kovalam, India, characterizing the mobility and bioavailability of seven heavy metals across five geochemical fractions, finding copper and cadmium at high pollution and enrichment levels and identifying significant non-carcinogenic health risks for children from lead, chromium, zinc, and copper at all beaches.

2026 Environmental Earth Sciences
Article Tier 2

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in marine fish caught from the northwest Persian Gulf

Not a microplastics paper — this study measures heavy metal concentrations (nickel, zinc, copper, lead, cadmium) in marine fish from the Persian Gulf and assesses the associated human health risk from fish consumption.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
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

Bioaccumulation and potential human health risks of metals in commercially important fishes and shellfishes from Hangzhou Bay, China

Researchers measured heavy metal accumulation in commercially fished species from China's Hangzhou Bay and found that children face greater health risks than adults from eating contaminated seafood, with two crab species and an oyster posing the highest cancer risk from arsenic and cadmium exposure.

2022 Scientific Reports 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental risk assessment of heavy metals and microplastics in marine biota along Gujarat coastline, India

Researchers assessed environmental risks from both heavy metals and microplastics in marine organisms collected along the Gujarat coastline in India, measuring contamination levels in multiple species. Combined contamination elevated ecological risk indices above safe thresholds at several coastal sites.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Progress in the Research of the Toxicity Effect Mechanisms of Heavy Metals on Freshwater Organisms and Their Water Quality Criteria in China

Researchers reviewed the toxicity mechanisms of heavy metals on freshwater organisms and the development of water quality criteria in China. The study examines how heavy metal pollution threatens both aquatic ecosystems and human health, and discusses the scientific basis for establishing environmental standards that protect freshwater organisms from harmful contaminant levels.

2020 Journal of Chemistry 121 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Urbanization Influences on Beach Sediment Contamination with Heavy Metals Along the Littoral Zone of Alexandria City, Egypt

Researchers assessed heavy metal contamination in beach sediments along Alexandria City, Egypt, finding concentrations of cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, lead, and zinc that were 2 to 26 times above natural background levels. The study identified urbanization, tourism, harbors, and industrial activities as primary anthropogenic sources, with zinc levels high enough to pose adverse risks to marine life.

2024 Water Air & Soil Pollution 12 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
Review Tier 2

Heavy Metal Pollution in Coastal Environments: Ecological Implications and Management Strategies: A Review

This review examines heavy metal pollution in coastal environments, covering sources like industrial runoff and agriculture, ecological impacts, and cleanup strategies. While focused on heavy metals rather than microplastics, it is relevant because microplastics often carry heavy metals on their surface, potentially increasing human exposure to these toxic substances through the food chain.

2025 Sustainability 108 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Contamination, Toxicity and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments of Coastal Areas of Bushehr Province: A Systematic Review Study

This systematic review of studies from 2012-2020 found that coastal surface sediments in Bushehr Province, Iran, contain heavy metals at levels posing moderate to high ecological risk, with nickel, chromium, and cadmium identified as the primary contaminants from petrochemical and industrial sources. The pollution levels exceeded safe thresholds in several coastal areas. Coastal sediment contamination with heavy metals often co-occurs with microplastic pollution, and microplastics can adsorb and concentrate these toxic metals, potentially increasing their bioavailability to marine organisms.

2021 Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals from Wuliangsuhai Lake, Yellow River Basin, China

Researchers investigated heavy metal contamination in Wuliangsuhai Lake sediments in China's Yellow River Basin, finding that mercury and cadmium are the main pollutants, with cadmium showing the highest bioavailability due to its exchangeable fraction, and exogenous pollution concentrated in the top 20 cm of sediment cores.

2022 Water 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution pattern and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in Henan section of the Yellow River

Researchers assessed heavy metal pollution in sediments of the Henan section of the Yellow River, finding elevated concentrations of several metals including cadmium and lead, with ecological risk assessments indicating moderate to high risk in certain areas driven by both natural and anthropogenic inputs.

2022 Water Science & Technology Water Supply 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Heavy metal accumulation in a bioindicator species, Limpet Patella caerulea, in Yalova (İzmit Bay): Risk assessment for human health

Researchers examined monthly heavy metal concentrations (cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, and iron) in the whole-body tissue of the limpet Patella caerulea as a bioindicator species in Izmit Bay, Marmara Sea, and conducted a human health risk assessment based on measured metal levels. The study found that cadmium levels exceeded safe limits in all sampled months and lead exceeded limits in autumn, indicating potential health risks for consumers of limpets from this heavily industrialized coastal area.

2022 Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal (Pb, Cu) Contamination in Water, Sediment, and Polychaeta (Neoleanira Tetragona) from Coastal Areas Affected by Aquaculture, Urban Rivers, and Ports in South Sumatra

This study assessed the ecological risks of lead and copper contamination in water, sediment, and polychaete worms (Neoleanira tetragona) from coastal areas in South Sumatra affected by aquaculture, urban rivers, and port activities. Results showed elevated heavy metal concentrations in multiple compartments, with polychaetes accumulating both metals at levels of ecological concern.

2023 Journal of Ecological Engineering 19 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

Preliminary Determination of Heavy Metals in Sediment, Water, and Some Macroinvertebrates in Tawi-Tawi Bay, Philippines

Researchers conducted a preliminary assessment of heavy metal concentrations in sediment, water, and macroinvertebrates at multiple sites in Tawi-Tawi Bay in the Philippines. The study establishes baseline data on chemical pollution in this understudied coastal area.

2022 Marine Science and Technology Bulletin 4 citations