Citation: | Xiao-tao Zhang, Jun-jie Hu, Bin Shen, Man-dan Huang, Shan-hong Lan, Zhi-hang Xin, 2025. Multi-compartmental migration and ecological-health risks of trace metals in Dexing mining concentration areas: A holistic quantitative assessment, China Geology, 8, 500-513. doi: 10.31035/cg20250074 |
To address the critical gap in linking multi-compartmental transfer with risks of trace metals (Cd, Pb, As, Cr, Ni) in mining environments. This study systematically investigated the trans-media migration of Cd, Pb, As, Cr, and Ni in China’s Dexing copper mining district through paired sampling of water-amphibians, soil-earthworms, and air-lichens. Advanced methodologies were employed, including ICP-MS quantification for heavy metals, geochemical indices (Igeo, BCF, BAF) to assess bioavailability, NMDS for source apportionment, and HPLC to detect DNA methylation alterations. Aquatic systems exhibited severe Cd/Pb enrichment (16.25–24.42 μg/L; 11–15× WHO limits), while agricultural soils showed extreme Cd contamination (1.5 mg/kg; 15× background). Biota displayed metal-specific accumulation: frogs achieved BCFs >1,000 for Pb/Cd, earthworms showed pH-modulated BAFs >2.5 for Cd/As, and lichens recorded 100–1,000× atmospheric Cr enrichment. NMDS resolved three contamination pathways: mining-derived Cd/Pb/As (MDS1 = 2.56), atmospheric Cr (PC2 = 1.84), and geogenic Ni. Cd dominated ecological risks (Eri = 554.25; RI $\geqslant $ 300), while atmospheric Cr drove carcinogenic risks (TCR = 4.11×10-5) exceeding safety thresholds. The source-media-biota-risk framework pioneers the integration of geochemical transport with epigenetic toxicity biomarkers, demonstrating that sub-lethal Cd/Pb exposure induces genome-wide DNA hypomethylation (2.4%–6.6% reduction; ρ = −0.71 to -0.91). This paradigm shift prioritizes bioavailability-informed regulations over concentration-based metrics, offering actionable strategies for sustainable development goals-aligned mining pollution control.
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Map of Dexing mining concentration area, topography and sampling in Dexing City. (a) Location of Dexing City, (b) Location of copper and lead-zinc mines, (c) Topography of copper and lead-zinc mines, (d) River sampling map and (e) Soil sampling map.
Geochemical map of trace metal transfer across surface media (The base map of this figure was generated by ChatGPT with the prompt: “Create a diagram illustrating the trace metal transfer across surface media”, and verified by the authors.).
Distribution pattern of trace metals in soil-river-air system from the Dexing copper mining area characterized by non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS).
Biogeochemical mapping of ecological risk index (RI) for trace metal in Dexing mining concentration area.
Ecological risk index (RI) map of trace metal in water.
Spearman correlation coefficient between trace metals and DNA methylation in frog tissues.