In the rocky landscapes of southwest China, water is on the move. It carries more than just moisture. It also moves harmful stuff like mercury, thallium, and arsenic. These toxic elements are found in the soil. They come from different places. Some come from rocks breaking down. Others come from the air or farming activities. The way water moves these toxins is not ...

Urban soils are often contaminated. This is a big problem in cities. The contamination levels can vary greatly from one area to another. This makes it hard to come up with a one-size-fits-all solution. In one city, researchers took a close look at this issue. They collected soil samples from six different types of areas: business districts, parks, homes, industrial ...

In the heart of southern China, the Modaomen Estuary is a bustling coastal zone that is quickly becoming more urban. This transformation brings with it a significant challenge: pollution from potentially toxic elements (PTEs). These elements, which include copper, lead, zinc, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and arsenic, have been a global concern for a long time. In this...

Brick kilns are everywhere. They produce the bricks that build our homes and cities. But there's a hidden cost. These kilns can release harmful substances into the soil. A recent study dug into this issue. It looked at 60 samples from coal, ash, and soil around brick kilns. The focus was on 11 potentially toxic elements. These elements can spread and contaminate the ...