Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40711052›Full record

ReviewToxics2025

Global Environmental Geochemistry and Molecular Speciation of Heavy Metals in Soils and Groundwater from Abandoned Smelting Sites: Analysis of the Contamination Dynamics and Remediation Alternatives in Karst Settings.

Hang Xu, Qiao Han, Muhammad Adnan, Mengfei Li, Mingshi Wang, Mingya Wang, Fengcheng Jiang, Xixi Feng

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Toxics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Hang XuCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China.
Qiao HanCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China.
Muhammad AdnanState Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9567-1269
Mengfei LiHenan Iron and Steel Group Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou 450046, China.
Mingshi WangCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China.
Mingya WangCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China.
Fengcheng JiangCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China.ORCID 0000-0002-4772-0553
Xixi FengCollege of Resource and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China.

Funding

Henan Province Key R&D Special Project 241111320400Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences XDB40020405
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Abandoned smelting sites in karst terrain pose a serious environmental problem due to the complex relationship between specific hydrogeological elements and heavy metal contamination. This review combines work from across the globe to consider how karst-specific features (i.e., rapid underground drainage, high permeability, and carbonate mineralogy) influence the mobility, speciation, and bioavailability of "metallic" pollutants, such as Pb, Cd, Zn, and As. In some areas, such as Guizhou (China), the Cd content in the surface soil is as high as 23.36 mg/kg, indicating a regional risk. Molecular-scale analysis, such as synchrotron-based XAS, can elucidate the speciation forms that underlie toxicity and remediation potential. Additionally, we emphasize discrepancies between karst in Asia, Europe, and North America and synthesize cross-regional contamination events. The risk evaluation is complicated, particularly when dynamic flow systems and spatial heterogeneity are permanent, and deep models like DI-NCPI are required as a matter of course. The remediation is still dependent on the site; however, some technologies, such as phytoremediation, biosorption, and bioremediation, are promising if suitable geochemical and microbial conditions are present. This review presents a framework for integrating molecular data and hydrogeological concepts to inform the management of risk and sustainable remediation of legacy metal pollution in karst.

Indexed as

environmental riskgroundwater contaminationheavy metalsmolecular speciationremediation strategiessoil–groundwater interaction

Identifiers

PMID40711052
PMCPMC12300227

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.