Ground-level ozone (O₃), which is mainly from the photochemical reactions of NO_x and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), has become a crucial pollutant obstructing air quality improvement in China. Understanding the composition, temporal variability and source apportionment of VOCs is necessary for determining effective control measures to minimize VOCs and their related photochemical pollution. To provide a comprehensive analysis of VOC sources and their contributions to ozone formation in the city of Chengdu—a megacity with the highest rates of industrial and economic development in southwest China—we conducted a one-month monitoring project at three urban sites (Shuangliu, Xindu, Junpingjie; SL, XD and JPJ, respectively) along the main north–south meteorological transport channel before and during the implemented control measures. Alkanes were the dominant group at each site, contributing to around 50% of the observed total VOCs, followed by oxygen-containing VOCs (OVOCs), aromatics, halohydrocarbons and alkenes. During the control period, the mixing ratios of most measured VOC species decreased, and O₃ concentrations were down by at least 20%. VOC species experiencing the most effect from control were aromatics and OVOCs, which had higher O₃ formation reactivity. This indicated that the control policies had significant influence on reductions of reactive VOC species. We also identified VOC sources at SL and XD using positive matrix factorization (PMF) and assessed their contributions to photochemical O₃ formation by calculating the O₃ formation potential (OFP) based on mass concentrations and maximum incremental reactivity of related VOCs. Five dominant VOC sources were identified, with the highest contributions from vehicular exhaust and fuel evaporation before control, followed by solvent utilization, biogenic background and secondary formation, and industrial emissions. Contribution from vehicular exhaust was reduced the most at SL, while at XD, secondary formation VOCs decreased significantly. VOCs from vehicular and industrial emissions and solvent utilization were found to be the dominant precursors for OFPs, particularly the species of xylenes, toluene and propene. Our results therefore suggest that priority should be given to the alleviation of photochemical pollutants for effective control of O₃ formation in Chengdu. The findings from this work have important implications for formulating effective emission control policies in Chengdu.

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene isomers (BTEX) have raised increasing concern due to their adverse effects on human health. In this study, a coking factory and four communities nearby were selected as the research area. Atmospheric BTEX samples were collected and determined by a preconcentrator GC–MS method. Four biomarkers in the morning urine samples of 174 participants from the communities were measured by LC–MS. The health risks of BTEX exposure via inhalation were estimated. This study aimed to investigate the influence of external BTEX exposure on the internal biomarker levels and quantitatively evaluate the health risk of populations near the coking industry. The results showed that the average total BTEX concentration in residential area was 7.17 ± 7.24 μg m⁻³. Trans,trans-muconic acid (T,T-MA) was the urinary biomarker with the greatest average level (127 ± 285 μg g⁻¹ crt). Similar spatial trends can be observed between atmospheric benzene concentration and internal biomarker levels. The mean values of the LCR for male and female residents were 2.15 × 10⁻⁵ and 2.05 × 10⁻⁵, respectively. The results of the risk assessment indicated that special attention was required for the non-occupational residents around the area.

The concentrations, chemical availability, distribution, and sources of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the soil of Xiangjiang Basin in Hunan Province, China were investigated at 85 sites. The highest mean concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb were observed in Hengyang, whereas those for Mn, Co, and Hg were observed in Changde. The pollution index values followed the order: Cd > Hg > Cu > Zn > As > Pb; the mean geo-accumulation index values were in the order: Cd > Hg > Pb > Cu > Zn > As > Co > Mn. Cd was associated with moderate contaminated level, Hg and Pb were associated with moderate contaminated to uncontaminated level, and Cu, Zn, As, Co, and Mn were associated with uncontaminated level of pollution. Furthermore, 64.5% of Cd was water-soluble and exhibited exchangeable fractions; its chemical availability posed a risk to the ecosystem. Spatial analysis, principal component analysis, and a positive matrix factorization model were used to assess the PTE sources. Four principal components contributed to 88.8% of the 8 PTEs concentrations. Mining, smelting, industrial, and agricultural activities, alongside sewage irrigation, the use of agrochemicals, and vehicular emissions are the possible anthropogenic sources that pollute agricultural products and threaten human health in the Xiangjiang Basin.

In this study, soil and rice samples from 85 sites in six cities in Hunan Province were analyzed for Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Hg, Mn, and Co (total and bioavailable concentrations for soil) in July 2014. The results indicated that the total concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and Hg in soil had increased significantly compared with the 1980s, and were correlated with their bioavailable concentrations in soil positively. The total concentrations of Cd and Co in soil were correlated with those in rice. Bioavailable concentrations of Cd, Mn, Co, Pb, and Cu represented 64.4%, 33.2%, 12.0%, 11.6%, and 6.1% of the total soil concentrations, respectively. The bioavailable concentrations of Cd and Co in soil had a extremely significant (p < 0.01) positive correlation with those in rice, suggesting that bioavailable concentrations was a better indicator for soil potentially toxic elements contamination. The pH values had a significant influence on the bioavailability of Cd and Cu and the amounts taken up by rice. The Cd contamination in 27.0% rice samples exceeded World Health Organization recommended thresholds. The results added basic pollution distribution data, further revealing the relationships of metals in soil and crops and would offer great help to the metallic pollution control in these areas.

Environmental problems caused by the exploitation of mineral resources are worsening, especially the heavy metal pollution in soil. Food safety caused by heavy metal pollution in soil has become the focus of increasing attention.Sampling points were selected in Hunan Province. By sampling the soil and rice point by point, the total concentration and the concontration in rice were monitored. The results showed that the mean concentration of Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn were 1.31 mg/kg, 45.3 mg/kg, 0.61 mg/kg, 49.15 mg/kg and 133.3 mg/kg. The soils were contaminated in some parts of the 85 investigated sites in Hunan Province.Also, the analysis results showed that the average of PI (pollution index) descended in the order of Cd (2.58) > Hg (1.05) > Cu (0.52)> Zn (0.51)> Pb (0.41).The NIPI values of the research area were 28.59, belong to the high-level pollution, which mainly caused by Cd. The pollution ratio of soil samples were 100.0% in Zhuzhou-Xiangtan and Changning, 94.1%, 90.9% and 88.2% in Changde, Yiyang and Yongzhou. According to the potential ecological risk evaluation result, there was a medium level risk in the investigation area of Hunan and the potential ecological risk mainly caused by Cd.