Work

Embodied emission linkages and interactions of industrial aquatic heavy metals in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China: a multi-sector multi-region factorial metabolism analysis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Heavy metal emissions (HMEs) from industrial wastewater pose risks to ecosystems, public health, and regional development. Understanding the embodied emission linkages and interactions in cross-regional HME flows is essential for mitigation policy design. This study develops a multi-sector multi-region factorial heavy-metal metabolism model (FHMM), in which multiregional input-output analysis quantifies direct and embodied emissions, ecological network analysis diagnoses the structure of the emission network, factorial analysis quantifies the response of the network when the emissions of several metals change together, and K-means clustering groups regions for differentiated management; their integration alone delivers these four capabilities. FHMM is applied to the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), China, covering Pb, Hg, Cd, Cr, and As across 42 sectors and 11 regions. The empirical results are baseline estimates for 2015, describing the system before the principal environmental instruments introduced since then. The results indicate that: (1) Industrial aquatic HMEs exhibit strong spatial heterogeneity, with Hunan accounting for about 34% of the YREB total, approximately 125 t. (2) In Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi, indirect HMEs exceed direct HMEs, highlighting supply-chain contributions. (3) Interregional linkages are structurally asymmetric, with upstream regions exerting strong influence and transmission dominated by resource- and heavy-industry sectors. (4) The network synergism index responds most strongly to As in Hunan (57.0% of the total variance), while Cd, Pb, and Hg in Hunan and Cr in Zhejiang account for the remainder, with marked cross-metal interactions. These findings support targeted, region-specific HME management within YREB, with relevance for other regions facing similar challenges.

Source: Ecological Indicators

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115428

Authors: Nan Wang, Guohe Huang, Mengyu Zhai, Yupeng Fu, Lijun Lin, Bin Luo

Institutions: University of Regina, Beijing University of Technology, Shenzhen University

Language: English

Topic: Sustainability and Ecological Systems Analysis

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,650