The ecologically vulnerable regions in Northwest China were identified as key potential areas for renewable energy development.The synergistic advancement between establishing new energy bases and implementing comprehensive land consolidation was considered a crucial strategy for promoting high-quality development in these fragile ecosystems.This study,which took Qilian County in Qinghai Province as the research area,developed an ecological sensitivity assessment model based on topographic,soil,and ecological factors.A suitability evaluation model for photovoltaic(PV)base construction was also established,incorporating energy resources,infrastructure conditions,and landscape structure.A systematic analysis was conducted to assess the regional ecological sensitivity,the suitability for PV base construction,as well as the coordinated development level of the two aspects.Based on the coupling coordination degree model,the photovoltaic base construction type areas were classified to promote the layout of the new energy industry and the comprehensive land consolidation in a coordinated manner.The findings revealed that:1)The overall ecological sensitivity in Qilian County was relatively high,showing a general pattern of"higher in the west and lower in the east."Townships such as Yanglong and Yeniugou exhibited particularly high sensitivity.Conversely,the suitability for PV base construction demonstrated a"high in the north and south,low in the center"pattern,with higher suitability concentrated in towns like Mole and Ebao.2)Using the coupling coordination degree model,Qilian County was categorized into four adaptive type areas.The high-quality coordination zone(2 734.70 km2),located in areas including Mole Town and Arong Township,was prioritized for PV base development,where the"pastoral-photovoltaic complementary model"could be developed,and ecological protection and restoration work should have been emphasized before and after construction.The good coordination zone(2 690.57 km2),found in parts of Yanglong and Yeniugou Townships,where the"pastoral-photovoltaic complementary model"and"photovoltaic+agricultural model"could be developed,and the regional ecological environment was generally in good condition;however,pollution of the water areas within the basin should be prevented and soil and water conservation work should be done well.The moderate coordination zone(1 150.54 km2),distributed across parts of Yanglong Township and Mole Town,had high ecological sensitivity and significant constraints for solar energy exploitation,necessitating a priority on ecological protection and only moderate PV development.The barely coordinated zone(374.18 km2),located in areas like Yanglong Township,was strictly limited for development;Priority should be given to natural restoration,supplemented by necessary ecological restoration projects in a timely manner.This study provided a methodological framework for integrating new energy industry development with land restoration efforts in ecologically vulnerable regions.

Microplastics (MPs) accumulate at high concentrations in sewage sludge. Upon sludge disposal, MPs are continuously released into the environment, driving cross-media migration and posing risks to ecological and human health. This review synthesizes the sources and occurrence characteristics of MPs in sludge, their migration and transformation during wastewater and sludge treatment, and their migration, accumulation, and environmental effects from post-treatment sludge disposal. Industrial wastewater, domestic sewage, and stormwater runoff are the primary sources of MPs, with fibrous particles being the most prevalent in sludge. During wastewater treatment, only a minute fraction of MPs is discharged into the receiving waters with the treated effluent. In contrast, the vast majority is retained and ultimately accumulates in the sludge. During sludge treatment, these particles undergo secondary fragmentation and show increased hazard potential, leading to long-term environmental accumulation and ecological impacts via sludge disposal pathways. Moreover, MPs can enter the food chain, posing potential threats to human health. To address these risks, this paper proposes a whole-chain prevention and control strategy, spanning from source reduction to end-of-pipe measures. This approach shifts from passive management to proactive, process-wide regulation of MPs in sludge, offering theoretical foundations and technical references for pollution control in sewage sludge.

Soil organic pollution threatens the integrity of ecosystems. Traditional ecotoxicity assessments face data scarcity and are also limited by linear models. This study developed a machine learning-quantitative structure-activity relationship (ML-QSAR) model, which integrated 2108 toxicity data points (77 species, 305 compounds) and incorporated molecular descriptors derived from density functional theory (DFT). The ecological thresholds were derived via species sensitivity distribution (SSD). The results indicated that the Random Forest (RF) algorithm outperformed XGBoost and CatBoost, with a training/test R-2 of 0.968/0.824. The external validation showed that 95.9% of the predictions error were within 1.5-fold error. Global feature analysis identified entropy, dipole moment (mu), and soil moisture as core driving features. Entropy regulated toxicity via a threshold effect of 744.5 J/(mol & centerdot;K), and it increased toxicity by 2.3 times in low entropy ranges. There is a significant interaction between dipole moment (mu) and soil moisture. The toxicity increased by 2.3 times under combined conditions of mu > 4.4 Debye and soil moisture >31.7%. Toxicity is modulated by the interaction of soil silt content and 22 parameters. The goodness-of-fit value of the SSD curve constructed from model predictions exceeded 0.91. The derived ecological safety threshold (PNEC) for dinitrotoluene was 5.498 mg/kg, which is far lower than that for anthracene oil, hexabromocyclododecane, and perfluorooctanoic acid, and is therefore considered the highest risk pollutant. This framework overcomes linear limitations of traditional QSAR models, and provides a high-throughput tool for soil contaminant risk screening.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) has attracted increasing attention due to its high toxicity. However, determining its ecological threshold through species sensitivity distribution is challenging, primarily due to a lack of ecotoxicity data for BaP-contaminated soils. This study examined the ecotoxicity of BaP on earthworms and its effect on soil dehydrogenase activity and nitrogen transformation processes, aiming to derive its ecological threshold using these representative receptors. Our results show a notable avoidance behavior and reduced weight gain in earthworms, along with a non-linear response in their antioxidant enzyme system. Exposure to BaP significantly altered microbial species composition and reduced diversity, leading to increased dehydrogenase activity and inhibited nitrogen transformation processes. This suggests that BaP induces oxidative stress in earthworms and impairs soil functions. Statistical modeling determined the ecological threshold for BaP in soil to be between 1.17 and 13.30 mg/kg. To ensure sensitivity protection and ecological safety, a reference value of 1.17 mg/kg is recommended for screening purposes. A comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of a contaminated site revealed that adopting this threshold could reduce remediation costs by 54.2 % compared to the current standard, yielding significant economic and ecological benefits.

In China, the co-contamination of soil with cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) is one of the most severe forms of combined pollution. Modeling the transfer of Cd and As from co-contaminated soil to crops has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, five soils with significant differences in physicochemical properties were selected to simulate the compound pollution conditions by exogenously adding Cd and As, and the bioaccumulation and translocation behaviors of these two elements were thoroughly investigated. The study used machine learning methods and stepwise linear regression to establish prediction models for the accumulation of Cd and As in peanut plants. The safety thresholds of Cd and As in soil based on food quality standards were then derived. The results demonstrated that peanuts exhibited significantly higher Cd accumulation capacity compared to As, with bioconcentration factors (BCFs) ranging from 0.77 to 36.55 for Cd and 0.006 to 0.449 for As. Cd was mainly translocated to peanut shoots and concentrated aboveground, while As was mainly accumulated in roots. Compared to single Cd contamination, the presence of As increased Cd concentrations in roots, shoots, shells, and kernels by up to 87.5 %, 71.3 %, 120.2 %, and 48.9 %, respectively. Conversely, the presence of Cd reduced As content in roots, shells, and kernels by up to 38.3 %, 45.5 %, and 38.1 %. Using the XGBoost and stepwise linear regression models, key factors influencing the accumulation of Cd and As in plants were identified. Additionally, corresponding regression prediction equations were developed, which explained over 0.66 of the variance in metal accumulation in peanut parts. Our derived soil safety thresholds suggest that contaminant concentrations should be more tightly controlled to reduce health risks in case of mixed contamination. This study provides new insights into soil contamination management and contributes to developing more effective contamination control strategies for co-contaminated soils.

The antioxidant N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) is widely incorporated into tires to extend their service life. However, in the presence of ozone, it is readily transformed into N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-benzoquinone (6PPD-Q). Owing to the large-scale production and widespread utilization of rubber-related products, 6PPD-Q is continuously released into the environment with tire and road wear particles, becoming ubiquitous across multiple environmental compartments. It possesses bioaccumulation potential and exhibits significant toxicity, while multiple exposure pathways enable it to enter human body, posing risks to public health. This review summarizes the environmental distribution of 6PPD-Q in atmospheric, aquatic, and terrestrial systems, and examines key factors influencing its occurrence, including precipitation patterns, traffic characteristics, sunlight, and particle size. The toxicological effects of 6PPD-Q are also discussed. Based on these findings, a comprehensive management framework encompassing “source reduction—process regulation—end-of-pipe treatment” is proposed. Finally, current knowledge gaps are identified and future research directions are highlighted.

Coal mining activities have been demonstrated to result in substantial environmental contamination, posing severe risks to surrounding soil ecosystems. However, the interaction between microbial community structure and environmental factors in coal mining areas remains poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the health status of soils and the effects of heavy metals on microbial community structure in coal mining areas through comprehensive soil health assessments and sequencing. Our findings revealed that soils impacted by mining activities exhibited low soil health index values, with health grades ranging from moderate to poor. Active biomarkers including Gemmatimonadota (phylum), Patescibacteria (phylum), and Saccharimonadia were highly enriched in mine soils, with some developing metal tolerance. Additionally, potential pathogenic bacteria, including MND1, Bacillus, and Pannonibacter, and potential pathogenic fungi including Fusarium and Alternaria, showed significantly higher abundance in these soils. Heavy metal concentrations, particularly Cu and As, were strongly correlated with the distribution of certain bacterial genera, alongside variations in soil physicochemical properties, including C/N ratios and organic matter content. These findings demonstrate complex relationships among heavy metal pollution, soil properties, and microbial communities, underlining the potential risks posed by mining activities to soil health and agricultural productivity in affected regions.

The ecological risk assessment of metals in soils is essential for soil pollution management. However, regional soil heterogeneity and species diversity need to be considered when making these assessments. Therefore, an interspecies correlation estimation (ICE) model was constructed based on typical soil scenarios that could predict metal toxicity across species. A dataset comprising 1017 toxicity data points for 12 metals (including Cu, Zn, and Ni) across eight species and two microbial processes was analyzed. An information gain analysis revealed that soil properties contributed 0.687 to metal toxicity, which was significantly higher than that for metal structural characteristics (0.313). After clustering the soils into three typical scenarios (acidic low-clay, neutral high-clay, and alkaline medium-clay), the influence of soil properties on toxicity prediction decreased to 0.529 (neutral high-clay) and 0.496 (alkaline medium-clay). Hierarchical clustering was used to screen six metal elements with lower toxicity variabilities (inter quartile range: 0.270-169.895) for modeling and 32 optimized ICE models were established (R2 = 90.648-0.895, MSE = 0.183-0.614). Brassica napus was found to be the best surrogate species for predicting metal toxicity in Brassica chinensis L. under alkaline medium-clay soil conditions (R2 = 0.895, MSE = 0.303). This study is the first to systematically integrate soil scenario clustering, metal toxicity variability screening, and machine learning-enhanced ICE modeling and provides a more robust and adaptable framework for ecological risk assessment in heterogeneous soil environments.

The soil environment is a primary destination for contaminants such as microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals (HMs), which are frequently detected simultaneously. The long-term coexistence of MPs and HMs in the soil necessitates unavoidable interactions, affecting their environmental chemical behavior and bioavailability. These co-contaminants pose potential threats to soil organism growth and reproduction, crop productivity, food security, and may jeopardize human health via the food chain. This paper summarizes the sources and trends of MPs in the soil environment, along with the mechanisms and current research status of MP adsorption or desorption of HMs. Additionally, this paper reviews factors affecting HM adsorption on MPs, including MP properties, HM chemical properties, and other environmental factors. Lastly, the effects of MPs and HMs on soil ecology and human health are summarized. The interaction mechanisms and potential biological effects of their co-contamination require further exploration. Future research should delve deeper into the ecotoxic effects of MP–HM co-contamination at cellular and molecular levels, to provide a comprehensive reference for understanding the environmental behavior of their co-contamination in soil.

A key to control sources of groundwater nitrogen pollution relies on improved understanding of nitrogen enrichment along with water recharge and its hydrological pathways. Employing the water stable isotope technique (delta D-H2O and delta 18O-H2O) combined with water chemistry analysis, this study investigated interactions of groundwater with surface water and identified potential recharge sources of groundwater in a typical agricultural basin with mixed land use types and agricultural intensification of Northeast China. A total of 48 groundwater and surface water samples and representative samples from potential nitrogen sources (piedmont plateau spring water, domestic sewage, atmospheric precipitation and ditch water) were collected. The Bayesian isotopic mixing model was performed to quantify proportional contributions of potential water recharge sources to groundwater. Results showed that limited interactions between surface water and groundwater occurred in the basin except for the headwater area. The proportional contributions of water recharge sources to groundwater varied with land use types. Groundwater in the forested area was primarily recharged by piedmont plateau spring water and atmospheric precipitation. In the town area, atmospheric precipitation was the major recharge source with the mean probability estimate of 46.2 %, and the contribution of domestic sewage should not be ignored (15.4 %). Besides the lateral recharge of piedmont plateau spring water (59.2 %) and atmospheric precipitation (36.7 %), ditch water for irrigation in rice paddies also contributed to groundwater to a lesser degree (4.2 %). In dry cropland, shallow groundwater was mainly from lateral recharge of piedmont plateau spring water (59.9 %), while deep groundwater recharge largely relied on atmospheric precipitation and the mean probability estimate was 74.9 %. This study provided an alternative to reveal hydrological pathways of groundwater nitrogen recharge in mixed land use basins with agricultural intensification.

The water purification efficiency of the traditional ecological floating beds (EFB) is unstable, and their ability to remove nitrogen and phosphorus is easily influenced by factors such as environmental temperature and microbial quantity. This study introduces inorganic electron donors and biofilm carrier materials into the EFB system, constructing Iron-Carbon Composite EFB (ICEFB), Sponge Iron Composite EFB (SIEFB), Zeolite Composite EFB (ZEFB), and Bio-ball Composite EFB (BEFB). The experiment investigates the water purification performance of each EFB at different temperatures and examines the water purification capabilities of the sponge iron-zeolite composite system through column experiments. Additionally, the nitrogen and phosphorus removal kinetics of the EFB system and the nitrogen and phosphorus removal processes of the filler system (Sponge ironClinoptilolite filling system) under column experiments are analyzed. The results indicate that the nitrogen and phosphorus removal performance of SIEFB and ICEFB, which are coupled with inorganic electron donors and biofilm carrier fillers, surpasses that of ZEFB and BEFB. Under the conditions of 20-30 degrees C, SIEFB and ICEFB achieve maximum removal rates of 99.33% and 99.27% for NH4 +-N, and 64.42% and 52.22% for TN, respectively. The maximum removal rates and removal loads for TP reach 89.35%, 80.92%, and 10.73 g/(m3 center dot d), 9.54 g/(m3 center dot d), respectively. Additionally, column experiments demonstrate that the addition of sponge iron enhances the phosphorus removal rate of the zeolite filling system. The nitrogen and phosphorus removal processes of the four EFB systems can be well-fitted by utilizing a first-order kinetic model based on the Arrhenius equation and the Monod kinetic model. Anticipating that this research could further perfect the application of ecological floating bed technology in water treatment, and contribute to the restoration efforts of water environments.

Nitrate export from dry croplands through multiple hydrological pathways driven by rainfall is critical for watershed diffuse pollution control. The movement of nitrate across soil layers is affected by rainfall patterns and agricultural management. However, the mode of nitrate transport and potential sources under different agricultural practices remain elusive. This study was conducted in Baijaing soil with an albic layer at mid-high latitudes of Northeast China, aiming to characterize rainfall-driven nitrate export from dryland during two rainfall events (long-duration and low-intensity, R1; and short-duration and high-intensity, R2) under three agricultural practices (nitrogen fertilization, buffer zone and vegetation type). The constructed runoff plots were used to observe surface and subsurface runoff generation and for soil and water sample collection. Oxygen and nitrogen isotopes of nitrate were employed to identify the sources and transformation processes of nitrate in runoff. The surface runoff volume was comparable to subsurface runoff volume in R1, and shallow subsurface runoff accounted for 78 % of the total subsurface runoff. The surface runoff volume was higher than subsurface runoff volume (63 % vs. 47 %) in R2. Buffer zone did not alter the time and volumes of runoff generation, but suppressed its variability. Nitrate concentrations presented significant differences across rainfall patterns (9.37 vs. 5.30 mg L-1 in R1 and R2), fertilization rates (8.49 vs. 6.17 mg L-1 in fertilized and unfertilized soil), and vegetation types (8.12, 7.69 and 4.28 mg L-1 for maize, soybean and fallow, respectively). The delta O-18-NO3- values in runoff decreased from 14.94 parts per thousand to 2.58 parts per thousand with soil depth increased, while the delta N-15-NO(3)(-)values remained relatively stable (similar to 3.5 parts per thousand). With nitrogen fertilizer application, rainfall and nitrification of soil nitrogen were the predominant sources of nitrate in surface runoff, while nitrification of fertilizer-derived nitrogen predominantly contributed to nitrate in subsurface runoff. Without nitrogen fertilizer application, majority of nitrate in both surface runoff and subsurface runoff came from the nitrification of soil nitrogen. Compared to R1, R2 promoted loss of fertilizer-derived nitrate through subsurface runoff.

Coal tar (CT) is widely used in the rubber industry to produce a reinforcing substance known as carbon black. Due to the complexity constituents of CT, the migratory dynamics of its constituents have not been characterized, resulting in contamination of soil and groundwater. To understand the migration and distribution characteristics of different nature components of CT in the study site, the distribution and migration patterns of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLs, rho >> 1 g/cm(3) ) in soil and groundwater in a rubber enterprise were characterized and analyzed. We found that: the different components in CT settle at different points in the soil as they migrate, exhibiting stratification. Specifically, TPHs in soil and groundwater are mainly concentrated in the shallow layer near the tank area, and the maximum concentration is 113,000 mg/kg; PAHs are more migratory than TPHs, and the maximum concentration of PAHs is 7408 mg/kg. Most PAHs are concentrated in the middle layer and above; DNAPLs tend to be transported to deeper stratum, penetrating deeper into the terrain and aggregating into pools (depth > 13 m). In addition, the inherently slow flow of groundwater slower groundwater flow does not significantly impact the further migration of pooled DNAPLs, but it does influence the orientation of their pollution plume. This study provides a more accurate characterization of the dynamics of pollutants associated with rubber enterprises; these results bring forth a theoretical basis for the remediation and management of pollution linked with CT.

A variety of important major and trace elements may competitively inhibit cadmium (Cd) absorption in human cells and reduce Cd toxicity. However, the impact of essential elements on the cytotoxicity of metals can be difficult to quantify and anticipate. Cd acute toxicity to Caco-2 cell viability was studied in culture solutions and modeled by a biotic ligand model (BLM). The individual effects of the cations potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), ferrous ion(Fe2+), zinc (Zn2+) and manganese (Mn2+) on Cd toxicity were also investigated. The results indicated that the toxicity of Cd in culture solutions to cell viability declined with increasing concentrations of Zn2+ and Mn2+ in the solutions, while K+, Ca2 +, Mg2 + and Fe2+ had no significant effect. Using the BLM, the stability constants for the binding of Cd2 +, Zn2+, and Mn2+ to biotic ligands were determined to be logKCdBL = 5.76, logKZnBL = 4.39 and logKMnBL = 5.31, respectively. Moreover, it was calculated that 51% occupancy of the biotic ligand sites for Cd by Cd was required to cause a 50% reduction in Caco-2 cell viability. A BLM was successfully established using the estimated constants to predict the Cd cytotoxicity to Caco-2 cell viability as a function of solution characteristics, so that the effective concentrations that reduced cell viability by 50% (EC50) could be predicted by the BLM within 1.6 fold changes of the observed EC50. The application's viability and precision for foretelling Cd toxicity in Caco-2 cells are discussed.

Using phosphotungstic acid, tetraethyl ethylenebisphosphonate (L) and rare earth chloride as raw materials, a series of Keggin-type POM-based rare earth complexes were synthesized by a heating and stirring method: [LnL3(H2O)]PW12O40 center dot CH3CN (1-6) (Ln = Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu). The molecular structures of the complexes were determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, and the influence of weak forces on the molecular packing structures were studied by calculating the presence of hydrogen bonds inside the complexes using PLATON. By analyzing the experimental results, it is concluded that tetraethyl ethylenebisphosphonate is coordinated with rare earth ions through bidentate chelation, and POMs which are not involved in coordination exist as anions. Complexes 1-6 are three-dimensional supramolecular structures constructed by hydrogen bonds. Powder X-ray diffraction proved that the structures of the synthesized complexes are consistent with the results of single-crystal analysis, and the purity is high. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the series of complexes have good thermal stability above 200 degrees C. Notably, the complexes 1-6 showed good photocatalytic degradation ability to methyl orange (MO) solution under UV irradiation; their degradation rate reached more than 95% within 15 min. The membrane material of complex 1 was successfully prepared by combining complex 1 with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that complex 1 was supported on the surface of the PVDF film. For photocatalytic degradation of MO solution, the MO degradation rate reached 97.4% within 50 min. Compared with the powder-type catalyst, the degradation efficiency is lower, but the membrane material catalysis solves the problem of catalyst recovery and has better recyclable performance. Using the method of adding different active species scavengers, the mechanism of the photocatalytic reaction was studied. Finally, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) was performed, which provided a spectroscopic basis for the rapid detection of the weak forces contained in the complexes. Rare earth complexes based on Keggin-type polyoxometalate for photocatalytic degradation of MO. The degradation rate reached more than 95% within 15 min.

筛选建设用地土壤的优先管理有毒有害物质,是开展土壤污染状况调查与风险评估、制定土壤质量标准和支撑土壤污染重点监管单位管理的依据.本文首先整合国内外多源数据进行土壤有毒有害物质筛选,然后通过化学排序并结合数理统计方法确立我国建设用地土壤优先管理的有毒有害物质名录.结果表明,通过国外与国内多源数据可以整合出886种候选土壤有毒有害物质,采用数据集合并的方法可筛选出123种应关注的土壤有毒有害物质.在此基础上,通过改进的化学排序系统,从人体毒性、暴露潜力、环境管理关注度和数据确定性4个层面,对土壤有毒有害物质进行参数化赋分与定量评价,并结合确定性得分结果,建立了含有99种物质的土壤优先管理有毒有害物质清单,其中苯并(a)芘的总得分最高,其次是镉和砷;2-氯萘和邻苯二甲酸二乙酯的总得分最低.最后,通过K均值聚类算法将99种土壤优先管理有毒有害物质划分为5个不同的优先等级,其中苯并(a)芘、镉、砷、汞、铅、镍、苯、六价铬和茚并(1,2,3-cd)芘等9种物质被划定为第一优先等级.最终,结合排放标准制定现状和分析测试方法具备情况,建议可将除茚并(1,2,3-cd)芘以外的第一优先等级物质纳入我国首批重点控制的土壤有毒有害物质名录.

A composite material was prepared from iron tailings and straw biochar for lead (Pb) removal from aqueous solution. Microscopic analysis revealed that the surface area of the composite was 131.84 m(2)/g and the porosity was predominantly an irregular mesoporous structure (similar to 3.65 nm) in size, and the predominant mineral phases were identified as quartz, magnetite and calcite. The effects of solution pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial sorbate concentration, and temperature on lead(II) removal were investigated. The results showed that the composite could remove 97.05% of lead(II), where solution pH was 5.0, adsorbent dosage was 1.00 g/L, and initial lead(II) concentration was 200 mg/L. The adsorption fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm model, demonstrated monolayer formation of lead ions onto the adsorbent, and the theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of lead(II) was 330.03 mg/g. Adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic indicated that the adsorption reaction was spontaneous and mainly controlled by chemisorption due to presence of abundance of oxygen-containing functional groups and active sites derived from straw and iron ore tailings could bond with lead(II), and columnar cerussite crystals from the reaction between Pb2+ and CO32- released from the materials were fixed the surface and inside of the materials, improved lead(II) adsorption.

The mining and beneficiation of tungsten ores, including waste treatment and tailings disposal, may cause soil contamination in the mining area and environments. Few studies have addressed soil contamination in tungsten mine sites. The current research quantitated the leachates in the surface and subsurface soil samples from mining and beneficiation areas, peripheral area, sand-making area, dumping area, and tailings pond of an abandoned tungsten mine site in Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province of China. We further evaluated the degree of soil tungsten pollution and the risk to human health. The results showed that soil tungsten contamination mainly occurred in the sand-making area where tailings were used to make sand. The highest tungsten content in the surface and subsurface soils of the sand-making area was 1250 and 3020 mg/kg, respectively, exceeding the EPA's Regional Screening Level of tungsten (930 mg/kg) for industrial land use. The leaching concentrations of soil tungsten had similar distribution patterns to that of total soil tungsten, with the highest leaching concentration (0.860 mg/L) found in the sand-making area. The geo-accumulation index evaluation indicated heavy tungsten contamination at the sand-making area and tailings pond. The hazard quotient (HQ = 1.34) of tungsten contamination in the surface soils of the sand-making area exceeded the acceptable level (HQ = 1), implying a significant risk to human health. The present study provided valuable information for pollution control and risk management of soil contamination in tungsten mine sites. Capsule: We studied the degree of soil tungsten pollution and health risk assessment in an abandoned tungsten mining area to provide helpful information for soil pollution control and risk management in China's tungsten mining areas.