Heavy metal contamination and microbial response in groundwater of the Yangtze River Estuary sea-land interaction zone

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-5641.2026.03.012

Abstract

Abstract:

In the sea-land interaction zone, groundwater is influenced by multiple environmental factors, posing a high risk of heavy metal pollution. This study assesses the environmental conditions of the sea-land interaction zone in the Yangtze River Estuary by analyzing the concentrations of eight heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, and Hg) and examining the composition of microorganisms and heavy metal resistance genes (MRGs) in groundwater. The results indicate that the average concentrations of heavy metals in well water stations are below the Class Ⅲ limits of the National Groundwater Quality Standard (GB/T 14848-2017). At interstitial water stations, all heavy metals except Pb also remain below these limits. Pearson correlation analysis reveals significant positive correlations between As and Hg (r=0.661, p<0.01), As and Zn (r=0.915, p<0.05), and Cd and Hg (r=0.918, p<0.05), suggesting common pollution sources. Most stations have a single-factor pollution index below 1, indicating safe levels. However, a small number of interstitial water stations record Pb index values between 1 and 3, indicating mild to moderate pollution. The multi-factor comprehensive pollution index is 0.27 for well water stations (safe), and 1.73 for interstitial water stations (mild pollution). Metagenomic analysis of groundwater samples identifies 21 MRGs and 39 classified bacterial phyla that potentially harbor these genes. This study provides insights into the distribution, potential sources, and microbial involvement in heavy metal contamination in groundwater of the sea-land interaction zone of the Yangtze River Estuary.

Key words: groundwater, heavy metal, sea-land interaction zone, risk assessment, metal resistance gene

CLC Number:

X523
X172

Jinlin YAN, Jiawei ZHANG, Wenxiao LIU, Yue LI, Jiahui FAN, Jinlong WANG, Hongpo DONG. Heavy metal contamination and microbial response in groundwater of the Yangtze River Estuary sea-land interaction zone[J]. J* E* C* N* U* N* S*, 2026, 2026(3): 148-160.

Figures/Tables 11

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等级	单因子污染指数分类标准		多因子综合污染指数分类标准
等级	P_i	污染等级	P_n	污染等级
1	P_i≤1	安全	P_n≤0.7	安全
2	1<P_i≤2	轻度	0.7<P_n≤1	预警
3	2<P_i≤3	中度	1<P_n≤2	轻度
4	P_i>3	重度	2<P_n≤3	中度
5			P_n>3	重度

站位		元素浓度/(μg/L)
站位		Cu	Zn	Cd	Pb	As	Hg
井水	CM1	-	47.16	-	1.16	3.75	0.04
	CM2	-	37.15	-	0.36	2.70	0.05
	CM3	-	49.96	-	-	0.45	0.03
	CM4	-	34.33	-	2.04	0.71	0.03
	CM5	-	28.78	-	-	1.60	0.02
	QD1	-	34.14	-	2.26	0.45	0.03
	QD2	-	61.08	-	0.55	0.82	0.03
	QD3	-	35.73	-	-	0.23	0.02
	QD4	-	51.86	-	-	0.42	0.02
	TC1	-	64.61	-	0.40	0.21	0.04
	BS1	-	50.80	-	-	0.29	0.03
	PD1	-	70.62	-	-	0.70	0.02
	PD2	-	107.35	-	-	0.21	0.02
	FX1	11.09	64.32	-	-	0.42	0.02
	JS1	7.28	63.78	-	-	0.30	0.02
	HS	8.79	68.95	-	-	0.56	0.02
	CX1	14.28	60.63	-	-	0.38	0.02
	CX2	16.18	32.98	-	-	0.23	0.02
间隙水	YWZ	67.93	163.94	1.98	2.42	1.07	0.03
	PDP1	33.18	156.98	0.59	15.08	1.35	0.03
	PDP2	40.14	155.18	0.32	24.32	1.95	0.02
	PDP3	25.25	117.63	0.13	12.84	1.51	0.02
	CMP1	17.87	381.50	0.76	2.00	3.47	0.03
	CMP2	37.45	167.04	0.20	12.57	1.61	0.02

地下水类型	元素	检出率/%	浓度范围/(μg/L)	平均值/(μg/L)	中位数/(μg/L)	百分比/%	国家Ⅲ类标准/(μg/L)
井水	Cu	27.78	7.28~16.18	11.52	11.09	5.52	1000
	Zn	100	28.78~107.35	53.57	51.33	92.40	1000
	Cd	0	-	-	-	-	5
	Pb	33.33	0.36~2.26	1.13	0.85	0.65	10
	As	100	0.21~3.75	0.80	0.44	1.38	10
	Hg	100	0.02~0.05	0.03	0.02	0.05	1
间隙水	Cu	100	17.87~67.93	36.97	35.32	15.31	1000
	Zn	100	117.63~381.50	190.38	160.46	78.87	1000
	Cd	100	0.13~1.98	0.66	0.46	0.27	5
	Pb	100	2.00~24.32	11.54	12.71	4.78	10
	As	100	1.07~3.47	1.83	1.56	0.76	10
	Hg	100	0.02~0.03	0.02	0.02	0.01	1

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