Spatial and Temporal Characterization of the Development and Pollution Emissions of Key Heavy Metal-Related Industries in Typical Regions of China: A Case Study of Hunan Province

Liying Yang, Xia Li, Jianan Luo, Xuechun Ma, Xiaoyan Zhang, Jiamin Zhao, Zhicheng Shen () and Jingwen Xu ()
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Liying Yang: School of Environment, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
Xia Li: School of Environment, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
Jianan Luo: School of Environment, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
Xuechun Ma: School of Environment, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
Xiaoyan Zhang: Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China
Jiamin Zhao: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710021, China
Zhicheng Shen: Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China
Jingwen Xu: Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-20

Abstract: At present, there is a lack of in-depth knowledge of the effects of heavy metal-related industries (HMIs) in China on the environment. Hunan Province, as a representative gathering place of HMIs, is among the regions in China that are the most severely polluted with heavy metals. This paper selected Hunan Province as the study area to analyze the development trend, characteristics of pollution emissions, and environmental impacts of seven HMIs based on emission permit information data from Hunan Province. The results of this study show that (1) from 2000 to 2022, the number of heavy metal-related enterprises in Hunan Province increased overall. Among the seven industries, the chemical product manufacturing industry (CPMI) had the largest number of enterprises, whereas the nonferrous metal smelting and rolling industry (NSRI) had the highest gross industrial product (27.6%). (2) HMIs in Hunan Province had significant emissions of cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and hydargyrum (Hg) from exhaust gas and wastewater. Heavy metal-related exhaust gas and wastewater outlets from the NSRI constituted 43.9% and 35.3%, respectively, of all outlets of the corresponding type. The proportions of exhaust gas outlets involving Cd, Hg, and As from the NSRI to total exhaust gas outlets were 44.27%, 60.54%, and 34.23%, respectively. The proportions of wastewater outlets involving Cd, Hg, and As from the NSRI to total wastewater outlets were 61.13%, 57.89%, and 75.30%, respectively. (3) The average distances of heavy metal-related enterprises from arable land, rivers, and flooded areas in Hunan Province were 256 m, 1763 m, and 3352 m, respectively. Counties with high environmental risk (H-L type) were situated mainly in eastern Hunan. Among them, Chenzhou had the most heavy metal-related wastewater outlets (22.7%), and Hengyang had the most heavy metal-related exhaust gas outlets (23.1%). The results provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution and an enhancement in environmental sustainability in typical Chinese areas where HMIs are concentrated.

Keywords: heavy metal-related industries; pollution emissions; spatial characteristics; environmental impacts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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