Leaching Risks and Regulatory Variation in Titanium Gypsum Use Along the Yangtze River

Xiaowei Xu, Jun Zhang, Dapeng Zhang, Haifeng Tu, Yi Wang, Zehua Zhao () and Qi Yu ()
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Xiaowei Xu: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Jun Zhang: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Dapeng Zhang: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Haifeng Tu: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Yi Wang: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Zehua Zhao: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Qi Yu: Department of Environmental Science, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-14

Abstract: This study assessed the environmental risks and regional variations associated with using titanium gypsum in road construction. It revealed that the conventional HJ/T299-2007 leaching method underestimates heavy metal leaching rates from titanium gypsum by approximately 1%, potentially leading to an underestimation of environmental risks. Further analysis indicated that Pb, Ni, As, Cd, and Zn leach from titanium gypsum road materials to varying extents, while Mn poses a notable exceedance risk with an 11% probability of surpassing limits and a maximum exceedance factor of 1.8. Significant disparities in regulatory thresholds for titanium gypsum pollutants were observed among 11 provinces along the Yangtze River, with the highest threshold (Qinghai) nearly five times greater than the lowest (Jiangxi). Rainfall was identified as a key contributor to these regional differences. The findings suggest that traditional assessment methods underestimate titanium gypsum risks and highlight the need for enhanced national solid waste evaluation frameworks. Additionally, given the substantial regional risk variations, differentiated management strategies are recommended.

Keywords: titanium gypsum; utilization; regional variations; environmental risk (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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