# Non-Targeted and Targeted Analysis of Organic Micropollutants in Agricultural Soils Across China: Occurrence and Risk Evaluation

## TL;DR

This study identifies and evaluates organic micropollutants in Chinese agricultural soils, revealing regional patterns and risks to ecosystems.

## Contribution

The first large-scale integrated non-targeted and targeted analysis of organic micropollutants in China's agricultural soils.

## Key findings

- 498 micropollutants were identified, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals.
- Greenhouse soils showed higher micropollutant levels due to intensive agrochemical use and reduced phototransformation.
- Orchard soils had the highest micropollutant accumulation, linked to frequent pesticide use and minimal tillage.

## Abstract

Organic micropollutants in agricultural soils pose significant ecological and health risks. This study conducted the first large-scale, integrated non-targeted screening and targeted analysis across China’s major food-producing regions. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, 498 micropollutants were identified, including pesticides, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, food additives, natural products, and emerging contaminants. Spatial analysis revealed strong correlations in pesticide detections between Henan and Hebei, as well as between Hebei and Shandong, indicating pronounced regional similarities in pesticide occurrence patterns. Concentrations of 50 quantified micropollutants showed clear spatial variability, which was associated with precipitation, water use, and agricultural output, reflecting climate–agriculture–socioeconomic synergies. Greenhouse soils accumulated higher micropollutant levels than open fields, driven by intensive agrochemical inputs, plastic-film confinement, and reduced phototransformation. Co-occurrence patterns indicated similar pathways for personal care products, industrial chemicals, and pesticides, whereas natural products and pharmaceuticals showed lower levels of co-occurrence due to crop-specific exudates, fertilization, and rainfall-driven leaching. Among cropping systems, orchard soils had the highest micropollutant accumulation, followed by paddy and vegetable soils, consistent with frequent pesticide use and minimal tillage. Risk quotients indicated moderate-to-high ecological risks at over half of the sites. These results reveal complex soil pollution patterns and highlight the need for dynamic inventories and spatially differentiated, crop- and system-specific mitigation strategies.