标题：Causal inference between bioavailability of heavy metals and environmental factors in a large-scale region

作者：Liu, YQ (Liu, Yuqiong); Du, QY (Du, Qingyun); Wang, Q (Wang, Qi); Yu, HY (Yu, Huanyun); Liu, JF (Liu, Jianfeng); Tian, Y (Tian, Yu); Chang, CY (Chang, Chunying); Lei, J (Lei, Jing)

来源出版物：ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION卷：226页码：370-378 DOI：10.1016/j.envpol.2017.03.019 出版年：JUL 2017

摘要：The causation between bioavailability of heavy metals and environmental factors are generally obtained from field experiments at local scales at present, and lack sufficient evidence from large scales. However, inferring causation between bioavailability of heavy metals and environmental factors across large-scale regions is challenging. Because the conventional correlation-based approaches used for causation assessments across large-scale regions, at the expense of actual causation, can result in spurious insights. In this study, a general approach framework, Intervention calculus when the directed acyclic graph (DAG) is absent (IDA) combined with the backdoor criterion (BC), was introduced to identify causation between the bioavailability of heavy metals and the potential environmental factors across large-scale regions. We take the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in China as a case study. The causal structures and effects were identified based on the concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, As, Cu, Hg, Pb, Cr, Ni and Cd) in soil (0-20 cm depth) and vegetable (lettuce) and 40 environmental factors (soil properties, extractable heavy metals and weathering indices) in 94 samples across the PRD. Results show that the bioavailability of heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Cr, Ni and As) was causally influenced by soil properties and soil weathering factors, whereas no causal factor impacted the bioavailability of Cu, Hg and Pb. No latent factor was found between the bioavailability of heavy metals and environmental factors. The causation between the bioavailability of heavy metals and environmental factors at field experiments is consistent with that on a large scale. The IDA combined with the BC provides a powerful tool to identify causation between the bioavailability of heavy metals and environmental factors across large-scale regions. Causal inference in a large system with the dynamic changes has great implications for system-based risk management.

入藏号：WOS:000405881800039

文献类型：Article

语种：English

作者关键词： Bioavailability; Environmental factor; Causal inference; Heavy metal; Intervention calculus when the directed; acyclic graph is absent; Backdoor criterion

扩展关键词： PEARL RIVER DELTA; RICE PADDY FIELDS; REGULATORY RELATIONSHIPS; OBSERVATIONAL DATA; SOIL PROPERTIES; EXPRESSION DATA; MINING AREA; PH; CADMIUM; PHYTOEXTRACTION

通讯作者地址：Du, QY (通讯作者),Wuhan Univ, Sch Resource & Environm Sci, 129 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.

Wang, Q (通讯作者),Guangdong Inst Ecoenvironm Sci & Technol, Guangdong Key Lab Integrated Agroenvironm Pollut, Guangzhou 510650, Guangdong, Peoples R China.

电子邮件地址：qydu@whu.edu.cn; jenniferqi520@gmail.com

地址：

[Liu, Yuqiong; Du, Qingyun] Wuhan Univ, Sch Resource & Environm Sci, 129 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.

[Liu, Yuqiong; Wang, Qi; Yu, Huanyun; Tian, Yu] Guangdong Inst Ecoenvironm Sci & Technol, Guangdong Key Lab Integrated Agroenvironm Pollut, Guangzhou 510650, Guangdong, Peoples R China.

[Liu, Yuqiong] Hunan Hydro&Power Design Inst, Changsha 410007, Hunan, Peoples R China.

[Du, Qingyun] Wuhan Univ, Key Lab Geog Informat Syst, Minist Educ, 129 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.

[Liu, Jianfeng] Chinese Acad Forestry, Res Inst Forestry, Beijing 100091, Peoples R China.

[Chang, Chunying] Guangdong Prov Acad Environm Sci, Guangzhou 510045, Guangdong, Peoples R China.

[Lei, Jing] Guangxi Univ, Coll Agr, Nanning 530005, Peoples R China.

研究方向：Environmental Sciences & Ecology

ISSN：0269-7491

eISSN: 1873-6424

影响因子：5.099