Education

Research Interests: 

The presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in remote areas such as the Tibetan Plateau has raised considerable concern on their global transport and accumulation behavior. My work aims at the regional cycling of POPs, which prone to preferential deposition and accumulation in cold areas. I have set 4 active air samplers on different field stations of ITP and 40 passivel air samplers covering a vast area of the Tibetan Plateau, Nepal, Pakistan and Tajikistan, which aims to get both high resolution atmospheric transport patterns of POPs, and the spatial distribution of these persistent contaminants across the third pole region, including both POPs source regions and pristine alpine areas. We also measure the POPs concentrations in different matrixes (air, soil, plant, ice, and snow, lake water) to depict the driving force for the “source-receptor” relations, and investigate the air-surface exchange processes of certain POPs in Tibetan Plateau environment. This aims to test the hypothesis that the Tibetan Plateau - like a “sink” for the regional cycling of POPs. There are also some ice core and sediment core studies in my group which focused on the change of contamination from past to recent. By combining the historical and modern observations, we aim to use climate and chemical transport models to predict the future changes of contamination in the Tibetan Plateau. 

Research Fields: Regional and global cycling of persistent organic pollutants 

Publications in the recent 5 years (2016-2020) (* corresponding author; # joint first authors; Including books and book chapters) 

Part 1: 5 representative publications 

1. Zhu, T.T., Wang, X.P. *, Lin, H., Ren, J., Wang, C.F., Gong, P. 2020. Accumulation of pollutants in progalcier sediment: impact of glacier melting and anthropogenic activities. Environment Science & Technology, 54, 7901-7910. 

2. Wang, X.P. *, Chen, M., Gong, P., Wang, C. 2019. Perfluorinated alkyl substances in snow as an atmospheric tracer for tracking the interactions between westerly winds and the Indian Monsoon over western China. Environment International, 124, 294–301. 

3. Ren, J., Wang, X.P.*, Gong, P., Wang, C. 2019. Characterization of Tibetan Soil as a Source or Sink of Atmospheric Persistent Organic Pollutants: Seasonal Shift and Impact of Global Warming. Environmental Science & Technology, 53, 3589-3598.  

4. Wang, X.P. *, Schuster, J., Jones, K.C., Gong, P. 2018. Occurrence and spatial distribution of neutral perfluoroalkyl substances and cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes in the atmosphere of the Tibetan Plateau. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 18(12), 8745-8755. 

5. Wang, X.P. *, Ren, J., Gong, P., Wang, C., Xue, Y., Yao, T. Rainer Lohmann. 2016. Spatial distribution of the persistent organic pollutants across the Tibetan Plateau and its linkage with the climate systems: a 5-year air monitoring study. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 16(11), 6901-6911. 

Part 2: all other publications (exclude part 1) 

1. Dotel, J., Gong, P., Wang, X.P.*, Pokhrel, B., Wang, C.F., Nawab, J. 2020. Determination of dry deposition velocity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons under the sub-tropical climate and its implication for regional cycling. Environmental Pollution, 261, 114143. 

2. Yan, J.P., Wang, X.P.*, Gong, P., Wang, C.F. 2020. Nitrated polycyclic aromatic compounds in the atmospheric environment: A review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology,  https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2020.1748486. 

3. Wang, X.Y., Gong, P., Wang, C.F., Wang, X.P*. Pokhrel, B., Dotel, J., 2020. Spatial distribution patterns and human exposure risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in Nepal using tree bark as a passive air sampler. Environmental Research, 186, 109501. 

4. Kang, S.C., Zhang, Y.L., Zhang, Q.G., Wang, X.P.*, Dong, Z.W., Li, C.L., Wang, C.F., Chen, P.F., Rawat, B., 2020. Chemical components and distributions in glaciers of the Third Pole. Water Quality in the Third Pole, 71-134. 

5. Gong, P., Wang, X.P.*, Pokhrel, B., Wang, H., Liu, X.D., Liu, X.B., Wania, F., 2019. Trans-Himalayan Transport of Organochlorine Compounds: Three-Year Observations and Model-Based Flux Estimation. Environmental Science & Technology, 53, 6773？6783. 

6. Bhattarai, H., Saikawa, E., Wan, X., Zhu, H.X., Ram, K., Gao, S.P., Kang, S.C., Zhang, Q.G., Zhang, Y.L., Wu, G.M., Wang, X.P., Kawamura, K., Fu, P.Q., Cong, Z.Y.*, 2019. Levoglucosan as a tracer of biomass burning: Recent progress and perspectives. Atmospheric Research, 220: 20–33.  

7. Wang, X.P.*, Wang, C.F., Zhu, T.T., Gong, P., Fu, J.J., Cong, Z.Y., 2019. Persistent organic pollutants in the polar regions and the Tibetan Plateau: A review of current knowledge and future prospects. Environmental Pollution, 248:191-208. 

8. Chen, M.K., Wang, C.F., Wang, X.P.*, Fu, J.J., Gong, P., Yan, J.P., Yu, Z.L., Yan, F.P, Nawab, J.. 2019. Release of perfluoroalkyl substances from melting glacier of the tibetan plateau: insights into the impact of global warming on the cycling of emerging pollutants. JGR Atmospheres, 124: 7442-7456.   

9. Nawab, J.*, Khan, N., Ahmed, R., Khan, S., Ghani, U., Rahman, Z., Khan, F., Wang, X.P.*, Muhammad, J., Sher, H., 2019. Influence of different organic geo-sorbents on Spinacia oleracea grown in chromite mine-degraded soil: a greenhouse study. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 19: 2417–2432. 

2876-2884. Kang S C, Cong Z Y, Wang X P, et al. The transboundary transport of air pollutants and their environmental impacts on Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Science Bulletin, 2019, 64: 2876–2884. (in Chinese) 

10. Pokhrel, B., Gong, P., Wang, X.P.*, Sanjay Nath Khanal, Ren, J., Wang, C.F., Gao, S.P., Yao, T.D., 2018. Atmospheric organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in urban areas of Nepal: spatial variation, sources, temporal trends, and long-range transport potential. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 18(2): 1325-1336.  

11. Gong, P. , Wang,X.P.*, Jiujiang Sheng, Hailong Wang, Xiaohua Yuan, He Yuanqing, Yun Qian, Yao, T.D., 2018. Seasonal variations and sources of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine compounds in a high-altitude city: Evidence from four-year observations. Environmental Pollution, 233: 1188-1197.  

12. Huang, Z.Y., Wu, C.C., Bao, L.J., Wang, X.P., Muir, D., Zeng, E.Y., 2018. Characteristics and potential health risk of rural Tibetans' exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during summer period. Environment International, 118: 70-77.  

13. Yan, J.P., Wang, X.P.*, Gong, P., Wang, C.F., Cong, Z.Y., 2018. Review of brown carbon aerosols: Recent progress and perspectives. Science of the Total Environment, 634: 1475-1485.  

14. Wang, C.F., Wang, X.P.*, Gong, P., Yao, T.D., 2018. Long-term trends of atmospheric organochlorine pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons over the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Science of the Total Environment, 624: 241-249. 

15. Pokhrel, B., Gong, P., Wang, X.P.*, Wang, C.F., Gao, S.P., 2018. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the urban atmosphere of Nepal: Distribution, sources, seasonal trends, and cancer risk. Science of the Total Environment, 618: 1583-1590.  

16. Pokhrel, B., Gong, P., Wang, X.P.*, Chen, M.K., Wang, C.F., Gao, S.P., 2018. Distribution, sources, and air-soil exchange of OCPs, PCBs and PAHs in urban soils of Nepal. Chemosphere, 200: 532-541.  

17. Nawab, J., Khan, S., Wang, X.P.* , 2018. Ecological and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in the major rivers of Pakistan: General population vs. Fishermen. Chemosphere, 202: 154-164.  

18. Zhang, J.Y., Wang, X.P.*, Gong, P., Wang, C.F., Sun, D.C., 2018. Seasonal variation and source analysis of persistent organic pollutants in the atmosphere over the western Tibetan Plateau. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(24): 24052-24063.  

19. Nawab, J., Farooqi, S., Wang, X.P.*, Khan, S., Khan, A., 2018. Levels, dietary intake, and health risk of potentially toxic metals in vegetables, fruits, and cereal crops in Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(6): 5558-5571. 

20. Nawab, J., Ghani, J., Khan S.,, Wang, X.P.*, 2018. Minimizing the risk to human health due to the ingestion of arsenic and toxic metals in vegetables by the application of biochar, farmyard manure and peat moss. Journal of Environmental Management, 214: 172-183. 

Wang, C.F., Gong, P., Ren, J., Wang, X.P.*. Passive sampling techniques for the monitoring of trace organic pollutants in water[J]. Environmental Chemistry, 2018, 37(8): 1831-1841. (in Chinese)  

21. Gong, P., Wang, X.P.*, Liu, X.D., Wania, F.. Field Calibration of XAD-Based Passive Air Sampler on the Tibetan Plateau: Wind Influence and Configuration Improvement, 2017. Environmental Science & Technology, 51(10): 5642-5649.  

22. Ren, J., Wang, X.P.*, Wang, C.F., Gong, P., Yao, T.D., 2017.  Atmospheric processes of organic pollutants over a remote lake on the central Tibetan Plateau: implications for regional cycling. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 17(2): 1401-1415. 

23. Ren, J., Wang, X.P.*, Wang, C.F., Gong, P., Wang X.R., Yao, T.D., 2017. Biomagnification of persistent organic pollutants along a high-altitude aquatic food chain in the Tibetan Plateau: Processes and mechanisms. Environmental Pollution, 220(Pt A): 636-643. 

24. Wang, C.F., Wang, X.P.*, Ren, J., Gong, P., Yao, T.D., 2017. Using a passive air sampler to monitor air-soil exchange of organochlorine pesticides in the pasture of the central Tibetan Plateau. Science of the Total Environment, 580: 958-965.  

25. Lin, H., Wang, X.P.*, Gong, P., Ren, J., Wang, C.F., Yuan, X.H, Wang, L., Yao, T.D., 2017. The influence of climate change on the accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, black carbon and mercury in a shrinking remote lake of the southern Tibetan Plateau. Science of the Total Environment, 601-602: 1814-1823. 

26. Xue Y.G., Wang, X.P.*, Gong, P., Yao, T.D., 2017. Distribution and vertical migration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in forest soil pits of southeastern Tibet. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 12: 1-13. 

27. Nawab, J., Khan, S., Wang, X.P.*, Rahman, A., Ali, H. Qamar, Z., Khan, Z.A., Rehman, Z.U., Rahman, H., Muhammad, J., Khan, A., Izaz Shah, A., 2017. Spatial distribution of toxic metals in drinking water sources and their associated health risk in district buner, Northern Pakistan. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 24(3): 615-626.  

28. Wang, C.F., Wang, X.P.*, Ren Jiao, Gong, P., Yao, T.D., 2016. Using a passive air sampler to monitor air-soil exchange of organochlorine pesticides in the pasture of the central Tibetan Plateau. Science of the Total Environment, 580: 958-965.  

29. Wang, X.P.*, Sun, D.C., Yao, T.D., 2016. Climate change and global cycling of persistent organic pollutants: A critical review. Science China-Earth Sciences, 59(10): 1899-1911.  

30. Wang, X.P.*, Gong, P., Wang, C.F., Ren, J., Yao, T.D., 2016.  A review of current knowledge and future prospects regarding persistent organic pollutants over the Tibetan Plateau. Science of the Total Environment, 573: 139-154. 

31. Pokhrel, B., Gong, P., Wang, X.P.*, Gao, S.P., Wang, C.F., Yao, T.D., 2016. Sources and environmental processes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and mercury along a southern slope of the Central Himalayas, Nepal. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 23(14): 13843-52.  

32. Wang, C.F., Wang, X.P.*, Gong, P., Yao, T.D., 2016. Residues, spatial distribution and risk assessment of DDTs and HCHs in agricultural soil and crops from the Tibetan Plateau. Chemosphere, 149, 358-365  

33. Wang, C.F., Ping, G., Wang,X.P.*, Yao, T.D.. Distribution, environmental behavior, and health risks of polychlorinated biphenyls in the tibetan agricultural soil andcrops [J]. Asian Journal of Ecotoxicology, 2016, 11(2): 339-346. (in Chinese) 

Patents (2016-2020): 

A passive sampler of atmospheric persistent organic pollutants independent of wind speed and its application (2019, Gong, P., Wang, X.P., Liu X. D., No. 3315366)