A georeferenced dataset of heavy metal occurrence in the soils of the Yangtze River Basin, China (2000-2020)

Understanding the spatial pattern of heavy metals at a fine scale is critical for optimal control of environmental capacity and targeted treatment of pollutants. We summarize the up-to-date dataset on the occurrence of common heavy metals in soils of the Yangtze River Basin, a large basin in China of vital economic and ecological importance, by searching peer-reviewed literatures published between 2000 and 2020. The dataset ensures the accuracy of literature screening through quality control procedures, mainly extracting detailed geographic location and concentration of heavy metal. The dataset includes a total of 7867 records (Zn: 1045, Cu: 1140, Pb: 1261, Cr: 980, Cd: 1242, Ni: 649, As: 821, Hg: 729) of heavy metal occurrence in soils of the Yangtze River Basin, distributed at four scale levels of province, prefecture, county, township or finer. The up-to-date dataset provides the latest status of heavy metal occurrence in soils of the Yangtze River Basin, which can be used as a further ecological and health risk assessment, and as a data basis for the repair and prevention of soil heavy metal pollution in the Yangtze River Basin. and ecological importance, by searching peer-reviewed literatures published between 2000 and 2020. The dataset ensures the accuracy of literature screening through quality control procedures, mainly extracting detailed geographic location and concentration of heavy metal. The dataset includes a total of 7867 records (Zn: 1045, Cu: 1140, Pb: 1261, Cr: 980, Cd: 1242, Ni: 649, As: 821, Hg: 729) of heavy metal occurrence in soils of the Yangtze River Basin, distributed at four scale levels of province, prefecture, county, township or finer. The up-to-date dataset provides the latest status of heavy metal occurrence in soils of the Yangtze River Basin, which can be used as a further ecological and health risk assessment, and as a data basis for the repair and prevention of soil heavy metal pollution in the Yangtze River Basin.