College of Urban and Environmental Sciences | Northwest University | China
Prof. Yan Zhang is a highly accomplished environmental scientist whose research primarily focuses on water pollution, soil ecology, microplastic contamination, and the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and heavy metals. With an impressive record of 52 scientific publications, Prof. Zhang has made influential contributions to understanding the environmental behavior of pollutants and their interactions within aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Her works, published in leading journals such as Science of The Total Environment, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, and Land Degradation & Development, have significantly advanced the field of environmental monitoring and pollution assessment. Her studies have addressed critical environmental challenges in China, including nitrate pollution tracing using isotopic techniques, the ecological risks of microplastics, and the impact of land use and erosion processes on heavy metal distribution in the Loess Plateau. Prof. Zhang’s interdisciplinary approach bridges hydrology, ecology, and environmental chemistry, offering valuable insights for sustainable watershed and soil management. Her scholarly impact is reflected in a robust h-index of 21, supported by 2,361 citations from 2,153 documents, indicating the broad relevance and recognition of her research within the international scientific community. She has served as both first and corresponding author on numerous influential papers, several of which have been recognized as ESI Top 1% highly cited papers. Through her leadership in environmental research and her collaborative work with international experts, Prof. Yan Zhang continues to play a vital role in promoting scientific innovation, sustainability, and ecological resilience across global environmental systems.
Featured Publications
Zhang, Y., Guan, M., Shi, P., Song, J., & Cui, L. (2025). Migration of microplastics in hyporheic zone sediments: Beiluo River, China. Environmental Earth Sciences,
Zhang, Y., Che, J., & Yang, L. (2025). Occurrence, environmental behavior, and co-pollution of microplastics with heavy metals in urban channelized rivers. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 11, 1797–1810.
Zhang, Y., Shi, P., & Cui, L. (2024). Microplastics in riverine systems: Recommendations for standardized sampling, separation, digestion and characterization. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 207, 116950.
Zhang, Y., Zhang, X., Bi, Z., Yu, Y., Shi, P., Ren, L., & Shan, Z. (2020). The impact of land use changes and erosion process on heavy metal distribution in the hilly area of the Loess Plateau, China. Science of The Total Environment, 718, 137305
Zhang, Y., Shi, P., Song, J., & Li, Q. (2019). Application of nitrogen and oxygen isotopes for source and fate identification of nitrate pollution in surface water: A review. Applied Sciences, 9(18), 3890.