Tropical cyclones (TCs) pose a substantial threat to human life and property, with China being among the most affected countries. In this study, a significant increasing trend is detected for TC destructiveness, primarily measured by precipitation, and for TC-induced damage, measured by direct economic losses (DELs), in the inland areas of East China. In contrast, a similar trend cannot be observed in the coastal regions. The rapid increase of TC-induced damage in the inland areas of East China is directly related to an increase of the annual number of disastrous TCs, which is a result of the increased TC landfall frequency and the increased TC decay timescale after landfall. The increase in specific humidity, soil moisture, and the decrease in vertical wind shear in East China favor the survival of TCs inland. Our results highlight the significance of TC disaster prevention in the inland regions.

Selenium (Se)-rich farmland is a valuable and nonrenewable resource for addressing the global challenge of Se deficiency. However, frequent warnings of heavy metal pollution have threatened the safety and legitimacy of Se-rich functional agriculture, eventually damaged public health security. Definitive and judgmental quantitative studies on this hazardous phenomenon are still missing. Relevant reviews published in the past have summarized textual descriptions of the problem, lacking the support of the necessary statistical analysis of the data. Based on the collected publications, the present study evaluated and analyzed the sources, risks and impacts of heavy metal pollution in Se-rich farmland. Concentrations of cadmium (Cd), arsenic, lead and zinc in Se-rich farmland were significantly higher than those in non-Se-rich farmland, especially Cd. Pollution source analyses indicated that Se enrichment and heavy metal pollution occurred simultaneously in farmland, related to Se-heavy metal homology in rocks. According to environmental risk assessment, both serious Cd pollution and the narrow Se concentration range of safety utilization limited the availability of Se-rich farmland. Pollution impact predictions showed that the pollution in Se-rich farmland would result in serious human health risks to consumers and economic losses of 4000 yuan/hm2 2 on production side. Tackling Cd pollution was anticipated to recover economic losses (81 %) while lowering the carcinogenic (60%) and non-carcinogenic (10 %) health risks. Our study also provided recommendations to address heavy metal pollution in Se-rich farmland. The two criteria should be followed by pollution control strategies applied to Se-rich functional agriculture including (i) not affecting the original Se enrichment in plant and (ii) not being interfered by Se in soil-plant systems. This will provide valuable information for Se-rich functional agriculture and public health security.