Estimating water pollution and economic cost embodied in the mining industry: An interprovincial analysis in China

China's rapid industrialization since the 21st century has led to significant mineral resource consumption, causing a dual dilemma of water scarcity and pollution. Imbalanced supply and demand of mineral resources from interregional trade, combined with spatial distribution mismatches of water and mineral resources, have led to the reconstruction of water pollution discharge patterns. This study employs a multiregional input-output model and opportunity cost and restoration cost methods to assess the transfer of embodied water pollution in China's mining industry and the resulting economic losses. Findings indicate significant environmental in-equities across the country, with the Beijing-Tianjin area and eastern coastal regions responsible for water pollution spillover and cost passing to other regions. The central and western regions bear a greater water pollution transfer and control burden. This research on embodied water pollution transfer in mineral trade is crucial for national water environment governance planning, with practical implications for rational water resource redistribution, improved ecological compensation, and coordinated regional economic development.