A dataset of heavy metals and nutrients in surface sediments from the Qing-Chuan-Gan section of the upper Yellow River in 2020

<p indent="0mm">The Qinghai-Sichuan-Gansu section of the upper reaches of the Yellow River is situated within the ecologically fragile Tibetan Plateau. As a result of the combined impact of climate change and human activities, the ecological environment in this region is characterized by both diversity and complexity. To study the spatial distribution of heavy metals and nutrients in the surface sediments within the study area of the Yellow River, we established a total of 18 sampling sites were set along the main stream of the Yellow River as well as its major tributaries, including Tao River, Huangshui River, Hei River, and Bai River, from September to October 2020, collecting nearshore surface sediment samples <sc>(0-10 cm)</sc> to measure the concentrations of eight heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, zinc, copper, mercury, nickel, lead and arsenic) and six nutrients (total carbon, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, total sulfur, available phosphorus, and organic carbon). The distribution patterns of these elements within the study area were subsequently examined. The dataset’s accuracy was ensured through laboratory measurements of all parameters according to standard methods, followed by multiple cross-checks for data calibration and review. The establishment of this dataset provides essential foundational data for assessing sediment environmental quality and pollution risk in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, thereby serving as a fundamental basis for scientifically safeguarding ecologically sensitive areas in this region.