Neonicotinoid　insecticides　(NNIs)　are　extensively　used　in　agricultural　production　in　China　due　to　their　selective　neurotoxicity　towards　target　insects.　In　recent　years,　the　rapid　development　of　agriculture　has　increased　the　use　and　residue　of　NNIs.　Consequently,　the　sediment　environment,　serving　as　the　ultimate　sink,　is　significantly　impacted　by　NNIs.　Upon　release　into　the　environment,　NNIs　can　enter　the　human　body　through　the　food　chain,　posing　potential　ecological　and　human　health　risks.　This　study　analyzed　79　sediment　samples　from　two　major　river　basins　in　North　and　South　China,　the　Liaohe　River　basin　in　Liaoning　Province　and　the　Jianjiang　River　basin　in　Guangdong　Province.　The　content,　composition,　distribution,　and　source　of　eight　NNIs　were　analyzed,　and　assess　the　ecological　and　human　health　risks　of　the　target　compounds　in　these　regions.　The　results　indicated　that　the　average　concentration　of　NNIs　in　the　sediments　of　the　Jianjiang　River　basin　(2.34　μg/kg)　is　slightly　higher　than　that　of　the　Liaohe　River　basin　(2.32　μg/kg),　and　the　sources　of　NNIs　in　the　two　areas　were　different,　with　differences　in　the　sources　of　NNIs　likely　attributable　to　varying　types　of　agricultural　production.　The　risk　assessment　revealed　that　the　ecotoxicological　and　public　health　risks　were　more　pronounced　in　the　Jianjiang　River　basin　compared　to　the　Liaohe　River　basin,　underscoring　the　critical　need　for　surveillance　and　management　of　hazardous　substances　like　NNIs.　The　insights　findings　from　this　study　can　provide　scientific　guidance　for　the　risk　evaluation　and　environmental　management　of　NNIs.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.