Traceability of Phreatic Groundwater Contaminants and the Threat to Human Health: A Case Study in the Tabu River Basin, North China
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Area
2.2. Sampling and Analysis
2.3. Data Handling
2.4. Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA)
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. General Hydrogeochemical Parameters of Groundwater Samples and the Spatial Distribution of Groundwater Pollution
3.2. Influences of Anthropogenic Factors on Groundwater Quality
3.3. Influences of Geogenic Factors on Groundwater Quality
3.3.1. Evaporation
3.3.2. Interaction between Surface Water and Groundwater
3.3.3. Water–Rock Interactions
3.3.4. Alkaline Condition and Competitive Adsorption
3.4. HCA and PCA Based on Hydrogeochemical Parameters
3.5. Assessment of the Risk to Human Health
3.6. Development Trends and Countermeasures for Groundwater Contamination
4. Conclusions
- (1)
- Agricultural activity is the primary anthropogenic factor influencing the quality of phreatic groundwater. NO3− pollution in the groundwater primarily originates from manure, and the high level of TDS is highly associated with irrigation.
- (2)
- The enrichment of F− in the phreatic groundwater is dominated by geogenic factors, including alkaline conditions, competitive adsorption, the dissolution of fluorine-bearing minerals, and cation exchange.
- (3)
- Phreatic groundwater with high NO3− and F− contents poses significant threats to human health through the oral contact pathway, especially for children. Most of the phreatic groundwater in the Tabu River Basin can be utilized for domestic purposes, with the exception of drinking water.
- (4)
- The contamination of phreatic groundwater cannot be mitigated through natural attenuation under existing external pressures. Measures need to be taken to decrease contamination of phreatic groundwater and enhance groundwater sustainability in the Tabu River Basin.
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Parameter | Min | Max | Median | SD |
---|---|---|---|---|
K+ (mg/L) | 0.8 | 272.6 | 2.6 | 29.2 |
Na+ (mg/L) | 8.9 | 1130.0 | 76.0 | 166.1 |
Ca2+ (mg/L) | 23.5 | 565.9 | 85.3 | 108.8 |
Mg2+ (mg/L) | 11.5 | 292.4 | 39.2 | 51.6 |
Cl− (mg/L) | 17.7 | 1156.0 | 98.4 | 190.9 |
SO42− (mg/L) | 17.9 | 974.7 | 100.5 | 155.5 |
HCO3− (mg/L) | 174.0 | 716.0 | 293.1 | 128.9 |
F− (mg/L) | 0.2 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 |
NO3− (mg/L) | 0.0 | 1274.0 | 81.3 | 308.0 |
pH | 7.37 | 8.66 | 8.10 | 0.29 |
TDS (mg/L) | 278.0 | 5398.5 | 712.0 | 882.4 |
Burial depth (m) | 0.75 | 22.15 | 5.82 | 3.91 |
δ2H-H2O (‰) | −111.6 | −32.6 | −75.4 | 10.1 |
δ18O-H2O (‰) | −15.1 | −4.0 | −10.2 | 1.5 |
δ15N-NO3− (‰) | −4.7 | 31.2 | 14.0 | 4.7 |
δ18O-NO3− (‰) | −7.6 | 10.8 | −1.1 | 2.9 |
SIcalcite | 0.26 | 1.6 | 0.91 | 0.25 |
SIdolomite | 0.01 | 3.12 | 1.71 | 0.62 |
SIfluorite | −2.39 | 0.05 | −1.11 | 0.5 |
SIgypsum | −2.41 | −0.74 | −1.66 | 0.4 |
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Zhang, J.; Liao, Z.; Jin, J.; Ni, Y.; Xu, J.; Wang, M.; Wang, Z.; Zhao, Y.; Zhang, Y. Traceability of Phreatic Groundwater Contaminants and the Threat to Human Health: A Case Study in the Tabu River Basin, North China. Sustainability 2024, 16, 6328. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156328
Zhang J, Liao Z, Jin J, Ni Y, Xu J, Wang M, Wang Z, Zhao Y, Zhang Y. Traceability of Phreatic Groundwater Contaminants and the Threat to Human Health: A Case Study in the Tabu River Basin, North China. Sustainability. 2024; 16(15):6328. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156328
Chicago/Turabian StyleZhang, Jing, Zilong Liao, Jing Jin, Yanyan Ni, Jian Xu, Mingxin Wang, Zihe Wang, Yiping Zhao, and Yuanzheng Zhang. 2024. "Traceability of Phreatic Groundwater Contaminants and the Threat to Human Health: A Case Study in the Tabu River Basin, North China" Sustainability 16, no. 15: 6328. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156328