Origin and assessment of groundwater pollution and associated health risk: a case study in an industrial park,northwest China

Groundwater quality which relates closely to human health has become as important as its quantity due to the demand for safe water. In the present study, an entropy-weighted fuzzy water quality index (WQI) has been proposed for performing groundwater quality assessment in and around an industrial park, northwest China, where domestic water requirements are solely met by groundwater. The human health risk was assessed with the model recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, the sources of major ions and main contaminants were also analyzed. The study shows that groundwater in the study area has been contaminated conjunctively by natural processes and industrial and agricultural activities. Nitrate, manganese (Mn), fluoride, total dissolved solids, total hardness and sulfate are major contaminants influencing groundwater quality. Nitrate and heavy metals such as Mn are mainly affected by human agricultural activities and industrial production, while other contaminants are mainly originated from mineral weathering and water–rock interactions. The results of water quality assessment suggest that half of the groundwater samples collected are of medium quality thus require pretreatment before human consumption. The mean health risk caused by the consumption of contaminated groundwater in the area is 8.42 × 10^?5 per year which surpasses the maximum acceptable level (5 × 10^?5 per year) recommended by the International Commission on Radiologic Protection. The entropy-weighted fuzzy WQI proposed in this study can not only assign proper weights to parameters but also treat uncertainties associated with water quality classification. This study will be of interest to international environmentalists and hydrogeologists. It will also be useful in regional groundwater management and protection.     

An emerging market for groundwater remediation in China: Policies,statistics, and future outlook

There is a rapidly emerging and potentially huge market for the remediation of contaminated groundwater in China. The Chinese government published a Water Action Plan in April 2015, a Soil Action Plan in May 2016, and a draft Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Law in June 2017. All of these new policies and regulations put pressures on local governments and contaminated site owners, obliging them to conduct site investigation and to cleanup contaminated groundwater. The Chinese population in northern regions heavily depend on groundwater, with nearly 70% of water supply coming from aquifer sources in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. However, poor groundwater quality due to natural geochemical background and anthropogeic pollution is a serious concern, with poor or very poor quality water observed in nearly 80% of groundwater monitoring wells in 17 northern provinces. Shallow groundwater in many areas has been contaminated by toxic pollutants such as heavy metals and chlorinated organic compounds. There is an urgent need to better understand the situation and to conduct groundwater remediation at contaminated sites. The Chinese government is investing heavily in the research and development for groundwater remediation, which is expected to greatly add to the quality and quantity of groundwater remediation projects in the near future.     

Evaluation of groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking,domestic, and agricultural uses in the Banana Plain (Mbanga,Njombe, Penja) of the Cameroon Volcanic Line

Groundwater quality of the Banana Plain (Mbanga, Njombe, Penja—Cameroon) was assessed for its suitability for drinking, domestic, and agricultural uses. A total of 67 groundwater samples were collected from open wells, springs, and boreholes. Samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties, major ions, and dissolved silica. In 95% of groundwater samples, calcium is the dominant cation, while sodium dominates in 5% of the samples. Eighty percent of the samples have HCO₃ as major anion, and in 20%, NO₃ is the major anion. Main water types in the study area are CaHCO₃, CaMgHCO₃, CaNaHCO₃, and CaNaNO₃ClHCO₃. CO₂-driven weathering of silicate minerals followed by cation exchange seemingly controls largely the concentrations of major ions in the groundwaters of this area. Nitrate, sulfate, and chloride concentrations strongly express the impact of anthropogenic activities (agriculture and domestic activities) on groundwater quality. Sixty-four percent of the waters have nitrate concentrations higher than the drinking water limit. Also limiting groundwater use for potable and domestic purposes are contents of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and HCO₃ ⁻ and total hardness (TH) that exceed World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Irrigational suitability of groundwaters in the study area was also evaluated, and results show that all the samples are fit for irrigation. Groundwater quality in the Banana Plain is impeded by natural geology and anthropogenic activities, and proper groundwater management strategies are necessary to protect sustainably this valuable resource.     

Hydrogeochemical processes identification and groundwater pollution causes analysis in the northern Ordos Cretaceous Basin,China

It is necessary to identify the hydrogeochemical processes and analyze the causes of groundwater pollution due to the lack of knowledge about the groundwater chemical characteristics and the endemic diseases caused by groundwater pollution in the northern Ordos Cretaceous Basin. In this paper, groundwater chemical facies were obtained using the piper trilinear diagram based on the analysis of 190 samples. The hydrogeochemical processes were identified using ionic ratio coefficient, such as leaching, evaporation and condensation. The causes and sources of groundwater pollution were analyzed by correspondence analysis, and the spatial distribution and enrichment reasons of fluoride ion were analyzed considering the endemic fluorosis emphatically. The results show that leaching, evaporation and condensation, mixing, and anthropogenic activities all had significant impact on hydrogeochemical processes in the study area. However, cation exchange and adsorption effects were strong in the S2 and S3 groundwater flow systems, but weak in S1. Groundwater is mainly polluted by Mn and COD_Mn in the study area. The landfill leachate, domestic sewage, and other organic pollutants, excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture, and pyrite oxidation from long-term and large-scale exploitation of coal are the sources of groundwater pollution. The S1 has the highest degree of groundwater pollution, followed by S2 and S3. High concentration of fluoride ion is mainly distributed in the north and west of study area. Evaporation and condensation and groundwater chemistry component are the most important causes of fluoride ion enrichment. The results obtained in this study will be useful for understanding the groundwater quality for effective management and utilization of groundwater resources and assurance of drinking water safety.     

Quantification of advective solute travel times and mass transport through hydrological catchments

This study has investigated and outlined the possible quantification and mapping of the distributions of advective solute travel times through hydrological catchments. These distributions are essential for understanding how local water flow and solute transport and attenuation processes affect the catchment-scale transport of solute, for instance with regard to biogeochemical cycling, contamination persistence and water quality. The spatial and statistical distributions of advective travel times have been quantified based on reported hydrological flow and mass-transport modeling results for two coastal Swedish catchments. The results show that the combined travel time distributions for the groundwater-stream network continuum in these catchments depend largely on the groundwater system and model representation, in particular regarding the spatial variability of groundwater hydraulic parameters (conductivity, porosity and gradient), and the possible contributions of slower/deeper groundwater flow components. Model assumptions about the spatial variability of groundwater hydraulic properties can thus greatly affect model results of catchment-scale solute spreading. The importance of advective travel time variability for the total mass delivery of naturally attenuated solute (tracer, nutrient, pollutant) from a catchment to its downstream water recipient depends on the product of catchment-average physical travel time and attenuation rate.     

塔里木河中游水盐梯度下的物种多样性研究

根据塔里木河中游5个断面30眼地下水监测井和30个植物样地2006—2008年调查监测的数据,分析了输水堤防修建后地下水埋深、地下水质以及物种多样性的变化及其相互关系。结果表明：地下水埋深的空间变化表现为沿河道方向先增加后减小的趋势,在时间上则表现为,从2006年到2008年埋深呈逐渐增加的特点;地下水化学类型的变化,在空间上表现出沿着河道方向有由Cl-—SO42-—Na＋—Mg2＋向Cl-—Na＋类型转变的趋势,在时间上,地下水矿化度逐渐增加。物种多样性总体上呈现增加变化,地下水位和水质对塔里木河中游物种多样性变化有着密切的关系,地下水埋深2.8~3.7 m,矿化度1.8~2.4 g·L-1水平下的多样性较高,随着地下水埋深的增大和矿化度的升高,物种多样性水平降低。     

城市化及其地下水质量与人体健康关系

全球变化条件下可利用水资源日益贫乏,地下水利用强度在不断增大。综述了该背景下的地下水利用状况、城市化进程中地下水与人体健康关系,强调地下水生态系统健康与人体健康密切相关,提出了地下水与人体健康关系的研究有待于继续深化等问题的对策。以期人们在评估全球变化条件下的健康问题上,给予地下水质量以重视。     

Isotopic and hydrogeochemical evaluation of groundwater at Qusier-Safaga area,eastern desert,Egypt

The groundwater resources of the El-Qusier-Safaga area on the Red Sea coastal zone have still to be utilised fully for social and economic development. In the present study, an inventory of recharge sources and quality of groundwater in different water bearing formations is made to assist in management of these vital resources. From a hydrochemical point of view, the origin of salinity in the five investigated aquifers are mainly dissolution of terrestrial minerals, leaching of soilsvia floods or ion exchanges processes. Stable isotope data clarify the interaction between different aquifers and indicate that the source of recharge is mainly meteoric water originating from palaeowater of the Pleistocene pluvial period, and from local precipitation as well as some marine water. Evaluation of the groundwater quality for domestic, irrigation and industrial purposes is discussed.     

Using hydrochemical signatures to characterize the long-period evolution of groundwater information in the Dagu River Basin,China

• The long-period groundwater evolution was identified by hydrochemical signatures. • The dominant processes in the groundwater evolution were verified. • Groundwater quality in the coastal areas was susceptible to deterioration due to SI. • Groundwater contamination arose from fertilizer, livestock manure & domestic sewage. The evolution of hydrochemical compositions influenced by long-period interactions between groundwater and the geo-environment is a fundamental issue for exploring groundwater quality and vulnerability. This study systematically investigated the hydrochemical processes and anthropogenic interference occurring in the river basin by bivariate plots, Gibbs diagrams, saturation index, and the major ions ratios. Apparent changes in groundwater hydrochemistry have been observed in the study area, illustrating the origins of major ions are affected by various internal and external factors. Results highlighted that TDS varied from freshwater to brackish water, ranging between 187.90 and 2294.81 mg/L. Ca²⁺ and HCO₃⁻ are the dominant ions in the studied samples. The results gained by Gibbs diagrams, bivariate plots, saturation index, and the major ions ratios demonstrated that minerals dissolution/precipitation, cation exchange, and human inputs play crucial roles in the unconfined aquifers. Moreover, the overuse of nitrogen fertilizer, livestock manure, and industrial/domestic sewage led to nitrate and nitrite contamination and brought significant challenges to the surrounding hydrogeo-environment. The present study could make an unambiguous identification of natural processes and anthropogenic interventions influencing groundwater hydrochemistry’s long-period evolution and create a preliminary strategy for groundwater resources management.     

Nitrate levels and the age of groundwater from the Upper Devonian sandstone aquifer in Fife,Scotland

The tritium concentrations in 13 groundwater samples from boreholes throughout the Upper Devonian sandstone aquifer of Fife have been measured. Due to atmospheric variations in tritium concentrations over the last century, this radioactive tracer can be used as a groundwater age indicator. In this study, the groundwater tritium concentrations have allowed for the area to be divided into three zones, and the variable chemistry of the groundwater samples, including the problem of recent elevated nitrate levels in the Fife Aquifer, has been interpreted in terms of their relative ages.     

Determining groundwater quality using indices and multivariate statistical techniques: a study of Tosham block,Haryana, India

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Water is the most important component for human survival and often the most misused one. The present study deals with the assessment of groundwater quality...     

济南市地下水硝酸盐污染研究

调查了济南市东郊工业区浅层地下水、南部山区补给区地下水及市区饮用水中硝酸盐现状及发展趋势。结果表明,工业区浅层地下水硝酸盐含量超出国家饮用水卫生标准;补给区地下水及市区饮用水硝酸盐也受到人类活动的影响,污染呈逐年上升趋势。分析了造成地下水硝酸盐污染的原因,提出了相应的防治措施与对策。     

Evaluation of groundwater quality in the Xinjiang plain area

Groundwater is the main source of drinking water for the urban and rural residents in the plain area of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. The quality of groundwater has a direct relationship with human health. Thus, 386 groundwater samples collected from April to August in 2003 were analyzed. The samples were collected in basic evaluation units which are determined on the basis of watersheds. Total dissolved solids, total hardness, pH value, NH₃-N, C₆H₅OH, Chemiluminescence detection of permanganate index (COD_Mn) and intestinal germ group were evaluated according to the guidelines of Groundwater Quality Standard (GB/T14848-93). The quality of the groundwater in each evaluation unit was classified by using the One Veto Method (a unified approach stipulated by the Ministry of Water Resources). The results indicate that the groundwater in the mainstream area of the Tarim Basin and the Yerqiang River Sub-basin belongs to Category V; the groundwater in the Wulungu River Sub-basin, the Kaidu-Kongque River Sub-basin, the Kashgar River Sub-basin, the Cherchen River Sub-basin and the Hotan River Subbasin belongs to Category IV; the groundwater in the Aibi Lake System belongs to Category II, and the groundwater of other evaluation units belongs to Category III. The causes of water quality formation were concisely analyzed. The results can be useful for the evaluation and management of water resources in the Xinjiang Plain Area.     

Time series analysis for the estimation of tidal fluctuation effect on different aquifers in a small coastal area of Saijo plain, Ehime prefecture, Japan

Considering the current poor understanding of the seawater–freshwater (SW–FW) interaction pattern at dynamic hydro-geological boundary of coastal aquifers, this work strives to study tidal effect on groundwater quality using chemical tracers combined with environmental isotopes. In situ measurement data of electrical conductivity and groundwater level along with laboratory measurement data of hydro-chemical species were compared with tidal level data measured by Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department, Saijo City, Japan for time series analysis. Result shows that diurnal tides have significant effect on groundwater level as well as its chemical characteristics; however, the magnitude of effect is different in case of different aquifers. Various scatter diagrams were plotted in order to infer mechanisms responsible for water quality change with tidal phase, and results show that cations exchange, selective movement and local SW–FW mixing were likely to be the main processes responsible for water quality changes. It was also found that geological structure of the aquifers is the most important factor affecting the intensity of tidal effect on water quality.     

Hydrogeochemistry study and groundwater quality assessment in the north of Isfahan,Iran

This study presents the groundwater quality assessment in the north of Isfahan, Iran. In the study area, assessment and measurement of groundwater hydrochemical parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), total hardness, major cations (K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) and major anions (Cl^?, \({\text{HCO}}_{ 3}^{ - } ,{\text{CO}}_{3}^{2 - }\) and \({\text{SO}}_{4}^{2 - }\)) concentrations were performed. Accordingly, the 66 water samples from different locations were collected during April and May 2015. Water samples collected in the field were analyzed in the laboratory for cations and anions using the standard methods. In this research, the analytical results of physiochemical parameters of groundwater were compared with the standard guideline values as recommended by the world health organization (WHO) for drinking and public health purposes. The pH values of groundwater samples varied from 7.05 to 8.95 with a mean of 7.78, indicating a neutral to slightly alkaline water. TDS values showed that 14% of the samples exceeds the desirable limit given by WHO. EC values varied from 213 to 4320 µS/cm, while 23% of the samples were more than the standard limit. Gibbs diagram had shown that 90% of the samples in the study area fall in the rock weathering zone, and this means that chemical weathering of rock-forming minerals is the main factor controlling the water chemistry in the study area. Irrigation suitability and risk assessment of groundwater are evaluated by measuring EC, %Na, SAR and RSC. According to the dominant cations and anions, five types of water were identified in the water samples: Ca-HCO₃, Ca-SO₄, Na-Cl, Na-HCO₃ and Na-SO₄. The results show that the majority of samples (30 samples, 45%) belongs to the mixed Na-SO₄ water type. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis was used to identify the relationship between ions and physicochemical parameters. Results indicated that 18 stations of the study area had the best quality and can be used for irrigation and drinking purposes in the future.     

Appraisal of salinity and fluoride in a semi-arid region of India using statistical and multivariate techniques

Various physico-chemical parameters, including fluoride (F⁻), were analyzed to understand the hydro-geochemistry of an aquifer in a semi-arid region of India. Furthermore, the quality of the shallow and deep aquifer (using tube well and hand pumps) was also investigated for their best ecological use including drinking, domestic, agricultural and other activities. Different multivariate techniques were applied to understand the groundwater chemistry of the aquifer. Findings of the correlation matrix were strengthened by the factor analysis, and this shows that salinity is mainly caused by magnesium salts as compared to calcium salts in the aquifer. The problem of salinization seems mainly compounded by the contamination of the shallow aquifers by the recharging water. High factor loading of total alkalinity and bicarbonates indicates that total alkalinity was mainly due to carbonates and bicarbonates of sodium. The concentration of F⁻ was found more in the deep aquifer than the shallow aquifer. Further, only a few groundwater samples lie below the permissible limit of F⁻, and this indicates a risk of dental caries in the populace of the study area. The present study indicates that regular monitoring of groundwater is an important step to avoid human health risks and to assess its quality for various ecological purposes.     

地下水环境监测优化布点的人工神经网络模型

以地下水水质指标国家分级标准为训练样本，用样本的地下水水质综合指数计算值作为样本的期望输出值，对BP网络进行训练，用训练好的网络对某地地下水水质监测点进行优选。结果表明：BP网络用于地下水环境监测点优选具有简单、实用和客观性好的特点。     

Groundwater fluoride contamination,probable release,and containment mechanisms: a review on Indian context

Fluoride contamination in the groundwater has got great attention in last few decades due to their toxicity, persistent capacity and accumulation in human bodies. There are several sources of fluoride in the environment and different pathways to enter in the drinking water resources, which is responsible for potential effect on human health. Presence of high concentration of fluoride ion in groundwater is a major issue and it makes the water unsuitable for drinking purpose. Availability of fluoride in groundwater indicates various geochemical processes and subsurface contamination of a particular area. Fluoride-bearing aquifers, geological factors, rate of weathering, ion-exchange reaction, residence time and leaching of subsurface contaminants are major responsible factors for availability of fluoride in groundwater. In India, several studies have reported that the groundwater of several states are contaminated with high fluoride. The undesirable level of fluoride in groundwater is one of the most natural groundwater quality problem, which affects large portion of arid and semiarid regions of India. Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and West Bengal are the relatively high-fluoride-contaminated states in India. Chronic ingestion of high doses of fluoride-rich water leads to fluorosis on human and animal. Over 66 million Indian populations are at risk due to excess fluoride-contaminated water. Therefore, groundwater contamination subject to undesirable level of fluoride needs urgent attention to understand the role of geochemistry, hydrogeology and climatic factors along with anthropogenic inputs in fluoride pollution.     

Groundwater resources at risk in the glaciofluvial formation of Jokkavaara in Rovaniemi area, Northern Finland

The best groundwater resources in Finland are generally situated in glaciofluvial formations with thick sand and gravel deposits. The glaciofluvial formation of Jokkavaara, in northern Finland near the town of Rovaniemi, is important for both its groundwater reserves and its sand and gravel resources. The groundwater and mineral resources of Jokkavaara was studied to define their quantity and quality, and to develop a land-use plan which would help civil servants of the municipality to make the decisions necessary for exploiting sand and gravel. The land-use plan shows the areas where exploiting mineral resources is not allowed or recommended because of the risks of contamination of groundwater, or because of injurious effects on the environment caused by noise and dust from gravel pits, or by spoilt landscape. The size of Jokkavaara is 5 km2, and its mineral resources are about 53 million cubic metres. The sand and gravel deposits are at the most, 50 m thick. Risks of contamination by fallout are small, due to the thick sand and gravel deposits above groundwater level. Exploiting mineral resources have no effect on groundwater quality either. By the land-use plan and legislation, good groundwater can also be protected in the future. Legislation limits the exploitation of mineral resources especially in groundwater areas.     

Hydrogeochemical considerations about the origin of groundwater salinization in some coastal plains of Elba Island (Tuscany,Italy)

Several coastal plains of the Elba Island (Marina di Campo, Portoferraio, Schiopparello, Mola, Porto Azzurro and Barbarossa plains) in Tuscany (Italy) were studied to determine the causes of decline in groundwater quality, using major ion chemistry to establish the causes of groundwater salinization. The study demonstrates that salinization of coastal plain alluvial aquifers is not simply linked to seawater intrusion but is also intimately related to inflows from adjacent aquifers. Ionic ratios, correlation graphs and distribution value maps were employed as the means to understand the hydrochemistry of the study areas. The Mg/Cl ratio in particular can be considered a good tracer to distinguish the main salinization processes that control groundwater chemistry. Seawater intrusion only partly determines the chemistry of some groundwaters, which generally belong to a chloride facies where the salinity is derived principally from freshwater–seawater mixing and the participation of cation exchange. Proceeding inland groundwater quality seems to be principally determined by the inflow of Mg, Ca-HCO₃ or Ca, Na-HCO₃ waters formed from the weathering of silicate minerals in adjoining aquifers. Hydrolysis of these minerals is of prime importance in controlling groundwater chemistry in adjacent alluvial plains. The lateral recharge flows introduce water with a different chemical composition and this variable of freshwater recharge changes the hydrochemistry as a result of mixing between two or more waters types. This situation is further complicated when seawater and base exchange reactions participate, due to seawater intrusion.