Investigation of Groundwater Contamination and Health Implications in a Typical Semiarid Basin of North China

Abstract

Groundwater chemistry and its potential health risks are as important as water availability in arid and semiarid regions. This study was conducted to determine the contamination and associated health threats to various populations in a semiarid basin of north China. A total of 78 groundwater samples were collected from the shallow unconfined aquifers. The results showed that the phreatic water was slightly alkaline, hard fresh water with ions in the order of Ca2+ > Na++K+ > Mg2+ and HCO3− > SO42− > Cl−. Four hydrochemical elements, NO3−, F−, Mn and Zn, exceeded the permissible limits. NO3− and F− contaminants may pose health risks to local residents, while the risks of Mn and Zn are negligible. Dermal exposure is safe for all populations, while the oral pathway is not. Minors (i.e., infants and children) are susceptible to both NO3− and F− contaminants, and adults only to NO3−. The susceptibility of various populations is in the order of infants > children > adult males > adult females. Anthropogenic activities are responsible for the elevated levels of NO3−, Zn, Total dissolved solids (TDS), while F− and Mn are from geogenic sources. Thus, differential water supplies, strict control of waste, and rational irrigation practices are encouraged in the basin.

Characterization of Groundwater Quality and Human Health Risk Assessment

“…Moreover, it is a reliable and accessible source in arid, semi-arid, and coastal regions [4]. Previous studies have estimated that more than 50% of the population relies on groundwater to meet their daily needs [4,5]. However, due to the impacts of overexploitation and anthropogenic activities, the quantity and quality of groundwater have been seriously impaired [4,6].…”

Hydrogeochemical Features and Genesis of Confined Groundwater and Health Perspectives for Sustainable Development in Urban Hengshui, North China Plain

“…Generally, contaminants in water could pose threats through multiple pathways, such as drinking water intake, dermal contact, and inhalation. As reported by previous research, drinking water intake pathway has higher risks than other pathways regarding the high content of toxic elements in water [38,39,61,62]. us, the pathway of drinking water intake should be paid significant attention regardless of age and gender.…”

“…In addition, evaporation usually has great effects on the salinity of phreatic groundwater, which would not occur in the confined aquifers [23,[32][33][34]. us, phreatic groundwater is found with poorer hydrochemical quality than confined groundwater [16,[35][36][37][38][39].…”

Accessible Phreatic Groundwater Resources in the Central Shijiazhuang of North China Plain: Perspective From the Hydrogeochemical Constraints

“…The potential hazards of aqueous contaminants in groundwater can be quantitatively evaluated with the aid of human health risk assessment (HHRA) model established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, 1989). Although contaminants can threaten the health of consumers through many pathways such as inhalation, dermal contact, and oral intake, the oral pathway is evidenced to be the harmful one (Yin et al, 2020). Therefore, the non-carcinogenic risk of contaminants via the oral pathway was the concern of the present study.…”