Distribution, Formation and Human Health Risk of Fluorine in Groundwater in Songnen Plain, NE China

Jianwei Wang,Yanguo Teng,Hong Liu,Nengzhan Zheng,Yuanzheng Zhai,Xinyi Cao

doi:10.3390/w13223236

Abstract

Songnen Plain is one of the three great plains in northeast China with abundant groundwater resources. The continuous population growth and the rapid development of agriculture and economy in China has caused a series of environmental problems in the plain, such as endemic diseases caused by the accumulation of harmful substances in drinking water. This paper conducts a systematic investigation of fluorine in the groundwater of Songnen Plain. The results showed that fluorine was widespread in the groundwater of the plain in the concentration range of BDL–8.54 mg·L−1, at a mean value of 0.63 mg·L−1 and detectable at a rate of 85.91%. The highest concentrations of fluorine were found in central and southwest areas of the plain. The concentration exceeded the guideline values for fluorine in drinking water and may have varying degrees of adverse effects on adults, and especially children, in the study area. The fluorine in groundwater mainly came from the dissolution of fluorite and other fluorine-containing minerals, and the concentrations and distribution of fluorine were affected by cation exchange, groundwater flow field and hydrochemical indexes (pH, TDS and HCO3−). The study provides scientific basis for the investigation, evaluation and prevention of endemic diseases caused by fluorine.

Highlights

89.4%; we compiled the standard curve for target objects and the results of the analysis show that the correlation coefficient of the linear equation was over 0.99; all conformed to quality assurance standards for the processing of groundwater [37,38]
The results show that the dissolution of fluorine-bearing minerals is main reason for the deposition of significant fluorine in the groundwater of Songnen Plain—similar to condithat the dissolution of fluorine-bearing minerals is main reason for the deposition of sigtions found elsewhere in China [14,41] and the world, such as America [11], Mexico [8] and nificant fluorine in the groundwater of Songnen Plain—similar to conditions found elseIndia [10]
The results indicated that the concentrations and distribution characteristics of

Summary

Introduction

Water is an important natural resource to guarantee normal human life and socioeconomic development. As one of the main components of water resources, groundwater is exerting a more and more significant influence on society, and groundwater is a prerequisite for the development of other resources, especially in arid and semi-arid areas [1]. The accumulation of harmful elements caused by geological causes or human activities harms the water environment, and seriously affects the safety of drinking water [2,3]. Fluorine is an essential element of the human body and moderate intake (0.5–1.5 mg·L−1 ) is beneficial to human health, according to the WHO guidelines [4,5,6]

Methods

Results

Conclusion