Abstract
To understand the groundwater environmental quality and the impact of trace elements in the construction of urban agglomeration in China, this study collected 58 groundwater samples from the core area of the Chang-Zhu-Tan urban agglomeration (Changsha, Zhuzhou, Xiangtan) and quantitatively analyzed the content of 13 dissolved trace element and their spatial distribution characteristics. The health risk assessment model was further used to evaluate the human health risk caused by trace element pollution in groundwater. It was observed that Ba had the highest average concentration (0.28 mg·L−1), whereas Cd had the lowest (2.1 × 10−5 mg·L−1). Compared with China’s groundwater environmental quality standard, the exceeding rates of Se, Mn, Zn, and Ni concentrations were 37.93%, 17.24%, 1.72% and 1.72%, respectively. Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, and Pb did not exceed the corresponding standards. The 13 trace elements were distributed in a scattered pattern in space and the trace elements in both banks of the Xiang River, Zhuzhou, Weishui River and surrounding areas were relatively high. Health risk assessments showed that the carcinogenic risk values of Cd, Cr, and Pb and the health risk values of 10 non-carcinogenic elements were less than the corresponding maximum acceptable risk level. The health risks associated with non-carcinogenic substances through ingestion were higher than those associated with dermal absorption. Among the non-carcinogenic substances, Ba and Mn posed the greatest health risks. With respect to drinking water exposure, Cr had the highest carcinogenic risk, followed by Pb. Furthermore, Cd had the lowest carcinogenic risk. This study recommended that continuous monitoring of Ba, Mn, and Cr in groundwater should be practiced by assessing the risk of these elements in the Chang-Zhu-Tan urban agglomeration.
Highlights
Groundwater is an indispensable element of ecological and geological environment and a component of water resources that has a direct impact on crop growth and human life
Further studies are needed to understand the status of groundwater trace element pollution in urban agglomeration construction and the threat it poses to the safety of residents in the core areas of the urban agglomeration
The aim is to provide a scientific basis for protecting human health and strengthening the environmental protection of water resources in urban agglomeration construction
Summary
Groundwater is an indispensable element of ecological and geological environment and a component of water resources that has a direct impact on crop growth and human life. The trace metal Cd is a carcinogen with a half-life of up to 10 years, which can be retained for a long time after entering the human body[7]. These trace elements originate from both natural (weathering and erosion of ore deposits and bed rocks) and anthropogenic (mining, industrial emission, landfill and solid waste deposits, agrochemicals and wastewater irrigation)[8,9,10]. At present, drinking water health risk assessment is mainly focused on the study of single urban and rural water bodies but the health risk of toxic pollutants in urban agglomeration construction has not been systematically studied. The aim is to provide a scientific basis for protecting human health and strengthening the environmental protection of water resources in urban agglomeration construction
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