Groundwater Quality and Potential Human Health Risk Assessment for Drinking and Irrigation Purposes: A Case Study in the Semiarid Region of North China

Groundwater is a valuable water source for drinking and irrigation purposes in semiarid regions. Groundwater pollution may affect human health if it is not pretreated and provided for human use. This study investigated the hydrochemical characteristics driving groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes and potential human health risks in the Xinzhou Basin, Shanxi Province, North China. More specifically, we first investigated hydrochemical characteristics using a descriptive statistical analysis method. We then classified the hydrochemical types and analyzed the evolution mechanisms of groundwater using Piper and Gibbs diagrams. Finally, we appraised the groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes using the entropy water quality index (EWQI). We assessed the associated human health risks for different age and sex groups through drinking intake and dermal contact pathways. Overall, we found that (1) Ca-HCO3 and Ca·Mg-HCO3 were the dominant hydrochemical types and were mainly governed by rock weathering and water–rock interactions. (2) Based on the EWQI classifications, 67.74% of the groundwater samples were classified as medium quality and acceptable for drinking purpose. According to the values of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and soluble sodium percentage (%Na), 90.32% of the samples were suitable for irrigation, while the remaining samples were unfit for irrigation because of the high salinity in the groundwater. (3) Some contaminants in the groundwater, such as NO3−, NO2− and F−, exceeded the standard limits and may cause potential risks to human health. Our work presented in this paper could establish reasonable management strategies for sustainable groundwater quality protection to protect public health.

Natural Radioactivity in Thermal Waters: A Case Study from Poland

A natural radioactivity in thermal water was investigated based on 19 selected thermal waters from Poland. The analysed results show that the radionuclides’ concentrations in the study waters vary over a wide range. The temperature of the waters varies from above 20 °C to above 80 °C. The waters are characterised by different mineralisation, chemical compositions, and belong to different hydrochemical types. There is a good correlation between the water temperature and the depths of the aquifer formations occurrence, suggesting the thermal energy originates from the thermal geogradient. The concentration of radium is well correlated with the water mineralisation. The ratio of radium activity (226Ra/228Ra) in groundwater relates not only the ratio of uranium activity to that of thorium (238U/232Th) in aquifer formation, but also depends on the physical and chemical water properties. Based on the concentration of radon and its transport model, the radiation exposures due to inhalation of 222Rn and its progeny for employees and clients of the spa were assessed. The use of the thermal waters as a drinking resource may be problematic due to the possibility of exceeding the recommended annual committed effective dose 0.1 mSv.

Hydrochemical Characteristics and Evolution Laws of Shallow Groundwater in Shuangliao City

Shuangliao City is an important part of the Xiliaohe Plain, and one of the most important bases of grain production in the north of China. Therefore, it is important to ascertain the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater and their causes and evolution laws in the Xiliaohe Plain to provide guidance to agriculture development and ecological improvement. After collection of detailed data and identification of the groundwater flow field, we studied the causes and evolution of the identified hydrochemical types by zone with mathematical statistics, correlation analysis, ion proportional coefficient and other methods. The results show that the concentrations of HCO3-, Cl-, and Na+ are relatively high, and these of Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42-, and NO3- are relatively low. The concentration of TDS increases gradually along the flow direction of groundwater, and TDS is positively correlated to the variation in concentration of Cl-, Na+, Mg2+, and SO42-. Along the flow direction of groundwater, the hydrochemistry of shallow groundwater show the evolution law from HCO3-Ca·Mg to HCO3·Cl-Na·Ca and HCO3·Cl-Na·Mg, and then to Cl·HCO3-Na·Mg. The hydrochemical types are formed mainly due to the mineral dissolution and deposition, and reaction of cation exchange and adsorption in the aquifer, and the hydrogeochemical processes include leaching, evaporation and concentration, and mixing.

Hydrochemical Types of Spring Waters in West Carpathian Catchments (Poland) under Different Pressure of Acidic Deposition

Springs are natural outflows of groundwater to the surface and are often the only places to gain insights into underground processes, especially in protected areas. Contact with rocks changes the parameters of water, especially its chemical composition, which can be easily expressed via hydrochemical typing using the Szczukariew–Priklonski classification. Knowledge of the distribution and chemical compositions of springs is essential for a good hydrological and hydrogeological understanding of a given area. In previous decades, underground water remained mostly uncontaminated, and the ions used in the Szczukariew–Priklonski classification, namely, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, SO42− and HCO3−, provided accurate descriptions of this water. However, due to anthropogenic activity in the last decades, NO3− and NH4+ ions in shares greater than 20% have been frequently noted in underground and spring water. Research has been conducted in two forested regions: within the Skrzyczne range, which is under pressure from high air pollution coming from the Ostrava and Upper Silesia industrial districts, and in Gorce National Park, which is impacted by low-level air pollution. Water samples were collected three times per year in 2011 and 2012 at various water levels after a spring snow thaw, a period of heavy rain and a dry period. A search for the following ions was conducted: Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, NH4+, HCO3−, SO42−, Cl− and NO3−. Under the Szczukariew–Priklonski classification system, due to the continuous accumulation of nitrogen compounds from air pollution, the shares of nitrates and ammonium ions in underground water and spring water are likely to increase.

Chemical characteristics of groundwater in Ardabil region, Iran

Purpose The chemical analysis of wells in the Ardabil area, Ardabil Province NW of Iran, was evaluated to determine the hydrogeochemical processes and ion concentration background in the region. The purpose of this study is to analyze the hydrochemical quality of groundwater in Ardabil aquifer in order to assess the suitability of the waters for different uses. Design/methodology/approach The chemical analysis of 75 water wells in the Ardabil area, was evaluated. Over the entire area, the dominated hydrochemical types are: Na-Cl, Na-HCO3-Cl-Mg, Ca-SO4, Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl and Ca-Mg-HCO3. The abundance of the major ions is as follows: Na+>Ca2+>Mg2+>K+ and SO42–> Cl–>HCO3– and major ion concentrations are below the acceptable level for drinking water. Most of groundwater samples fell in the soft water category. All of groundwaters belong to the excellent category and can be used safely for irrigation. Findings The chemical analysis of 75 water wells in the Ardabil area, Ardabil Province NW of Iran, was evaluated to determine the hydrogeochemical processes and ion concentration background in the region. Over the entire area, the dominated hydrochemical types are: Na-Cl, Na-HCO3-Cl-Mg, Ca-SO4, Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl and Ca-Mg-HCO3. The abundance of the major ions is as follows: Na+>Ca2+>Mg2+>K+ and SO42–> Cl–>HCO3– and major ion concentrations are below the acceptable level for drinking water. Most of groundwater samples fell in the soft water category. All of groundwaters belong to the excellent category and can be used safely for irrigation. Originality/value The chemical analysis of 75 water wells in the Ardabil area, Ardabil Province NW of Iran, was evaluated to determine the hydrogeochemical processes and ion concentration background in the region. Over the entire area, the dominated hydrochemical types are: Na-Cl, Na-HCO3-Cl-Mg, Ca-SO4, Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl and Ca-Mg-HCO3. The abundance of the major ions is as follows: Na+>Ca2+>Mg2+>K+ and SO42–> Cl–>HCO3– and major ion concentrations are below the acceptable level for drinking water. Most of groundwater samples fell in the soft water category. All of groundwaters belong to the excellent category and can be used safely for irrigation.

Hydrogeochemical evolution under a changing environment: a case study in Jilin, China

Groundwater is an important component of the global water cycle, and acts as a receptor and information carrier of global environmental changes. Therefore, it is of great importance to research the chemical evolution of groundwater under a changing environment. Historical data shows that groundwater hydrochemical types are becoming more complicated, groundwater quality is deteriorating and the scope of pollution is expanding. This is attributed to an increasingly dry climate and the gradual deterioration of the original ecological environment, together with the unreasonable groundwater exploitation and intense agricultural activities of the past 30 years. Climate change and human activities are intertwined, and are responsible for changing the original groundwater system and forming a new evolutionary system.

Hydrochemistry and Its Controlling Factors of Rivers in the Source Region of the Nujiang River on the Tibetan Plateau

The chemical composition of river water collected from the main stream of the Naqu and its tributaries was analyzed to reveal its hydrochemical characteristics and to evaluate the water quality for irrigation purposes. Based on 39 samples, the results revealed mildly alkaline pH values and total dissolved solids (TDS) values ranging from 115 to 676 mg/L, averaging 271 mg/L. Major ion concentrations based on mean values (mg/L) were in the order of Ca2+>Na+>Mg2+>K+ for cations and HCO3->SO42->Cl->CO32- for anions. Most hydrochemical types were of the Ca–HCO3 (~74.36%) type. Cluster analysis (CA) suggested that the hydrochemical characteristics upstream of the main stream of the Naqu were obviously different from those from the middle and downstream of the main stream and its tributaries. The analysis shows that the Sangqu, Basuoqu, Mumuqu, Zongqingqu, Mugequ basin tributary, and the Gongqu basin tributary were mainly affected by carbonate weathering. Carbonate and silicate weathering commonly controlled the hydrochemistry upstream and downstream of the main Naqu, Chengqu, and Mugequ streams. The middle of the main stream of the Naqu was mainly affected by silicate weathering, and anhydrite/gypsum dissolution mainly affected the hydrochemistry of the main Gongqu stream. The quality of water samples was suitable for irrigation purposes, except for one sample from the main stream of the Mugequ.

Potential for Mineral Carbonation of CO2 in Pleistocene Basaltic Rocks in Volos Region (Central Greece)

Pleistocene alkaline basaltic lavas crop out in the region of Volos at the localities of Microthives and Porphyrio. Results from detailed petrographic study show porphyritic textures with varying porosity between 15% and 23%. Data from deep and shallow water samples were analysed and belong to the Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3-Cl and the Ca-Mg-HCO3 hydrochemical types. Irrigation wells have provided groundwater temperatures reaching up to ~30 °C. Water samples obtained from depths ranging between 170 and 250 m. The enhanced temperature of the groundwater is provided by a recent-inactive magmatic heating source. Comparable temperatures are also recorded in adjacent regions in which basalts of similar composition and age crop out. Estimations based on our findings indicate that basaltic rocks from the region of Volos have the appropriate physicochemical properties for the implementation of a financially feasible CO2 capture and storage scenario. Their silica-undersaturated alkaline composition, the abundance of Ca-bearing minerals, low alteration grade, and high porosity provide significant advantages for CO2 mineral carbonation. Preliminary calculations suggest that potential pilot projects at the Microthives and Porphyrio basaltic formations can store 64,800 and 21,600 tons of CO2, respectively.