Skip to main content
Log in

Appraising Groundwater Quality and Health Risks from Contamination in a Semiarid Region of Northwest China

Exposure and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study assessed groundwater quality in a semiarid region of northwest China impacted by industrial and agricultural activities. The goal was to assess the quality of the water for drinking and irrigation, and the groundwater’s effect on human health. Thirty-one groundwater samples were collected from monitoring and hand pumping wells. These wells were distributed over 54 km2, with an average of 5.7 wells per 10 square kilometers. The samples were analyzed for pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), fluoride (F), nitrate (NO3–N), nitrite (NO2–N), ammonia nitrogen (NH4–N), major ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3 , SO4 2−, Cl), and heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Zn, As and Cr6+). Groundwater chemistry was described using statistical analysis, and Piper and Gibbs diagrams. An entropy-based matter element extension analysis was performed to quantify the overall groundwater quality. The sodium adsorption ratio, residual sodium carbonate, and soluble sodium percentage were used to assess irrigation water quality. Considering resident age, sex, and exposure pathways, the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks were estimated using the models recommended by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China. Study area groundwater was found to be slightly alkaline. For cations, Na+ was most abundant followed by Ca2+, then Mg2+, and then K+. For anions, HCO3 were more abundant than SO4 2− and Cl. Gibbs diagrams indicate that groundwater evaporation influences the development of sulfate-type groundwater, compared to the other groundwater types (bicarbonate and non-dominant types). The groundwater in most parts of the study area is of fair quality, and is marginally acceptable for multiple uses. TDS, TH, NH4−N, NO3−N, and Mn are common contaminants in the alluvial plain. These contaminants originate mainly from industrial and agricultural activities, as well as natural processes. Land irrigated with the groundwater is not exposed to a sodium hazard. However, measures are needed to manage the salinity hazard. The health risk assessment suggests that females and children face higher non-carcinogenic risk than males. The contribution of the contaminants to non-carcinogenic risk is in the following order: NO3 > F> As > Mn > NO2 > Cr > NH4 +> Cu > Zn. Cr contributes more than As to the carcinogenic risk.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alam F (2014) Evaluation of hydrogeochemical parameters of groundwater for suitability of domestic and irrigational purposes: a case study from central Ganga Plain, India. Arab J Geosci 7:4121–4131. doi:10.1007/s12517-013-1055-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alam MO, Shaikh WA, Chakraborty S, Avishek K, Bhattacharya T (2015) Groundwater arsenic contamination and potential health risk assessment of gangetic plains of Jharkhand, India. Expo Health. doi:10.1007/s12403-015-0188-0

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexakis D, Gotsis D, Giakoumakis S (2015) Evaluation of soil salinization in a Mediterranean site (Agoulinitsa district—West Greece). Arab J Geosci 8:1373–1383. doi:10.1007/s12517-014-1279-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Omran AM, Aly AA, Al-Wabel MI, Sallam AS, Al-Shayaa MS (2016) Hydrochemical characterization of groundwater under agricultural land in arid environment: a case study of Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Geosci 9:68. doi:10.1007/s12517-015-2136-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alvarez MdP, Dapeňa C, Bouza PJ, Ríos I, Hernández MA (2015) Groundwater salinization in arid coastal wetlands: a study case from Playa Fracasso, Patagonia, Argentina. Environ Earth Sci 73:7983–7994. doi:10.1007/s12665-014-3957-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • An Y, Zou Z, Li R (2014) Water quality assessment in the Harbin reach of the Songhuajiang River (China) based on a fuzzy rough set and an attribute recognition theoretical model. Int J Environ Res Public Health 11(4):3507–3520. doi:10.3390/ijerph110403507

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • An Y, Zou Z, Li R (2016) Descriptive characteristics of surface water quality in Hong Kong by a self-organising map. Int J Environ Res Public Health 13:115. doi:10.3390/ijerph13010115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arveti N, Sarma MRS, Aitkenhead-Peterson JA, Sunil K (2011) Fluoride incidence in groundwater: a case study from Talupula, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ Monit Assess 172:427–443. doi:10.1007/s10661-010-1345-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Batterman S, Su FC, Jia CR, Naidoo RN, Robins T, Naik I (2011) Manganese and lead in children’s blood and airborne particulate matter in Durban, South Africa. Sci Total Environ 409:1058–1068. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.12.017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bob M, Rahman NA, Elamin A, Taher S (2016) Assessment of groundwater suitability for irrigation in Madinah City, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Geosci 9:38. doi:10.1007/s12517-015-2024-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouzourra H, Bouhlila R, Elango L, Slama F, Ouslati N (2015) Characterization of mechanisms and processes of groundwater salinization in irrigated coastal area using statistics, GIS, and hydrogeochemical investigations. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:2643–2660. doi:10.1007/s11356-014-3428-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cai W (1999) Extension theory and its application. Chin Sci Bull 44(17):1538–1548. doi:10.1007/BF02886090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chebotarev II (1955) Metamorphism of natural water in the crust of weathering-1. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 8:22–48. doi:10.1016/0016-7037(55)90015-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dahiya S, Singh B, Gaur S, Garg VK, Kushwaha HS (2007) Analysis of groundwater quality using fuzzy synthetic evaluation. J Hazard Mater 147(3):938–946. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.01.119

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng LH, Sang GS, Hong WH (2014) Statistical prediction of changes in water resources trends based on set pair analysis. Water Resour Manag 28:1703–1711. doi:10.1007/s11269-014-0581-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fordyce FM, Vrana K, Zhovinsky E, Povoroznuk V, Toth G, Hope BC, Iljinsky U, Baker J (2007) A health risk assessment for fluoride in Central Europe. Environ Geochem Health 29:83–102. doi:10.1007/s10653-006-9076-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs RJ (1970) Mechanisms controlling world water chemistry. Science 17:1088–1090. doi:10.1126/science.170.3962.1088

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gong J, Liu Y, Chen W (2012) Land suitability evaluation for development using a matter-element model: A case study in Zengcheng, Guangzhou, China. Land Use Policy 29:464–472. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2011.09.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gu C, Zhang Z, Cai X, Hou Y (2011) Application of entropy-based fuzzy matter-element analysis in seepage monitoring of RCC dam. Front Archit Civ Eng China 5(1):105–111. doi:10.1007/s11709-010-0015-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He Y, Dai A, Zhu J, He H, Li F (2011) Risk assessment of urban network planning in china based on the matter-element model and extension analysis. Electr Power Energy Syst 33:775–782. doi:10.1016/j.ijepes.2010.12.037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin J, Qian H, Chen Y-F, Xi W-J (2013) Assessment of groundwater quality based on matter element extension model. J Chem 2013:715647. doi:10.1155/2013/715647

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuo C-C, Weaver V, Fadrowski JJ, Ling Y-S, Guallar E, Navas-Acien A (2015) Arsenic exposure, hyperuricemia, and gout in US adults. Environ Int 76:32–40. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2014.11.015

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lan S, Jiang J, Wang B (2009) Evaluation of groundwater quality based on matter-element and extension means—Taking shallow groundwater of plain areas in Lishu for example. J Jilin Univ (Earth Sci Edn) 39(4):722–727 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H (2011) Human health risk assessment for chemical pollutants in drinking water source in Shizuishan City, Northwest China. Iranian J Environ Health Sci Eng 8(1):41–48

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Wu J (2011) Application of set pair analysis method based on entropy weight in groundwater quality assessment-a case study in Dongsheng City, Northwest China. E-J Chem 8(2):851–858. doi:10.1155/2011/879683

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Wu H, Qian H (2012) Groundwater quality assessment based on rough sets attribute reduction and TOPSIS method in a semi-arid area, China. Environ Monit Assess 184:4841–4854. doi:10.1007/s10661-011-2306-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Wu J, Zhang Y, Zhang H (2013) Major ion chemistry of shallow groundwater in the Dongsheng coalfield, Ordos Basin, China. Mine Water Environ 32(3):195–206. doi:10.1007/s10230-013-0234-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Wu J, Chen J, Zhang Y, Zhang H (2014a) Occurrence and hydrogeochemistry of fluoride in shallow alluvial aquifer of Weihe River, China. Environ Earth Sci 71(7):3133–3145. doi:10.1007/s12665-013-2691-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Wu J (2014b) Origin and assessment of groundwater pollution and associated health risk: a case study in an industrial park, northwest China. Environ Geochem Health 36(4):693–712. doi:10.1007/s10653-013-9590-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Howard KWF, Wu J, Lyu X (2014c) Anthropogenic pollution and variability of manganese in alluvial sediments of the Yellow River, Ningxia, northwest China. Environ Monit Assess 186(3):1385–1398. doi:10.1007/s10661-013-3461-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Howard KWF, Wu J (2015a) Building a new and sustainable “Silk Road economic belt”. Environ Earth Sci 74(10):7267–7270. doi:10.1007/s12665-015-4739-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Howard KWF, Wu J (2015b) Heavy metal contamination of Yellow River alluvial sediments, northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 73(7):3403–3415. doi:10.1007/s12665-014-3628-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Wu J, Qian H (2016a) Hydrochemical appraisal of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes and the major influencing factors: a case study in and around Hua County, China. Arab J Geosci 9(1):15. doi:10.1007/s12517-015-2059-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Wu J, Qian H (2016b) Preliminary assessment of hydraulic connectivity between river water and shallow groundwater and estimation of their transfer rate during dry season in the Shidi River, China. Environ Earth Sci 75(2):99. doi:10.1007/s12665-015-4949-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H (2013) Manganese pollution in groundwater and its impact on water environment in Zhongning Shikong Industrial Park: Assessment and prediction. Master Thesis, Chang’an University, Xi’an. (in Chinese)

  • Mahboubi P, Parkes MW, Chan HM (2015) Challenges and opportunities of integrating human health into the environmental assessment process: the Canadian experience contextualised to international efforts. J Environ Assess Policy Manag 17(4):1550034. doi:10.1142/S1464333215500349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Environmental Protection of P.R. China (2009) Water quality: Technical regulation of the preservation and handling of samples, (HJ 4932009). National standards for environmental protection of China. (in Chinese)

  • Ministry of Environmental Protection of the P.R. China (2014) Technical guidelines for risk assessment of contaminated sites, (HJ 25.32014). China Environmental Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

  • Ministry of Health of the P.R. China, Standardization Administration of the P.R. China (2006) Standards for drinking water quality (GB 57492006). China Standard Press, Beijing. (in Chinese)

  • Ministry of Land and Resources of the P.R. China (2015) Standard for groundwater quality (DZ/T 02902015). National standard for geological exploration of mineral resources. (in Chinese)

  • Ningxia Geological Team (1971) Report on Hydrogeological Investigation for Water Supply in Weining region (1:50000). Yinchuan: Ningxia Geological Team. (in Chinese)

  • Oinam JD, Ramanathan AL, Singh G (2012) Geochemical and statistical evaluation of groundwater in Imphal and Thoubal district of Manipur, India. J Asian Earth Sci 48:136–149. doi:10.1016/j.jseaes.2011.11.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pastén-Zapata E, Ledesma-Ruiz R, Harter T, Ramírez AI, Mahlknecht J (2014) Assessment of sources and fate of nitrate in shallow groundwater of an agricultural area by using a multi-tracer approach. Sci Total Environ 470–471:855–864. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.10.043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng S-J, Xu J, Tao Y-Q, Cheng M-J (2009) Matter-elements model and application for prediction of coal and gas outburst. J Coal Sci Eng (China) 15(3):273–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piper AM (1944) A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water-analyses. Trans Am Geophys Union 25(6):914–928. doi:10.1029/TR025i006p00914

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu J (2010) China faces up to groundwater crisis. Nature 466:308. doi:10.1038/466308a

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rasool A, Farooqi A, Masood S, Hussain K (2016) Arsenic in groundwater and its health risk assessment in drinking water of Mailsi, Punjab, Pakistan. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 22(1):187–202. doi:10.1080/10807039.2015.1056295

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Razowska-Jaworek L (2014) Calcium and magnesium in groundwater: occurrence and significance for human health. CRC Press, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Regional Geological Investigation Team of Ningxia (1976) Report of regional geological investigation for Zhongwei Region. Regional Geological Investigation Team of Ningxia, Yinchuan (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice EW, Baird RB, Eaton AD, Clesceri LS (2012) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 22nd edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava PK, Singh M, Gupta M, Singh N, Kharwar RN, Tripathi RD, Nautiyal CS (2015) Mapping of arsenic pollution with reference to paddy cultivation in the middle Indo-Gangetic Plains. Environ Monit Assess 187:198. doi:10.1007/s10661-015-4418-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang J, Wang C, Lin N, Li Z, Li H, Mao Z (2009) Application of matter-element model in soil nutrient evaluation of ecological fragile region. Chin Geogra Sci 19(2):168–176. doi:10.1007/s11769-009-0168-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2015) Regional Screening Levels (RSLs)—generic tables. https://www.epa.gov/risk/regional-screening-levels-rsls-generic-tables-november-2015, Accessed 15 March 2016

  • Wang W, Jin J, Ding J, Li Y (2009) A new approach to water resources system assessment—set pair analysis method. Sci China Ser E-Tech Sci 52(10):3017–3023. doi:10.1007/s11431-009-0099-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen D, Zhang F, Zhang E, Wang C, Han S, Zheng Y (2013) Arsenic, fluoride and iodine in groundwater of China. J Geochem Explor 135:1–21. doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2013.10.012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2011) Guidelines for drinking water quality, 4th edn. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Sun Z (2015) Evaluation of shallow groundwater contamination and associated human health risk in an alluvial plain impacted by agricultural and industrial activities, mid-west China. Expo Health. doi:10.1007/s12403-015-0170-x

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Li P, Qian H, Duan Z, Zhang X (2014) Using correlation and multivariate statistical analysis to identify hydrogeochemical processes affecting the major ion chemistry of waters: Case study in Laoheba phosphorite mine in Sichuan, China. Arab J Geosci 7(10):3973–3982. doi:10.1007/s12517-013-1057-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Li P, Qian H (2015) Hydrochemical characterization of drinking groundwater with special reference to fluoride in an arid area of China and the control of aquifer leakage on its concentrations. Environ Earth Sci 73(12):8575–8588. doi:10.1007/s12665-015-4018-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu S, Kang P, Sun Y (2016) A stable isotope approach and its application for identifying nitrate source and transformation process in water. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23:1133–1148. doi:10.1007/s11356-015-5309-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ye J (2009) Application of extension theory in misfire fault diagnosis of gasoline engines. Expert Syst Appl 36:1217–1221. doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2007.11.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zabala ME, Martínez S, Manzano M, Vives L (2016) Groundwater chemical baseline values to assess the recovery plan in the Matanza-Riachuelo River basin, Argentina. Sci Total Environ 541:1516–1530. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.10.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaidi FK, Nazzal Y, Jafri MK, Naeem M, Ahmed I (2015) Reverse ion exchange as a major process controlling the groundwater chemistry in an arid environment: a case study from northwestern Saudi Arabia. Environ Monit Assess 187:607. doi:10.1007/s10661-015-4828-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research is financially supported by the General Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M580804), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41502234), the Foundation of Outstanding Young Scholar of Chang’an University (310829153509), the Special Financial Grant from the Shaanxi Postdoctoral Science Foundation, the funds granted by the Innovation Training Program for Undergraduate Students of Chang’an University (201510710072), the Science and Technology Innovation Project of Shaanxi Province (2012KTDZ03-05) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (310829151072). Yulong Zhang and Hui Jin are acknowledged for their help in field investigation and sample analysis. We are also grateful to the anonymous reviewers and the editors. Their comments are quite constructive and helpful for us to improve the quality of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peiyue Li.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, P., Li, X., Meng, X. et al. Appraising Groundwater Quality and Health Risks from Contamination in a Semiarid Region of Northwest China. Expo Health 8, 361–379 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0205-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0205-y

Keywords

Navigation