Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution and Enrichment Factors of High-Arsenic Groundwater in Inland Arid Area of P. R. China: A Case Study of the Shihezi Area, Xinjiang

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Exposure and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To study the distribution, sources and enrichment factors of groundwater As in the Shihezi area in Xinjiang, China, 19 indexes in 23 groundwater samples were tested and analyzed with a control area of 1611 km2. Results showed that As concentrations ranged between non-detected and 49.1 μg/L with an average of 11.0 μg/L. Among all the samples, 34.8% of which had As concentrations greater than 10 μg/L, according to “Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB5749-2006)”. Groundwater As showed a significant spatial distribution. High-As groundwaters (>10 μg/L) were mainly distributed in the confined groundwater in the northern part of the study area. Arsenic concentrations in the deep confined groundwater were higher than that in the shallow confined groundwater due to mixed exploitation of groundwater in confined groundwater region and overexploitation of deep groundwater in the Shihezi area. The hydrogeochemical type of groundwater changed from HCO3·SO4–Ca·Na in the southern piedmont zone to HCO3·SO4–Na in the northern fine soil plain. High-As groundwater generally occurred under weakly alkaline and reducing conditions with dominant hydrogeochemical type of groundwater of HCO3·SO4–Na. Groundwater As mainly derived from As-containing minerals in the coal seam of the southern mountain and the extensive use of As-containing pesticides in agricultural areas. Enrichment of groundwater As was mainly influenced by climate, geological settings and hydrogeochemical characteristic. In the transition zone of oasis and desert in the north of study area, intensive evaporation of groundwater promoted the enrichment of As in shallow groundwater. In the confined groundwater area in the northern part of the study area, relatively weak groundwater runoff and reducing environment may contribute to groundwater As enrichment in confined aquifers. In addition, high pH values and high F− concentrations in the groundwater may contribute to the enrichment of groundwater As, while TDS, total Fe and Mn concentrations of groundwater had little effect on As enrichment in the study area. Two confined groundwater flow paths were selected in the study area. Inverse geochemical modeling was performed using PHREEQC. The results showed that As-containing realgar dissolved in groundwater, indicating that realgar was the major mineral source of groundwater As. The dissolved amount of realgar along deep confined groundwater flow path was higher than that along shallow confined groundwater flow path, indicating that the concentrations of As dissolved in deep confined groundwater were higher than that in shallow confined groundwater. Meanwhile, dissolution of fluorite in groundwater caused the increase in groundwater F−, which further confirmed that groundwater As and F− had a positive correlation.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • An F, Zhu YF (2009) Significance of native arsenic in the Baogutu gold deposit, western Junggar, Xinjiang, NW China. Chin Sci Bull 54(10):1744–1749

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barbieri M, Nigro A, Sappa G (2014) Arsenic contamination in groundwater system of Viterbo area (Central Italy). Sens Sci 1(3):101–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Bian JM, Tang J, Feng L, Cha ES (2009) Hydrogeochemical characteristics in the arsenic poisoning area in western Jilin Province. Hydrogeol Eng Geol (Chinese) 36(5):80–83

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boyle D, Turner R, Hall G (1998) Anomalous arsenic concentrations in groundwaters of an island community, Bowen Island, British Columbia. Environ Geochem Health 20(4):199–212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bullen HA, Dorko MJ, Oman JK, Garrett SJ (2003) Valence and core-level binding energy shifts in realgar (As4S4) and pararealgar (As4S4) arsenic sulfides. Surf Sci 531(3):319–328

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bundschuh J, Farias B, Martin R, Storniolo A, Bhattacharya P, Cortes J, Bonorino G, Albouy R (2004) Groundwater arsenic in the Chaco-Pampean Plain, Argentina: case study from Robles county, Santiago del Estero Province. Appl Geochem 19(2):231–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Camm GS, Glass HJ, Bryce DW, Butcher AR (2004) Characterisation of a mining-related arsenic-contaminated site, Cornwall, UK. J Geochem Explor 82(1):1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chauhan VS, Yunus M, Sankararamakrishnan N (2011) Geochemistry and mobilization of arsenic in Shuklaganj area of Kanpur-Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh, India. Environ Monit Assess 184(8):4889–4901

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Zhong JH, Yuan J, Nie KK, Yang YP (2009) Development and formation of Paleogene kaolinite, Bonan subsag. Petrol Explor Dev (Chinese) 36(4):456–462

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cozzarelli IM, Schreiber ME, Erickson ML, Ziegler BA (2016) Arsenic cycling in hydrocarbon plumes: secondary effects of natural attenuation. Groundwater 54(1):35–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delistraty D, Yokel J (2014) Ecotoxicological study of arsenic and lead contaminated soils in former orchards at the Hanford site, USA. Environ Toxicol 29(1):10–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dong HG, Wang D, Wang YT, Tong J, Liu T (2013) Spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of mulch residues in cotton field in Shihezi, Xinjiang. J Arid Land Resour Environ (Chinese) 27(9):182–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Duan L, Wang WK, Cao YQ, Wang LJ, Liu B (2007) Hydrochemical characteristics and formation mechanics of groundwater in the middle of Northern Slope of Tianshan Mountains. J Arid Land Resour Environ (Chinese) 21(9):29–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng XD, Dang Z, Huang WL, Yang C (2009) Chemical speciation of fine particle bound trace metals. Int J Environ Sci Technol 6(3):337–346

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbon-Walsh K, Salaün P, Uroic MK, Feldmann J, McArthur JM, Berg CMG (2011) Voltammetric determination of arsenic in high iron and manganese groundwaters. Talanta 85(3):1404–1411

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo HM, Yang SZ, Tang XH, Li Y, Shen ZL (2008) Groundwater geochemistry and its implications for arsenic mobilization in shallow aquifers of the Hetao Basin, Inner Mongolia. Sci Total Environ 393:131–144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo HM, Zhang B, Zhang Y (2011) Control of organic and iron colloids on arsenic partition and transport in high arsenic groundwaters in the Hetao basin, Inner Mongolia. Appl Geochem 26(3):360–370

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo HM, Liu C, Lu H, Wanty RB, Wang J, Zhou YZ (2013) Pathways of coupled arsenic and iron cycling in high arsenic groundwater of the Hetao basin, Inner Mongolia, China: an iron isotope approach. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 112(3):130–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herath I, Vithanage M, Bundschuh J, Maity JP, Bhattacharya P (2016) Natural arsenic in global groundwaters: distribution and geochemical triggers for mobilization. Curr Pollut Rep 2:68–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Islam MA, Safiullah S, Islam MS, Islam MM (2009) Analysis of organic matter, iron and manganese in soil of arsenic affected Singair area, Bangladesh. Res J Environ Toxicol 3(1):31–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Joseph T, Dubey B, Mcbean EA (2015a) Human health risk assessment from arsenic exposures in Bangladesh. Sci Total Environ 527–528:552–560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joseph T, Dubey B, Mcbean EA (2015b) A critical review of arsenic exposures for Bangladeshi adults. Sci Total Environ 527–528:540–551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang Y (2014) Environmental biogeochemistry of arsenic in coal mining area. Doctoral dissertation, University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese

  • Kar S, Maity JP, Jean JS, Liu CC, Liu CW, Bundschuh J, Lu HY (2011) Health risks for human intake of aquacultural fish: arsenic bioaccumulation and contamination. J Environ Sci Health 46(11):1266–1273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keshavarzi B, Moore F, Mosaferi M, Rahmani F (2011) The source of natural arsenic contamination in groundwater, west of Iran. Exposure Health 3(3–4):135–147

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SH, Kim K, Ko KS, Kim Y, Lee KS (2012) Co-contamination of arsenic and fluoride in the groundwater of unconsolidated aquifers under reducing environments. Chemosphere 87(8):851–856

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krishna MV, Chandrasekaran K, Karunasagar D, Arunachalam J (2001) A combined treatment approach using Fenton’s reagent and zero valent iron for the removal of arsenic from drinking water. J Hazard Mater 84(2–3):229–240

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Q (2014) Spatial and temporal evolution of groundwater quality in the plain area of Jungar Basin. Doctoral dissertation, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Chinese

  • Li PY (2016) Groundwater quality in western China: challenges and paths forward for groundwater quality research in western China. Exposure Health 8(3):305–310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li PY, Qian H, Wu JH, Ding J (2010) Geochemical modeling of groundwater in southern plain area of Pengyang County, Ningxia, China. Water Sci Eng 3(3):282–291

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li PY, Wu JH, Qian H (2013) Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation purposes and identification of hydrogeochemical evolution mechanisms in Pengyang County, China. Environ Earth Sci 69(7):2211–2225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li PY, Qian H, Wu JH, Chen J, Zhang YQ, Zhang HB (2014a) Occurrence and hydrogeochemistry of fluoride in shallow alluvial aquifer of Weihe River, China. Environ Earth Sci 71(7):3133–3145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Q, Zhou JL, Zhou YZ, Bai CY, Tao HF, Jia RL, Ji YY, Yang GY (2014b) Variation of groundwater hydrochemical characteristics in the plain area of the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Region, China. Environ Earth Sci 72(11):4249–4263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li PY, Qian H, Howard KWF, Wu JH (2015a) Building a new and sustainable “Silk Road economic belt”. Environ Earth Sci 74(10):7267–7270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Q, Zhou JL, Gao YX, Cheng F, Li FX, Meng Q (2015b) Groundwater hydro-geochemistry in plain of Manasi River Basin, Xinjiang. Geoscience (Chinese) 29(2):238–244

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li YF, Ye F, Wang AW, Wang D, Yang BY, Zheng QM, Sun GF, Gao XH (2016) Chronic arsenic poisoning probably caused by arsenic-based pesticides: findings from an investigation study of a household. Int J Environ Res Public Health 13(133):1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Liu SY, Wang GL (2006) Water-rock interaction simulation of groundwater in the plain of Manasi River Basin, Xinjiang. Acta Geol Sin (Chinese) 80(6):885–892

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu CC, Kar S, Jean JS, Wang CH, Lee YC, Sracek O, Li ZH, Bundschuh J, Yang HJ, Chen CY (2013) Linking geochemical processes in mud volcanoes with arsenic mobilization driven by organic matter. J Hazard Mater 262(22):980–988

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo L (2008) Research on groundwater pollution and its prevention-control policy in China. J China Univ Geosci (Social Sciences Edition) (Chinese) 8(2):72–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo FZ, Hu WH, Song LJ (2005) Analysing of disaster relief factors after earthquakes with Ms 5.0 and Ms 5.4 in south of Shihezi of Xinjiang on Feb. 14, 2003. Inland Earthq 19(1):86–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer DR, Kosmus W, Pogglitsch H, Mayer D, Beyer W (1993) Essential trace elements in humans. Biol Trace Elem Res 37(1):27–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mcarthur JM, Banerjee DM, Hudson-Edwards KA, Mishra R, Purohit R, Ravenscroft P, Cronin A, Howarth RJ, Chatterjee A, Talukder T, Lowry D, Houghton S, Chadha DK (2004) Natural organic matter in sedimentary basins and its relation to arsenic in anoxic ground water: the example of West Bengal and its worldwide implications. Appl Geochem 19:1255–1293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Myoungjin K, Nriagu J, Haack S (2000) Carbonate ions and arsenic dissolution by groundwater. Environ Sci Technol 34(15):3094–3100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naujokas MF, Anderson B, Ahsan H, Vasken Aposhian H, Graziano GH, Thompson C, Suk WA (2013) The broad scope of health effects from chronic arsenic exposure: update on a worldwide public health problem. Environ Health Perspect 121(3):295–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nicolli HB, Bundschuh J, García JW, Falcón CM, Jean JS (2010) Sources and controls for the mobility of arsenic in oxidizing groundwaters from loess-type sediments in arid/semi-arid dry climates-Evidence from the Chaco-Pampean plain (Argentina). Water Res 44(19):5589–5604

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pang W, Wang KY, Yang L (2010) Evaluation of ground water environmental quality in the process of urbanization of Shihezi City by entropy model. Hubei Agric Sci 49(5):1092–1095

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkhurst DL, Appelo CAJ (1999) User’s guide to PHREEQC (Version 2)-a computer program for speciation, batch-reaction, one-dimensional transport, and inverse geochemical calculations. Water Resources Investigations Report 99-4259

  • Pei HH, Liang SX, Ning LY (2005) A discussion of the enrichment and formation of arsenic in groundwater in Datong Basin. Hydrogeol Eng Geol (Chinese) 32(4):65–69

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pelley J (2005) Common arsenical pesticide under scrutiny. Environ Sci Technol 39(6):122–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pierce ML, Moore CB (1982) Adsorption of arsenic and arsenate on amorphous iron hydroxide. Water Res 16(7):1247–1253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Polizzotto ML, Harvey CF, Li GC, Badruzzman B, Ali A, Newville M, Sutton S, Fendorf S (2006) Solid-phases and desorption processes of arsenic within Bangladesh sediments. Chem Geol 228(1–3):97–111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Polya DA (2010) Arsenic pollution: a global synthesis. Miner Mag 74(1):183–185

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Lado L, Sun GF, Berg M, Zhang Q, Xue HB, Zheng QM, Johnson A (2013) Groundwater arsenic contamination throughout China. Science 341:866–868

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Root TL, Gotkowitz MB, Bahr JM, Attig JW (2010) Arsenic geochemistry and hydrostratigraphy in Midwestern U.S. Glacial deposits. Groundwater 48(6):903–912

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan PC, Kim JJ, Mango H, Hattori K, Thompson A (2013) Arsenic in a fractured slate aquifer system, New England, USA: influence of bedrock geochemistry, groundwater flow paths, redox and ion exchange. Appl Geochem 39:181–192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shah BA (2015) Status of groundwater arsenic pollution of Mirzapur district in Holocene aquifers from parts of the Middle Ganga Plain, India. Environ Earth Sci 73(4):1505–1514

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smedley PL, Kinniburgh DG (2002) A review of the source, behavior and distribution of As in natural waters. Appl Geochem 17(5):517–568

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solgi E, Esmaili-Sari A, Riyahi-Bakhtiari A, Hadipour M (2012) Soil contamination of metals in the three industrial estates, Arak, Iran. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 88(4):634–638

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tamea S, Butera I (2014) Stochastic description of infiltration between aquifers. J Hydrol 510:541–550

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian CY, Zhang FC (2010) Distribution and enrichment of As in groundwater in Northern Yinbei plain. Saf Environ Eng (Chinese) 17(2):22–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Mulligan CN (2006) Occurrence of arsenic contamination in Canada: sources, behavior and distribution. Sci Total Environ 366(2–3):701–721

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang QY, Zhang JB, Xin XL, Zhao BZ, Ma DH, Zhang HL (2016) The accumulation and transfer of arsenic and mercury in the soil under a long-term fertilization treatment. J Soils Sediments 16(2):1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Wen W, Hou ZA, Min W, Zhang XS, Li Q (2015) Investigation and evaluation of heavy metals in farmland soil in Shihezi reclamation area. Xinjiang Agric Sci (Chinese) 52(1):137–144

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu B (2007) Study on groundwater system evolvement law and water environment effect of Shihezi City. Doctoral dissertation, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Chinese

  • Wu Y, Zhou XY, Lei M, Yang J, Ma J, Qiao PW, Chen TB (2016) Migration and transformation of arsenic: contamination control and remediation in realgar mining areas. Appl Geochem. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.05.012

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng YY, Zhou JL, Zhou YZ, Jia RL (2016) Assessment and causes of groundwater organic pollution in typical plain areas in Xinjiang, China. Exposure Health 8:401–417

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang YL, Cao WG, Wang WZ, Dong QY (2013) Distribution of groundwater arsenic and hydraulic gradient along the shallow groundwater flow-path in Hetao Plain, Northern China. J Geochem Explor 135:31–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang LP, Xie XJ, Li JX, Wang YX (2014) Spatial variation, speciation and enrichment of arsenic in groundwater from the Datong Basin, Northern China. Geol Sci Technol Inf (Chinese) 33(1):178–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao FJ, Mcgrath SP, Meharg AA (2010) Arsenic as a food chain contaminant: mechanisms of plant uptake and metabolism and mitigation strategies. Annu Rev Plant Biol 61(4):535–559

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng B, Zhu YF, An F, Huang QY, Qiu T (2015) As–Sb–Bi–Au mineralization in the Baogutu gold deposit, Xinjiang, NW China. Ore Geol Rev 69:17–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou YZ, Zeng YY, Zhou JL, Guo HM, Li Q, Jia RL, Chen YF, Zhao JT (2016) Distribution of groundwater arsenic in Xinjiang, P.R. China. Appl Geochem. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.09.005

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study has been financially supported by NSFC-Xinjiang project “Transport of typical organic pollutants in the groundwater flow system of arid region and its risk assessment” (U1503282); China Geological Survey Bureau project “Groundwater pollution survey of main cities in north western China” (1212011220982); peak discipline project of hydraulic engineering of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (xjslgcgfxk20161103).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, People’s Republic of China

    Yanyan Zeng, Jinlong Zhou & Ruiliang Jia

  2. Xinjiang Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering Research Center, Ürümqi, 830052, People’s Republic of China

    Yanyan Zeng, Jinlong Zhou & Ruiliang Jia

  3. School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, People’s Republic of China

    Yinzhu Zhou

  4. U.S. Geological Survey, MS 963, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO, 80224, USA

    Yinzhu Zhou

  5. School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, People’s Republic of China

    Jichun Wu

Authors
  1. Yanyan Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yinzhu Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jinlong Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ruiliang Jia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jichun Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jinlong Zhou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zeng, Y., Zhou, Y., Zhou, J. et al. Distribution and Enrichment Factors of High-Arsenic Groundwater in Inland Arid Area of P. R. China: A Case Study of the Shihezi Area, Xinjiang. Expo Health 10, 1–13 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0241-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0241-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation