Top

Environmental Earth Sciences

Published in:

01-03-2021 | Original Article

Sources and hydrogeological conditions that cause high iodine concentrations in deep groundwater in the Zhangwei watershed, North China Plain

Authors: Yuanjing Zhang, Jianfeng Li, Qichen Hao, Chuanshun Zhi, Chuwen Cui, Sihai Hu, Yaoguo Wu

Published in: Environmental Earth Sciences | Issue 5/2021

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

The sources and primary mechanisms of high iodine concentration in deep groundwater are rarely reported, thereby restricting the development and utilization of the related groundwater resources. To address these issues, 194 deep groundwater samples were collected from the Zhangwei watershed in the North China Plain, China, to analyze their constituents including iodine. Statistics, principal component analysis and hydrological methods were employed to determine the distribution of iodine concentrations and their controlling hydrogeochemical processes. The results show that the iodine concentration ranged from 2 to 446 μg/L and generally increased along the groundwater flow direction. Three zones with high iodine concentration (> 20 μg/L) were delineated as the alluvial–proluvial plain (Zone A, average 70 μg/L), alluvial–lake plain (Zone B, average 83 μg/L) and coastal plain (Zone C, average 199 μg/L), respectively. In Zone A, aquifer minerals weathering probably releases iodate ions into groundwater. The iodate is reduced with nitrate as the electron acceptor of iodine and transported with the precipitation infiltrating through the vadose zone to recharge groundwater, resulting in increasing the groundwater iodine concentration. In Zone B, the iodine concentrations depend on the contents of the organic matter, clay minerals, and iron aluminum oxide in the alluvial–lake sediments, due to that the deeply buried organic matter is rich in iodine which is released into groundwater through the biodegradation of organic matter, In Zone C, the iodine is probably derived from the sediments which were deposited in Quaternary marine transgression events, and its enrichment was controlled by the strong reduction condition of the deep aquifers. In one word, the iodine sources and hydrogeological conditions determined the high iodine concentrations of deep groundwater in the studied watershed. These findings can provide foundation for further insight into the high iodine concentration of deep groundwater in other hydrogeological units of the North China Plain and other similar units over the world, thereby ensuring drinking groundwater safety.

previous article Optimal site selection for landfill using the boolean-analytical hierarchy process

next article Characterization of the rock blasting process impacts in Lefa gold mine, Republic of Guinea

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Abdesselem K, Azedine H, Lynda C (2016) Groundwater hydrochemistry and effects of anthropogenic pollution in Bechar city (SW Algeria). Desalin Water Treat 57:14034–14043. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2015.1060899CrossRef

Alley WM, Healy RW, LaBaugh JW, Reilly TE (2002) Hydrology-flow and storage in groundwater systems. Science 296:1985–1990. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1067123CrossRef

Andersen S, Pedersen KM, Pedersen IB, Laurberg P (2001) Variations in urinary iodine excretion and thyroid function. A 1-year study in healthy men. Eur J Endocrinol 144:461–465. https://doi.org/10.1530/eje.0.1440461CrossRef

Bondu R, Cloutier V, Rosa E, Roy M (2020) An exploratory data analysis approach for assessing the sources and distribution of naturally occurring contaminants (F, Ba, Mn, As) in groundwater from southern Quebec (Canada). Appl Geochem 114:17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2019.104500CrossRef

Cartwright I, Weaver TR, Fifield LK (2006) Cl/Br ratios and environmental isotopes as indicators of recharge variability and groundwater flow: An example from the southeast Murray Basin, Australia. Chem Geol 231:38–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2005.12.009CrossRef

Chen ZY, Zhang GH, Ni ZL, Qi JX, Nan YJ (2001) Isotopic stratification and its implications in groundwater of northern China. J China University Geosci 12:249–257

Dold S, Zimmermann MB, Jukic T, Kusic Z, Jia Q, Sang Z, Quirino A, San Luis TOL, Fingerhut R, Kupka R, Timmer A, Garrett GS, Andersson M (2018) Universal salt iodization provides sufficient dietary iodine to achieve adequate iodine nutrition during the first 1000 days: a cross-sectional multicenter study. J Nutr 148:587–598. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxy015CrossRef

Duan L, Wang WK, Sun YB, Zhang CC, Sun YQ (2020) Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and health effects of iodine in groundwater in Wei river Basin. Exposure Health 12:369–383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-020-00348-7CrossRef

Feng F, Jia YF, Yang Y, Huan H, Lian XY, Xu XJ, Xia F, Han X, Jiang YH (2020) Hydrogeochemical and statistical analysis of high fluoride groundwater in northern China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:34840–34861. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09784-zCrossRef

Foster S, Garduno H, Evans R, Olson D, Tian Y, Zhang WZ, Han ZS (2004) Quaternary aquifer of the North China Plain-assessing and achieving groundwater resource sustainability. Hydrogeol J 12:81–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-003-0300-6CrossRef

Frank JM (1984) The conductivity-density-salinity-chlorinity relationships for estuarine waters. Limnol Oceanogr 29:1317–1321CrossRef

Gaitan E, Dunn JT (1992) Epidemiology of iodine deficiency. Trends Endocrinol Metab 3:170–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/1043-2760(92)90167-yCrossRef

GB/T (8538–2016) Methods for test of drinking natural mineral waterquality. National Health and Family Planning Commission, PRC 15–21 (in Chinese)

GB/T (19380–2016) Definition and demarcation of water-borne iodineexcessareas and iodine-excess endemial areas. National Health and Family Planning Commission, PRC 1–2 (in Chinese).

GB/T (19380–2003) Classification of areas with high-iodine in waterand endemic areas of Goiter. The Ministry of Health, China 1–2 (in Chinese).

GB/T (19848–2017) Standard for groundwater quality. General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China, PRC 2–3 (in Chinese).

Guo HP, Zhang ZC, Cheng GM, Li WP, Li TF, Jiao JJ (2015) Groundwater-derived land subsidence in the North China Plain. Environ Earth Sci 74:1415–1427. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4131-2CrossRef

Hu SH, Wu YG, Zhang YJ, Zhou B, Xu X (2018) Nitrate removal from groundwater by heterotrophic/autotrophic denitrification using easily degradableorganics and nano-zero valent iron as co-electron donors. Water Air Soil Pollut 229:9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-018-3713-5CrossRef

Jia YF, Guo HM, Jiang YX, Wu Y, Zhou YZ (2014) Hydrogeochemical zonation and its implication for arsenic mobilization in deep groundwaters near alluvial fans in the Hetao Basin, Inner Mongolia. J Hydrol 518:410–420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.02.004CrossRef

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 87:851–856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.01.025CrossRef

Laurberg P, Pedersen IB, Knudsen N, Ovesen L, Andersen S (2001) Environmental iodine intake affects the type of nonmalignant thyroid disease. Thyroid 11:457–469. https://doi.org/10.1089/105072501300176417CrossRef

Lee JY, Song SH (2007) Groundwater chemistry and ionic ratios in a western coastal aquifer of Buan, Korea: implication for seawater intrusion. Geosci J 11:259–270. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02913939CrossRef

Li JX, Wang YX, Guo W, Xie XJ, Zhang LP, Liu YQ, Kong SQ (2014a) Iodine mobilization in groundwater system at Datong basin, China: evidence from hydrochemistry and fluorescence characteristics. Sci Total Environ 468:738–745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.08.092CrossRef

Li Y, Zhang F, Han Z, Wang P, Chen H, Zhang Z (2014b) Evolution characteristics and influence factors of deep groundwater depression cone in North China Plain, China—a case study in Cangzhou region. J Earth Sci 25:1051–1058. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-014-0488-5CrossRef

Li J, Qian K, Yang Y, Xie X (2017a) Iodine speciation and its potential influence on iodine enrichment in groundwater from North China Plain. Procedia Earth and Planetary Science 17:312–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeps.2016.12.069CrossRef

Li JX, Zhou HL, Qian K, Xie XJ, Xue XB, Yang YJ, Wang YX (2017b) Fluoride and iodine enrichment in groundwater of North China Plain: evidences from speciation analysis and geochemical modeling. Sci Total Environ 598:239–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.158CrossRef

Lin JX, Dai LP (2012) Quaternary marine transgressions in eastern China. J Palaeogeography 1:105–125. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1261.2012.00009CrossRef

Liu F, Song X, Yang L, Han D, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Bu H (2015) The role of anthropogenic and natural factors in shaping the geochemical evolution of groundwater in the Subei Lake basin, Ordos energy base, northwestern China. Sci Total Environ 538:327–340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.057CrossRef

Liu HY, Guo HM, Xing L, Zhan YH, Li FL, Shao JL, Niu H, Liang X, Li CQ (2016) Geochemical behaviors of rare earth elements in groundwater along a flow path in the North China Plain. J Asian Earth Sci 117:33–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2015.11.021CrossRef

Liu J, Wang H, Wang FF, Qiu JD, Saito Y, Liu JF, Zhou LY, Xu G, Du XL, Chen Q (2016b) Sedimentary evolution during the last ~1.9 Ma near the western margin of the modern Bohai Sea. Palaeogeography. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.03.012CrossRef

Liu X, Wu Y, Sun R, Hu S, Qiao Z, Wang S, Mi X (2020) NH4+-N/NO3–N ratio controlling nitrogen transformation accompanied with NO2–N accumulation in the oxic-anoxic transition zone. Environ Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109962CrossRef

Ma R, Shi JS, Liu JC, Gui CL (2014) Combined use of multivariate statistical analysis and hydrochemical analysis for groundwater quality evolution: a case study in north chain plain. J Earth Sci 25:587–597. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-014-0446-2CrossRef

Marandi A, Shand P (2018) Groundwater chemistry and the Gibbs Diagram. Appl Geochem 97:209–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.07.009CrossRef

Matiatos I (2016) Nitrate source identification in groundwater of multiple land-use areas by combining isotopes and multivariate statistical analysis: A case study of Asopos basin (Central Greece). Sci Total Environ 541:802–814. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.09.134CrossRef

Pastorelli AA, Stacchini P, Olivieri A (2015) Daily iodine intake and the impact of salt reduction on iodine prophylaxis in the Italian population. Eur J Clin Nutr 69:211–215. https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.206CrossRef

Qiao ZX, Sun R, Wu Y, Hu S, Liu X, Chan J, Mi X (2020a) Characteristics and metabolic pathway of the bacteria for heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification in aquatic ecosystems. Environ Res 191:110069–110069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110069CrossRef

Qiao ZX, Wu YG, Qian J, Hu SH, Chan JW, Liu XY, Sun R, Wang WD, Zhou B (2020b) A lab-scale study on heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification for nitrogen control in aquatic ecosystem. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:9307–9317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07551-3CrossRef

Sharma N, Karanfil T, Westerhoff P (2019) Historical and future needs for geospatial iodide occurrence in surface and groundwaters of the United States of America. Environ Sci Technol Lett 6:379–388. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.9b00278CrossRef

Wang Q, Zhang Y, Yuan G, Zhang W (2008) Since MIS 3 stage the correlation between transgression and climate changes in the North Huanghua area, Hebei. Quaternary Sciences 28:79–95 (in Chinese with English abstract)

Wen DG, Zhang FC, Zhang EY, Wang C, Han SB, Zheng Y (2013) Arsenic, fluoride and iodine in groundwater of China. J Geochem Explor 135:1–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2013.10.012CrossRef

Xiao Y, Shao JL, Frape SK, Cui YL, Dang XY, Wang SB, Ji YH (2018) Groundwater origin, flow regime and geochemical evolution in arid endorheic watersheds: a case study from the Qaidam Basin, northwestern China. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 22:4381–4400. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4381-2018CrossRef

Xing L, Guo H, Zhan Y (2013) Groundwater hydrochemical characteristics and processes along flow paths in the North China Plain. J Asian Earth Sci 70:250–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2013.03.017CrossRef

Xue XB, Li JX, Qian K, Xie XJ (2018) Spatial distribution and mobilization of iodine in groundwater system of north china plain: taking hydrogeological section from Shijiazhuang, Hengshui to Cangzhou as an example. Earth Sci 43:910–921. https://doi.org/10.3799/dqkx.2017.564 (in Chinese with English abstract)CrossRef

Xue X, Li J, Xie X, Qian K, Wang Y (2019) Impacts of sediment compaction on iodine enrichment in deep aquifers of the North China Plain. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.05.036CrossRef

Zhang Z, Shi D, Ren F, Yin Z, Sun J, Zhang C (1997) Evolution of Quaternary groundwater system in North China Plain. Sci China Ser D-earth Sci 40:276–283. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02877536CrossRef

Zhang E, Zhang F, Qian Y, Ye N, Gong J, Wang Y (2010) The distribution of high iodine groundwater in typical areas of China and its inspiration. Geology in China 37:797–802 (in Chinese with English abstract)

Zhang EY, Wang YY, Qian Y, Ma T, Zhang DX, Zhan HB, Zhang ZJ, Fei YH, Wang SM (2013) Iodine in groundwater of the North China Plain: Spatial patterns and hydrogeochemical processes of enrichment. J Geochem Explor 135:40–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2012.11.016CrossRef

Zhang YJ, Zhang YX, Xiang XP, Sun JC, Li YS (2014) Distribution characteristics and cause analysis of iodine in groundwater of Cangzhou Region. Earth Sci Front 21:59–65. https://doi.org/10.13745/j.esf.2014.04.006 (in Chinese with English abstract)CrossRef

Zhang YJ, Wu YG, Sun JC, Hu SH, Zhang YX, Xiang XP (2018) Controls on the spatial distribution of iodine in groundwater in the Hebei Plain, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25:16702–16709. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1843-3CrossRef

Zhang YJ, Chen LN, Cao SW, Tia X, Hu SH, Mi XH, Wu YG (2020) Iodine enrichment and the underlying mechanism in deep groundwater in the Cangzhou Region. Environ Sci Pollut Res, North China. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11159-3CrossRef

Zhao Q, Su X, Kang B, Zhang Y, Wu X, Liu M (2017) A hydrogeochemistry and multi-isotope (Sr, O, H, and C) study of groundwater salinity origin and hydrogeochemcial processes in the shallow confined aquifer of northern Yangtze River downstream coastal plain. China Appl Geochem 86:49–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2017.09.015CrossRef

Zheng CM, Liu J, Cao GL, Kendy E, Wang H, Jia YW (2010) Can China cope with its water crisis?-Perspectives from the North China Plain. Ground Water 48:350–354. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2010.00695_3.xCrossRef

Zhi CS, Chen HH, Li P, Ma CY, Zhang J, Zhang C, Wang CS, Yue XJ (2019) Spatial distribution of arsenic along groundwater flow path in Chaobai River alluvial-proluvial fan. North China Plain Environ Earth Sci 78:259. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8260-xCrossRef

Title: Sources and hydrogeological conditions that cause high iodine concentrations in deep groundwater in the Zhangwei watershed, North China Plain
Authors: Yuanjing Zhang
Jianfeng Li
Qichen Hao
Chuanshun Zhi
Chuwen Cui
Sihai Hu
Yaoguo Wu
Publication date: 01-03-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Environmental Earth Sciences / Issue 5/2021
Print ISSN: 1866-6280
Electronic ISSN: 1866-6299
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09463-3

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Technik"

Other articles of this Issue 5/2021

Hydrochemistry of groundwater from Tocumen sector, Panamá city: an assessment of its possible usage during emergency events

Simulation of the ground water flow in Karbala Governorate, Iraq

Scale effect of shear mechanical properties of non-penetrating horizontal rock-like joints

Evolution of a hybrid approach for groundwater vulnerability assessment using hierarchical fuzzy-DRASTIC models in the Cuddalore Region, India

Responses of in-service shield tunnel to overcrossing tunnelling in soft ground

Pollution characteristics and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediment of Wei River