Abstract
Assessment of groundwater quality and health risk was conducted in the Shenfu coal mine area in Ordos basin, northwestern China. Statistical analysis, Piper and Chadha diagrams were used to reveal the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater via physicochemical analysis of 44 collected samples. The suitability of groundwater was assessed for domestic and irrigation purposes, and the fuzzy comprehensive method was adopted to assess the overall groundwater quality for further discussion on groundwater management. The model recommended by the USEPA was selected to estimate the non-carcinogenic risks caused by NO3−, NO2−, NH4+, F−, Fe and Mn through oral ingestion and direct dermal contact. The results revealed that the predominant hydrochemical types of groundwater were SO4∙Cl–Ca∙Mg and HCO3–Ca∙Mg types and the major cations and anions followed the orders of Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ >K+ and HCO3− > SO42− > Cl−, respectively. Groundwater is generally acceptable for irrigation. However, for domestic purposes, 47.73% of the collected samples are of excellent and good quality and are suitable for direct consumption. Both adults and children face non-carcinogenic risks because of exposure to contaminants such as nitrate, nitrite and fluoride. The risk to children is higher than that to adults, which is consistent with other studies. Nitrite contributes most to the risks, followed by nitrate and fluoride. Home-use water quality improvement devices and rainwater harvesting are suggested to enhance the groundwater quality protection and management in this area. The research also indicates that health risk assessment should always accompany general water quality assessment to ensure the reliability of the water quality assessment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adimalla N, Li P, Venkatayogi S (2018) Hydrogeochemical evaluation of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes and integrated interpretation with water quality index studies. Environ Process 5:363–383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-018-0297-4
Chen L, Yang L, Wei W, Wang Z, Mo B, Cai G (2013) Towards sustainable integrated watershed ecosystem management: a case study in Dingxi on the loess plateau, China. Environ Manag 51:126–137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-011-9807-0
Chen J, Wu H, Qian H (2016) Groundwater nitrate contamination and associated health risk for the rural communities in an agricultural area of Ningxia, Northwest China. Expo Health 8:349–359. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0208-8
Du R, Wu K, Zhang L, She Y, Xu D, Chao C, Qin X, Zhang B (2016) Thermal behavior and kinetic study on the pyrolysis of Shenfu coal by sectioning method. J Therm Anal Calorim 125:959–966. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-5475-x
He S, Wu J (2019) Hydrogeochemical characteristics, groundwater quality, and health risks from hexavalent chromium and nitrate in groundwater of Huanhe formation in Wuqi County, Northwest China. Expo Health 11(2):125–137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-018-0289-7
He X, Wu J, He S (2019) Hydrochemical characteristics and quality evaluation of groundwater in terms of health risks in Luohe aquifer in Wuqi County of the Chinese Loess Plateau, northwest China. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 25(1–2):32–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2018.1531693
Huang B et al (2015) Study and health risk assessment of the occurrence of iron and manganese in groundwater at the terminal of the Xiangjiang River. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:19912–19921. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5230-z
Li P (2016) Groundwater quality in western china: challenges and paths forward for groundwater quality research in Western China. Expo Health 8:305–310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0210-1
Li P (2018) Mine water problems and solutions in China. Mine Water Environ 37:217–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-018-0543-z
Li P, Qian H (2011) Human health risk assessment for chemical pollutants in drinking water source in Shizuishan City, Northwest China. Iran J Environ Health Sci Eng 8(1):41–48
Li P, Qian H (2018a) Water resource development and protection in loess areas of the world: a summary to the thematic issue of water in loess. Environ Earth Sci 77:796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7984-3
Li P, Qian H (2018b) Water in loess. In: Meyers RA (ed) Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and technology. Springer, New York, pp 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2493-6_968-1
Li P, Wu J (2019a) Sustainable living with risks: meeting the challenges. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 25(1–2):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2019.1584030
Li P, Wu J (2019b) Drinking water quality and public health. Expo Health 11(2):73–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-019-00299-8
Li R, Yang W, Li B (2008) Research and future prospects for the Loess Plateau of China. Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Li P, Qian H, Wu J, Zhang Y, Zhang H (2013a) Major ion chemistry of shallow groundwater in the Dongsheng Coalfield, Ordos Basin, China. Mine Water Environ 32:195–206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-013-0234-8
Li P, Wu J, Qian H (2013b) Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation purposes and identification of hydrogeochemical evolution mechanisms in Pengyang County, China. Environ Earth Sci 69:2211–2225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2049-5
Li P, Wu J, Qian H, Lyu X, Liu H (2014a) Origin and assessment of groundwater pollution and associated health risk: a case study in an industrial park, northwest China. Environ Geochem Health 36:693–712. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-013-9590-3
Li P, Qian H, Wu J, Chen J, Zhang Y, Zhang H (2014b) Occurrence and hydrogeochemistry of fluoride in alluvial aquifer of Weihe River, China. Environ Earth Sci 71:3133–3145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2691-6
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. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3461-3
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. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4739-2
Li P, Qian H, Howard KWF, Wu J (2015b) Heavy metal contamination of Yellow River alluvial sediments, northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 73:3403–3415. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3628-4
Li P, Li X, Meng X, Li M, Zhang Y (2016a) Appraising groundwater quality and health risks from contamination in a semiarid region of northwest China. Expo Health 8:361–379. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0205-y
Li P, Zhang Y, Yang N, Jing L, Yu P (2016b) Major ion chemistry and quality assessment of groundwater in and around a mountainous tourist town of China. Expo Health 8(2):239–252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0198-6
Li P, Tian R, Xue C, Wu J (2017a) Progress, opportunities and key fields for groundwater quality research under the impacts of human activities in China with a special focus on western China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24(15):13224–13234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8753-7
Li P, Qian H, Zhou W (2017b) Finding harmony between the environment and humanity: an introduction to the thematic issue of the Silk Road. Environ Earth Sci 76(3):105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6428-9
Li P, Feng W, Xue C, Tian R, Wang S (2017c) Spatiotemporal variability of contaminants in lake water and their risks to human health: a case study of the shahu lake tourist area, northwest China. Expo Health 9:213–225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0237-3
Li P, He S, Yang N, Xiang G (2018a) Groundwater quality assessment for domestic and agricultural purposes in Yan’an City, northwest China: implications to sustainable groundwater quality management on the Loess Plateau. Environ Earth Sci 77:775. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7968-3
Li P, Wu J, Tian R, He S, He X, Xue C, Zhang K (2018b) Geochemistry, hydraulic connectivity and quality appraisal of multilayered groundwater in the Hongdunzi coal mine, northwest China. Mine Water Environ 37:222–237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-017-0507-8
Li P, He S, He X, Tian R (2018c) Seasonal hydrochemical characterization and groundwater quality delineation based on matter element extension analysis in a paper wastewater irrigation area, northwest China. Expo Health 10:241–258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-017-0258-6
Li P, Qian H, Wu J (2018d) Conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water to reduce soil salinization in the Yinchuan Plain, North-West China. Int J Water Resour Dev 34(3):337–353. https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2018.1443059
Li P, He X, Li Y, Xiang G (2019a) Occurrence and health implication of fluoride in groundwater of loess aquifer in the Chinese Loess Plateau: a case study of Tongchuan, Northwest China. Expo Health 11(2):95–107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-018-0278-x
Li P, Tian R, Liu R (2019b) Solute geochemistry and multivariate analysis of water quality in the guohua phosphorite mine, Guizhou Province, China. Expo Health 11(2):81–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-018-0277-y
Li P, He X, Guo W (2019c) Spatial groundwater quality and potential health risks due to nitrate ingestion through drinking water: a case study in Yan’an City on the Loess Plateau of northwest China. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 25(1–2):11–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2018.1553612
Lin Y, Li Q, Ji K, Li X, Yu Y, Zhang H, Song Y, Fu Y, Sun L (2014) Thermogravimetric analysis of pyrolysis kinetics of Shenmu bituminous coal. React Kinet Mech Catal 113(1):269–279. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-014-0731-1
Lu X, Li LY, Lei K, Wang L, Zhai Y, Zhai M (2009) Water quality assessment of Wei River, China using fuzzy synthetic evaluation. Environ Earth Sci 60:1693–1699. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0303-2
Ministry of Health of the PR China, Standardization Administration of the PR China (1993) Quality standard for groundwater, GB/T 14848-1993. China Standard Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Ministry of Environmental Protection of the PR China (2009) Water quality: technical regulation of the preservation and handling of samples, HJ 493–2009. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Ministry of Environmental Protection of the PR China (2014) Technical guidelines for risk assessment of contaminated sites, HJ 25.3–2014. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Mohamed AK, Liu D, Mohamed MAA, Song K (2018) Groundwater quality assessment of the Quaternary unconsolidated sedimentary basin near the Pi river using fuzzy evaluation technique. Appl Water Sci 8:65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-018-0711-0
Rabeiy RE (2018) Assessment and modeling of groundwater quality using WQI and GIS in Upper Egypt area. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 25:30808–30817. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8617-1
Su H, Kang W, Xu Y, Wang J (2017) Evaluation of groundwater quality and health risks from contamination in the north edge of the Loess Plateau, Yulin City, Northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 76:467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6781-8
Su H, Kang W, Xu Y, Wang J (2018) Assessing groundwater quality and health risks of nitrogen pollution in the Shenfu Mining Area of Shaanxi Province, Northwest China. Expo Health 10:77–97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-017-0247-9
Su F, Wu J, He S (2019) Set pair analysis-Markov chain model for groundwater quality assessment and prediction: a case study of Xi’an City, China. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 25(1–2):158–175. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2019.1568860
Tian R, Wu J (2019) Groundwater quality appraisal by improved set pair analysis with game theory weightage and health risk estimation of contaminants for Xuecha drinking water source in a loess area in Northwest China. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 25(1–2):132–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2019.1573035
USEPA (1989) Risk assessment guidance for superfund: human health evaluation manual (Part A), vol I. Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Washington
Wang W, Qiang Y, Wang Y, Sun Q, Zhang M (2016) Impacts of Yuyang coal mine on groundwater quality in Hongshixia water source, Northwest China: a physicochemical and modeling research. Expo Health 8:431–442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0223-9
Wasana HMS, Aluthpatabendi D, Kularatne WMTD, Wijekoon P, Weerasooriya R, Bandara J (2016) Drinking water quality and chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu): synergic effects of fluoride, cadmium and hardness of water. Environ Geochem Health 38:157–168. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-015-9699-7
WHO (2011) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 4th edn. World Health Organization, Geneva
Wu J, Sun Z (2016) 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 8:311–329. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-015-0170-x
Wu J, Xue C, Tian R, Wang S (2017) Lake water quality assessment: a case study of Shahu Lake in the semiarid loess area of northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 76:232. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6516-x
Zhang B, Hong M, Zhang B, Zhang XL, Zhao YS (2007) Fluorine distribution in aquatic environment and its health effect in the Western Region of the Songnen Plain, Northeast China. Environ Monit Assess 133:379–386. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9592-z
Zhang Y, Wu J, Xu B (2018) Human health risk assessment of groundwater nitrogen pollution in Jinghui canal irrigation area of the loess region, northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 77:273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7456-9
Zuo R, Chen X, Li X, Shan D, Yang J, Wang J, Teng Y (2017) Distribution, genesis, and pollution risk of ammonium nitrogen in groundwater in an arid loess plain, northwestern China. Environ Earth Sci 76:629. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6963-4
Acknowledgements
The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41602238 and 41761144059), the Research Funds for Young Stars in Science and Technology of Shaanxi Province (2016KJXX-29), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of CHD (300102299301), the Fok Ying Tong Education Foundation (161098), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M580804, 2016M590911, 2016T090878 and 2017T100719), the Shaanxi Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015BSHTDZZ09 and 2016BSHTDZZ03), and the Ten Thousand Talents Program (W03070125). We are grateful to the editors and the anonymous reviewers for their useful comments which help us improve the quality of this paper.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This article is a part of the Topical Collection in Environmental Earth Sciences on “Water in Large Basins” guest edited by Peiyue Li and Jianhua Wu.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wu, J., Zhou, H., He, S. et al. Comprehensive understanding of groundwater quality for domestic and agricultural purposes in terms of health risks in a coal mine area of the Ordos basin, north of the Chinese Loess Plateau. Environ Earth Sci 78, 446 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8471-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8471-1