Metal Pollutions and Human Health Risks in Groundwater from Wet, Normal, and Dry Periods in the Huixian Karst Wetland, China

• Published in: Huanjing kexue Vol. 42; no. 1; p. 184
• Main Authors: Li, Jun, Zhao, Yi, Zou, Sheng-Zhang, Lan, Fu-Ning, Fan, Lian-Jie, Xie, Hao, Qin, Yue, Zhu, Dan-Ni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 08.01.2021
• Subjects: Adult; Child; China; Environmental Monitoring; Groundwater; Humans; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Risk Assessment; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Wetlands; China; health risk; metals; groundwater; Huixian Karst wetland; pollution assessment
• ISSN: 0250-3301
• DOI: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202005338

The concentrations of 10 metals (Cd, Cr, As, Al, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Hg, and Fe) in 27 groundwater samples collected during different periods (wet, normal, and dry) in the Huixian Karst wetland, the largest subtropical low-altitude karst wetland in China, were detected and analyzed to investigate pollution and health risks. The pollution characteristics, distribution, and health risks of the metals in groundwater were revealed by a comprehensive pollution assessment, multivariate statistical analysis, and health risk assessment model, respectively. The results showed that the average concentrations of metals in groundwater were followed the order of Mn > Fe > Zn > Al > Hg > Cr > Cu > Cd > As > Pb. The maximum concentration of Mn (1022.00 μg·L ) was found in the wet season, while that of Hg (42.40 μg·L ) was found in the normal season, and both were over the corresponding standard limits. The results of the pollution assessment indicated that only Mn pollution reached level Ⅵ in the wet season, while Cd, Al, Zn, a