Pollution Sources of Metal Elements Contained in Karst Underground River Water of Southwest Hubei and Human Health Risks
Underground river-water is a crucial karst water resource of industrial production,agricultural irrigation and human life in southwest Hubei Province;however,the anthropogenic activity has influenced underground river-water in terms of metal elements'concentration to certain extent.So,it is necessary to investigate the metal pollution and associated health risks in karst underground river.In this study,the concentrations of ten metals(Fe,Al,Cu,Pb,Zn,Cr,Ni,Cd,Mn and As)in 22 groundwater samples,collected from southwest Hubei Province,were analyzed;the multivariate statistical analysis combined with the PMF model were used to evaluate the main metal pollution sources,and the health risk model were used to assess the level of health risk to the exposed people.Consequently,the results obtained showed that Al was the major metal pollutant,its maximum concentration of exceeded the limit of relevant state standard in part of the river-water;the concen-trations of Fe,Al,Pb and Mn were comparatively high in the area of Lvcongpo Township due to being comprehensively affect-ed by acidic pollutants and the geological background;the concentrations of Cu,Ni and Cr were mainly influenced by both re-gional geological condition and municipal waste-water discharge,while Zn,Cd and As were associated with the pollutants emission of industrial and agricultural activities.Furthermore,the results of the health risk assessment indicated that high Cr content in the underground river-water had resulted in carcinogenic risks(through the pathway of drinking water)to the chil-dren with level of 6.06×10-5 a-1 that exceeded the maximum allowed level(5.0×10-5 a-1).Urban sewage discharge source was the main source of non-carcinogenic risk to adults(31.9％)and to children(36.8％),on the other hand,agricultural sources were the major contributor to carcinogenic risk to adults(52.2％),while municipal wastewater discharge was the main source causing carcinogenic risk to children(44.5％).In summary,to control of these pollution sources in priority were the key to re-ducing health risks in the study area.
southwest Hubeiunderground river watermetal elementsPMF modelhealth risk
万方数据
维普
