Occurrence and health risk assessment of trace heavy metals via groundwater in Shizhuyuan Polymetallic Mine in Chenzhou City, China

Abstract

The Shizhuyuan Polymetallic Mine in Chen-zhou City is an important multi-metal deposit in China. After a dam accident in 1985, there are still a number of mining plants, smelters and tailing ponds in this area. These had the potential to pollute the surrounding groundwater. In this study, groundwater samples were collected from 20 residents’ wells in this area during both dry and wet seasons. In particular, this study focused on the exposure and the health risk assessment of trace heavy metal in groundwater. Multiple statistical analysis and fuzzy comprehensive method were employed to reveal the distribution characteristics of heavy metal and to assess the groundwater quality. Results indicated that Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Ba, Hg and Pb were widespread with low exposure levels. There were 19 wells with low level exposure and one well with a moderate level exposure in the dry season. All of the wells were in low level exposure during the wet season. As and Mn exhibited potential non-carcinogenic concern, because their maximum hazard quotient (HQ) was higher than 1.0. This may cause adverse health effect on adults in dry season or on children in both seasons. Only As, showed that the maximum carcinogenic risk was more than 10⁻⁴, suggesting a high cancer risk for children in both dry and wet seasons. Therefore, analysis and reduction the concentrations of As and Mn in groundwater are needed in order to protect the health of residents and especially children in the area.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

groundwater / heavy metal / health risk assessment / mine area

References

[1] Liu J, Mao J, Ye H, Zhang W. Geology, geochemistry and age of the Hukeng tungsten deposit. Southern China , Ore Geology Reviews, 2011, 43(1): 50–61

[2] Sekhar C, Chary N S, Kamala C T, Frank S H. Environmental pathway and risk assessment studies of the Musi River’s heavy metal contamination-A Case Study. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 2005, 11(6): 1217–1235

[3] Pertsemli E, Voutsa D. Distribution of heavy metals in Lakes Doirani and Kerkini, Northern Greece. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2007, 148(3): 529–537

[4] Maret W, Sandstead H H. Zinc requirements and the risks and benefits of zinc supplementation. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 2006, 20(1): 3–18

[5] Bermudez G M, Jasan R, Plá R, Pignata M L. Heavy metal and trace element concentrations in wheat grains: assessment of potential non-carcinogenic health hazard through their consumption. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2011, 193(15): 264–271

[6] Davydova S. Heavy metals as toxicants in big cities. Microchemical Journal, 2005, 79(1–2): 133–136

[7] Asante K A, Agusa T, Subramanian A, Ansa-Asare O D, Biney C A, Tanabe S. Contamination status of arsenic and other trace elements in drinking water and residents from Tarkwa, a historic mining township in Ghana. Chemosphere, 2007, 66(8): 1513–1522

[8] de Miguel E, Iribarren I, Chacón E, Ordoñez A, Charlesworth S. Risk-based evaluation of the exposure of children to trace elements in playgrounds in Madrid (Spain). Chemosphere, 2007, 66(3): 505–513

[9] Calderon R L. The epidemiology of chemical contaminants of drinking water. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2000, 38(1 Suppl): S13–S20

[10] Lee Y H, Stuebing R B. Heavy metal contamination in the river toad, Bufo juxtasper (Inger), near a copper mine in East Malaysia. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1990, 45(2): 272–279

[11] Buchet J P, Lison D. Clues and uncertainties in the risk assessment of arsenic in drinking water. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2000, 38(1 Suppl): S81–S85

[12] Pekey H, Karakaş D, Bakoğlu M. Source apportionment of trace metals in surface waters of a polluted stream using multivariate statistical analyses. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2004, 49(9–10): 809–818

[13] Liu H Y, Probst A, Liao B H. Metal contamination of soils and crops affected by the Chenzhou lead/zinc mine spill (Hunan, China). The Science of the Total Environment, 2005, 339(1–3): 153–166

[14] Yin J, Kim S, Lee H, Itay T. K–Ar ages of plutonism and mineralization at the Shizhuyuan W–Sn–Bi–Mo deposit, Hunan Province, China. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2002, 20(2): 151–155

[15] Zaw K, Peters S G, Cromie P, Burrett C, Hou Z. Nature, diversity of deposit types and metallogenic relations of South China. Ore Geology Reviews, 2007, 31(1–4): 3–47

[16] Liao X Y, Chen T B, Xie H, Liu Y R. Soil As contamination and its risk assessment in areas near the industrial districts of Chenzhou City, Southern China. Environment International, 2005, 31(6): 791–798

[17] Liu H, Probst A, Liao B. Metal contamination of soils and crops affected by the Chenzhou lead/zinc mine spill (Hunan, China). The Science of the Total Environment, 2005, 339(1–3): 153–166

[18] Zhai L, Liao X, Chen T, Yan X, Xie H, Wu B, Wang L. Regional assessment of cadmium pollution in agricultural lands and the potential health risk related to intensive mining activities: a case study in Chenzhou City, China. Journal of Environmental Sciences-China, 2008, 20(6): 696–703

[19] Lei M, Yue Q, Chen T, Huang Z, Liao X, Liu Y, Zheng G, Chang Q. Heavy metal concentrations in soils and plants around Shizhuyuan mining area of Hunan Province. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25(5): 1146–1151

[20] Singh K P, Malik A, Mohan D, Sinha S. Multivariate statistical techniques for the evaluation of spatial and temporal variations in water quality of Gomti River (India)—a case study. Water Research, 2004, 38(18): 3980–3992

[21] Abbas Alkarkhi F M, Ismail N, Easa A M. Assessment of arsenic and heavy metal contents in cockles (Anadara granosa) using multivariate statistical techniques. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2008, 150(3): 783–789

[22] Bengraïne K, Marhaba T F. Using principal component analysis to monitor spatial and temporal changes in water quality. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2003, 100(1–3): 179–195

[23] Li J, He M, Han W, Gu Y. Analysis and assessment on heavy metal sources in the coastal soils developed from alluvial deposits using multivariate statistical methods. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2009, 164(2–3): 976–981

[24] Chen K, Jiao J J, Huang J, Huang R. Multivariate statistical evaluation of trace elements in groundwater in a coastal area in Shenzhen, China. Environmental Pollution, 2007, 147(3): 771–780

[25] Li S, Zhang Q. Spatial characterization of dissolved trace elements and heavy metals in the upper Han River (China) using multivariate statistical techniques. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2010, 176(1–3): 579–588

[26] USEPA. Guidelines for Exposure Assessment. Washington, D C: USEPA, 1992

[27] General Administration of Sport of China. The National Physique monitoring Gazette in 2010 of China. 2011.

[28] Patrick D R. Risk assessment and risk management. In: Patrick D R, ed. Toxic Air Pollution Hand Book. NewYork: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1994

[29] USEPA. Guidance for Performing Aggregate Exposure and Risk Assessments. Washington, D C: USEPA, 1999

[30] USEPA. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). 2005. Available online at accessed 2013-December-10)

[31] Liu C W, Lin K H, Kuo Y M. Application of factor analysis in the assessment of groundwater quality in a blackfoot disease area in Taiwan. The Science of the Total Environment, 2003, 313(1–3): 77–89

[32] Ministry of Land and Resources of China. Quality Standard for Ground Water (GB/T14848–93). Beijing: Ministry of Land and Resources of China, 1993

[33] Huang F, Wang X, Lou L, Zhou Z, Wu J. Spatial variation and source apportionment of water pollution in Qiantang River (China) using statistical techniques. Water Research, 2010, 44(5): 1562–1572

[34] Ministry of Construction and Ministry of Public Health of China. Sanitary Standard for Drinking Water (GB5749–2006). Beijing: Ministry of Construction and Public Health in China, 2006 (in Chinese)

[35] Rodriguez-Proteau1 R, Grant R L. Toxicity Evaluation and Human Health Risk Assessment of Surface and Ground Water Contaminated by Recycled Hazardous Waste Materials. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry. Berlin: Springer, 2005, 5F, 133–189

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg