Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) typically exist in the aqueous environment due to global anthropogenic activities. The distribution and contaminated profile (or characteristics) of VOCs in the groundwater of Lanzhou, China, were investigated in this study. Groundwater samples were collected from 30 sampling points in December 2015, and a total of 17 VOCs were analyzed by purge and trap gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Thirteen types of VOCs were detected at 29 sampling points in the study area. Of these, dichloromethane and toluene, which were found at 22 sampling points, had the highest detection frequency (73.3%), followed by benzene (66.7%), 1,2-dichloroethane (50%), and xylenes (50%). The highest average concentration among the detected VOCs was found for chloroform (5151.5 μg/L). The spatial distribution of VOC contamination in four major urban areas of Lanzhou and the variation in VOC concentration caused by land use transitions were also analyzed. The results showed that Xigu district was the most polluted area in Lanzhou, mainly due to land use for industrial proposes. On the contrary, the samples for Anning district showed lower VOC concentrations because of better groundwater quality, which is associated with the absence of manufacturing industries in this region. The health risk assessment model developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency was employed in this study to evaluate safety for drinking water use. This study found that despite considering the volatilization of VOCs from water due to heating, six sampling points (G05 in Qilihe district; G07 and G09 in Xigu district; G16, G17, and G15 in Chengguan district) showed non-carcinogenic risks, ranging from 1.63 to 14.2, while three points (G16 in Chengguan district, and G10 and G07 in Xigu district) exhibited high carcinogenic risks for human health, ranging from 2.94 × 10-4 to 6.85 × 10-4. Trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and 1,2-dichloroethylene were identified as the dominant VOCs, presenting high non-carcinogenic risk. 1,2-dichloroethane and vinyl chloride were the primary factors for high carcinogenic risk. The high-risk areas were concentrated in Xigu and Chengguan districts, suggesting the need to alert the relevant local government departments.
Keywords: Groundwater; Health risk assessment; Lanzhou; Pollution characteristics; Volatile organic compounds.