Groundwater fluoride chemistry and health risk assessment of multi-aquifers in Jilin Qianan, Northeastern China

Oluwafemi Adewole Adeyeye; Changlai Xiao; Zhihao Zhang; Achivir Stella Yawe; Xiujuan Liang

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.111926

Groundwater fluoride chemistry and health risk assessment of multi-aquifers in Jilin Qianan, Northeastern China

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2021 Mar 15:211:111926. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.111926. Epub 2021 Jan 17.

Authors

Oluwafemi Adewole Adeyeye¹, Changlai Xiao², Zhihao Zhang³, Achivir Stella Yawe¹, Xiujuan Liang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130021, China; National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of In-situ Conversion, Drilling and Exploitation Technology for Oil Shale, Changchun 130021, China; College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Global Geosolutionz, Typesetters Biz Complex, Department of Geology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810107, Nigeria.
² Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130021, China; National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of In-situ Conversion, Drilling and Exploitation Technology for Oil Shale, Changchun 130021, China; College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China. Electronic address: xcl2822@126.com.
³ Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130021, China; National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of In-situ Conversion, Drilling and Exploitation Technology for Oil Shale, Changchun 130021, China; College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130021, China; National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of In-situ Conversion, Drilling and Exploitation Technology for Oil Shale, Changchun 130021, China; College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China. Electronic address: lax64@126.com.

PMID: 33472111
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.111926

Abstract

Groundwater from deep confined aquifers is often recommended for use because of it's low fluoride health risk. Thus, this study appraised groundwater fluoride hydrochemistry in a multi-aquifer system in Jilin Qianan to determine the non-carcinogenic health risk liable from exploiting the respective aquifers. 124 samples collected from the tertiary confined aquifer (N), quaternary confined aquifer (Q₁), and quaternary phreatic aquifer (Q₃) during surveys in 2001 and 2017 was analyzed using hydrochemical, statistical, spatial, and health risk assessment methods. Results show that the dominant water facies in the respective aquifer layers was Na+K-HCO₃+CO₃ except in Q_1, where Ca+Mg - HCO₃ + CO₃ was marginally dominant. Fluoride concentrations outside the recommended guideline occurred in all the aquifers except N, where concentrations were optimum. The mean fluoride concentration of groundwater in the aquifers was of the order Q₃ (2017) > Q₃ (2001) > Q₁ > N ( mean 2.09, 2.03, 1.41 and 0.75 mg/L with 51.85%, 57.44%, 36.36% and 0% occurring beyond recommended guideline values respectively). Silicate weathering, cation exchange, and fluorite dissolution in an alkaline environment were the significant fluoride contributing processes. Evaporation and MgF⁺ complex additionally influenced Q₁ and Q₃ (2017). The total hazard quotient (THQ) from oral and dermal pathways shows fluoride health risks in the order: infant > children > adult. The associated risks likely from using water in the respective aquifer layers is of the order Q₃ (2017) > Q₃ (2001) > Q₁ > N. The mean groundwater fluoride in 2017 was marginally higher than that of 2001 ( 2.09>2.03 mg/L respectively) although the percentage of age group members disposed to fluoride risk from using water from Q₃ decreased from 2001 to 2017. Knowledge of local hydrogeology in exploiting deep groundwater free of fluoride pollution and on-site defluoridation treatment of groundwater was recommended in the study area and other areas with similar characteristics.

Keywords: Fluoride; Health risk assessment; Jilin Qianan; Multi-aquifers.

MeSH terms

Child
China
Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data*
Environmental Monitoring*
Fluorides / analysis*
Groundwater / chemistry
Humans
Risk Assessment
Sodium
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Sodium
Fluorides