Human health risk assessment and sources analysis of nitrate in shallow groundwater of the Liujiang basin, China

ABSTRACT

High levels of nitrates in groundwater pose a risk to human health. Hence, groundwater-human health risk assessment and sources analysis are essential. The article aims to assess risk level and identify sources of nitrate in shallow groundwater of the Liujiang basin by using a human health risk assessment (HHRA) model, Factor analysis (FA) and GIS spatial analysis. The results indicated that the most serious pollution was distributed in southern region of the basin; about 60% of the samples exceeded the recommended limit of nitrate as per the World Health Organization limit. Moreover, ingants' health risk were greater than those of adults and children, and about 56% of the groundwater samples will put the infants at risk of health. FA was used to identify various underlying natural and anthropogenic processes that created these distinct risk levels. The FA results can be categorized by two major factors: (1) Organic fertilizers and sewage discharge contamination in central region. (2) Blocking effect of granite and redox conditions in southern parts. This study demonstrates that the great variation of nitrate risk levels in the basin should be attributed to both natural and anthropogenic processes.

KEYWORDS:

• nitrate pollution
• health risk assessment
• sources analysis
• the Liujiang basin

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank editor and anonymous reviewers for reviewing the manuscript and providing critical comments to improve the article.

Funding

The research was financed by the Young Talent Project for General Institute of Higher Education in Hebei Province (BJ201403).