Fate and risks of potentially toxic elements associated with lacustrine groundwater discharge: quantification, modeling, and biogeochemistry
While potentially toxic elements (PTE) in lake have been widely studied, their enrichment, fate and health risks associated with lacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD) remain poorly understood. Thus, self-organizing maps (SOM) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) were employed in present work to...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004581 |
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| author | Shen Qu Juliang Wang Keyi Zhang Mengyu Fan Yuanzhen Zhao Xu Yang Zhongli Wang Helena I. Gomes Rachel L. Gomes Limin Duan Shaogang Dong Ruihong Yu |
| author_facet | Shen Qu Juliang Wang Keyi Zhang Mengyu Fan Yuanzhen Zhao Xu Yang Zhongli Wang Helena I. Gomes Rachel L. Gomes Limin Duan Shaogang Dong Ruihong Yu |
| author_sort | Shen Qu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While potentially toxic elements (PTE) in lake have been widely studied, their enrichment, fate and health risks associated with lacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD) remain poorly understood. Thus, self-organizing maps (SOM) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) were employed in present work to decipher source of selected PTE (Li, V, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ba, Pb, U, Sr) in Ulansuhai Lake basin (Inner Mongolia, China). On this basis, multi-isotopic tracers (δD/δ18Owater, 87Sr/86Sr, δ34S/δ18Osulfate, 222Rn) were used to indicate the geochemical processes related to PTE enrichment and fate. Groundwater exhibited higher PTE concentrations than surface waters, with Mn levels 230-fold higher (0.575 vs. 0.003 mg/L), while Cr, Ni, Zn, and Ba showed 2-, 2.2-, 3-, and 1.5-fold increases, respectively. 68 samples were grouped to four clusters (C1-C4) and characterized by a hazard gradient of C4 > C3 > C1 > C2. Quantitative source apportionment identified evaporite dissolution (46.2 %) as the dominant PTE contributor, followed by industrial (23.1 %) and redox processes (23.9 %), with minor agricultural inputs (6.8 %). LGD-mediated fluxes, particularly Mn (1.71 ± 0.05 mg/m2/d) and Sr (8.63 ± 0.23 mg/m2/d), substantially influenced lake water quality. Microbial analysis revealed higher diversity (ace index = 1751 ± 577) in groundwater, while surface water PTE had a more pronounced impact on microbial functionality than groundwater (p < 0.001). Health risk assessment demonstrated elevated hazards in PTE contaminated groundwater, posing higher non-carcinogenic (non-carcinogenic risk-HI: 1.43 vs 1.25) and carcinogenic risks (carcinogenic risk assessment-CR: 0.005 vs 0.003) than surface water, with children being more vulnerable (5, 8 and 7 cases per 1000 children were found at carcinogenic risk). This multi-method investigation elucidates LGD-driven PTE cycling fluxes and mechanisms, providing critical insights for groundwater-lake management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd47e58a3705452ca5cb6a682ff2b3e3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd47e58a3705452ca5cb6a682ff2b3e32025-08-20T03:58:35ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-08-0120210970710.1016/j.envint.2025.109707Fate and risks of potentially toxic elements associated with lacustrine groundwater discharge: quantification, modeling, and biogeochemistryShen Qu0Juliang Wang1Keyi Zhang2Mengyu Fan3Yuanzhen Zhao4Xu Yang5Zhongli Wang6Helena I. Gomes7Rachel L. Gomes8Limin Duan9Shaogang Dong10Ruihong Yu11Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, ChinaInner Mongolia Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, ChinaInner Mongolia Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, ChinaInner Mongolia Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, ChinaInner Mongolia Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, ChinaInner Mongolia Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Corresponding author.Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Food Water Waste Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; Corresponding author at: Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China.Food Water Waste Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UKFood Water Waste Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UKWater Conservancy and Civil Engineering College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaInner Mongolia Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, ChinaInner Mongolia Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, ChinaWhile potentially toxic elements (PTE) in lake have been widely studied, their enrichment, fate and health risks associated with lacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD) remain poorly understood. Thus, self-organizing maps (SOM) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) were employed in present work to decipher source of selected PTE (Li, V, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ba, Pb, U, Sr) in Ulansuhai Lake basin (Inner Mongolia, China). On this basis, multi-isotopic tracers (δD/δ18Owater, 87Sr/86Sr, δ34S/δ18Osulfate, 222Rn) were used to indicate the geochemical processes related to PTE enrichment and fate. Groundwater exhibited higher PTE concentrations than surface waters, with Mn levels 230-fold higher (0.575 vs. 0.003 mg/L), while Cr, Ni, Zn, and Ba showed 2-, 2.2-, 3-, and 1.5-fold increases, respectively. 68 samples were grouped to four clusters (C1-C4) and characterized by a hazard gradient of C4 > C3 > C1 > C2. Quantitative source apportionment identified evaporite dissolution (46.2 %) as the dominant PTE contributor, followed by industrial (23.1 %) and redox processes (23.9 %), with minor agricultural inputs (6.8 %). LGD-mediated fluxes, particularly Mn (1.71 ± 0.05 mg/m2/d) and Sr (8.63 ± 0.23 mg/m2/d), substantially influenced lake water quality. Microbial analysis revealed higher diversity (ace index = 1751 ± 577) in groundwater, while surface water PTE had a more pronounced impact on microbial functionality than groundwater (p < 0.001). Health risk assessment demonstrated elevated hazards in PTE contaminated groundwater, posing higher non-carcinogenic (non-carcinogenic risk-HI: 1.43 vs 1.25) and carcinogenic risks (carcinogenic risk assessment-CR: 0.005 vs 0.003) than surface water, with children being more vulnerable (5, 8 and 7 cases per 1000 children were found at carcinogenic risk). This multi-method investigation elucidates LGD-driven PTE cycling fluxes and mechanisms, providing critical insights for groundwater-lake management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004581Potentially toxic elementsEnvironmental isotopesPositive matrix factorization model222Rn mass balance modelLacustrine groundwater discharge |
| spellingShingle | Shen Qu Juliang Wang Keyi Zhang Mengyu Fan Yuanzhen Zhao Xu Yang Zhongli Wang Helena I. Gomes Rachel L. Gomes Limin Duan Shaogang Dong Ruihong Yu Fate and risks of potentially toxic elements associated with lacustrine groundwater discharge: quantification, modeling, and biogeochemistry Environment International Potentially toxic elements Environmental isotopes Positive matrix factorization model 222Rn mass balance model Lacustrine groundwater discharge |
| title | Fate and risks of potentially toxic elements associated with lacustrine groundwater discharge: quantification, modeling, and biogeochemistry |
| title_full | Fate and risks of potentially toxic elements associated with lacustrine groundwater discharge: quantification, modeling, and biogeochemistry |
| title_fullStr | Fate and risks of potentially toxic elements associated with lacustrine groundwater discharge: quantification, modeling, and biogeochemistry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fate and risks of potentially toxic elements associated with lacustrine groundwater discharge: quantification, modeling, and biogeochemistry |
| title_short | Fate and risks of potentially toxic elements associated with lacustrine groundwater discharge: quantification, modeling, and biogeochemistry |
| title_sort | fate and risks of potentially toxic elements associated with lacustrine groundwater discharge quantification modeling and biogeochemistry |
| topic | Potentially toxic elements Environmental isotopes Positive matrix factorization model 222Rn mass balance model Lacustrine groundwater discharge |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004581 |
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