AUTHOR=Liu Sen , Liu Yanan , Wang Cong , Dang Xianzhang 

TITLE=The Distribution Characteristics and Human Health Risks of High- Fluorine Groundwater in Coastal Plain: A Case Study in Southern Laizhou Bay, China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Environmental Science

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.901637

DOI=10.3389/fenvs.2022.901637

ISSN=2296-665X

ABSTRACT=High-F groundwater has caused serious human health problems worldwide. In this paper, southern Laizhou Bay was chosen as an example to analyze and summarize the distribution characteristics and human health risks of high- fluorine groundwater. Thirty-two groundwater samples exceeded the drinking water guideline value of the WHO (1.5 mg/L) and 43 groundwater samples exceeded the National Sanitary Standard for drinking water of China (1.0 mg/L), accounting for 68.1% and 91.5% of the total groundwater samples. High-F groundwater is mainly found in the central and northern parts of the study area, and the concentrations increase in the direction of water flow. The groundwater environment, evaporation and cation exchange are the main factors influencing the enrichment of F. Na+ and HCO3- are adequately abundant in the groundwater environment in the study area, creating conditions that are conducive to the dissolution of fluorite and the release of F into the groundwater. An increase in the Na+ concentration and a decrease in the Ca2+ concentration can promote further dissolution of fluorite and other F-containing minerals, thereby releasing F- into the groundwater. Fluorite dissolution is prevalent in the groundwater environment, which can lead to an increase in the F concentration. The health risk assessment shows that long-term exposure to high-F groundwater can pose a great threat to four age clusters, especially for children and infants. The HQ values for shallow groundwater range from 0.32 to 2.89, 0.39 to 3.61, 0.56 to 5.11, and 0.42 to 3.85 for adults, teenagers, children and infants, respectively. The groundwater in this study area is not for irrigation and animal husbandry, which may indirectly affect human health.