Yankuang ceshi (Nov 2021)
Pollution Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Groundwater in the Lower Liaohe River Plain
Abstract
BACKGROUND As important industrial chemicals, intermediates and organic solvents, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have increased the impact on the environment and human health with the development of human industry and agriculture. As a densely populated and highly industrialized plain area, the concentration of VOCs in groundwater of the Lower Liaohe River Plain poses potential risks to human health as human activities constantly intensify. OBJECTIVES To study the pollution characteristics of VOCs and the health risks in groundwater in the Lower Liaohe Plain. METHODS The concentration of 60 VOCs in groundwater samples was determined by purge and trap-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (PT-GC/MS) to investigate the VOCs pollution sources. By calculating the long-term intake of pollutants with three VOCs exposure routes via oral drinking, bath respiratory inhalation, and bath skin exposure, the health risk was assessed by the CSOIL health risk assessment model. RESULTS The VOCs in 20 sampling sites were detectable from the whole 24 sampling sites, with a detection rate of 83.3%. The content of naphthalene, benzene, 1, 2-dichloropropane in some sites exceeded the limits of the standard for groundwater quality (GB 14848-2017, limit values of 100, 10.0, 5.0μg/L). The industrial sources were the main sources of groundwater VOCs in the study area. The total carcinogenic risk index of VOCs in groundwater samples was 0-4.0×10-5, and the total non-carcinogenic risk index was 0-0.93. Both were lower than the standard recommended by US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). The health risk index in groundwater around enterprise land was higher than in the groundwater of agricultural land. CONCLUSIONS The study shows that the VOCs detection rate is higher in groundwater in the lower Liaohe River Plain, however, the health risk is within acceptable levels for people. It provides reference for the control of VOCs pollution from regional groundwater industrial sources.
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