Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution characteristics and health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds in the groundwater of Lanzhou City, China

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Environmental Geochemistry and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) typically exist in the aqueous environment due to global anthropogenic activities. The distribution and contaminated profile (or characteristics) of VOCs in the groundwater of Lanzhou, China, were investigated in this study. Groundwater samples were collected from 30 sampling points in December 2015, and a total of 17 VOCs were analyzed by purge and trap gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Thirteen types of VOCs were detected at 29 sampling points in the study area. Of these, dichloromethane and toluene, which were found at 22 sampling points, had the highest detection frequency (73.3%), followed by benzene (66.7%), 1,2-dichloroethane (50%), and xylenes (50%). The highest average concentration among the detected VOCs was found for chloroform (5151.5 μg/L). The spatial distribution of VOC contamination in four major urban areas of Lanzhou and the variation in VOC concentration caused by land use transitions were also analyzed. The results showed that Xigu district was the most polluted area in Lanzhou, mainly due to land use for industrial proposes. On the contrary, the samples for Anning district showed lower VOC concentrations because of better groundwater quality, which is associated with the absence of manufacturing industries in this region. The health risk assessment model developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency was employed in this study to evaluate safety for drinking water use. This study found that despite considering the volatilization of VOCs from water due to heating, six sampling points (G05 in Qilihe district; G07 and G09 in Xigu district; G16, G17, and G15 in Chengguan district) showed non-carcinogenic risks, ranging from 1.63 to 14.2, while three points (G16 in Chengguan district, and G10 and G07 in Xigu district) exhibited high carcinogenic risks for human health, ranging from 2.94 × 10−4 to 6.85 × 10−4. Trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and 1,2-dichloroethylene were identified as the dominant VOCs, presenting high non-carcinogenic risk. 1,2-dichloroethane and vinyl chloride were the primary factors for high carcinogenic risk. The high-risk areas were concentrated in Xigu and Chengguan districts, suggesting the need to alert the relevant local government departments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aeppli, C., Berg, M., Hofstetter, T. B., Kipfer, R., & Schwarzenbach, R. P. (2008). Simultaneous quantification of polar and non-polar volatile organic compounds in water samples by direct aqueous injection-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography A, 1181(1–2), 116–124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bi, E., Liu, Y., He, J., Wang, Z., & Liu, F. (2012). Screening of emerging volatile organic contaminants in shallow groundwater in east china. Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, 32(1), 53–58.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Busico, G., Kazakis, N., Colombani, N., Mastrocicco, M., Voudouris, K., & Tedesco, D. (2017). A modified SINTACS method for groundwater vulnerability and pollution risk assessment in highly anthropized regions based on NO3− and SO42− concentrations. Science of the Total Environment, 609, 1512–1523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carter, J. M., Lapham, W. W., & Zogorski, J. S. (2008). Occurrence of volatile organic compounds in aquifers of the united states. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 44(2), 399–416.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, S., Zhao, X., Liu, Y., Geng, M., & Wang, S. (2016). Distribution characteristics and health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds in groundwater of Hutuo River Pluvial Fan (in Chinese). Research of Environmental Sciences, 29(6), 854–862.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chary, N. S., & Fernandez-Alba, A. R. (2012). Determination of volatile organic compounds in drinking and environmental waters. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 32, 60–75.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, X., Luo, Q., Wang, D., Gao, J., Wei, Z., & Wang, Z. (2015). Simultaneous assessments of occurrence, ecological, human health, and organoleptic hazards for 77 VOCs in typical drinking water sources from 5 major river basins, china. Environmental Pollution, 206, 64–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fan, C., Wang, G. S., Chen, Y. C., & Ko, C. H. (2009). Risk assessment of exposure to volatile organic compounds in groundwater in Taiwan. Science of the Total Environment, 407(7), 2165–2174.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, H., Lee, S. C., Chan, L. Y., & Li, W. M. (2004). Risk assessment of exposure to volatile organic compounds in different indoor environment. Environmental Research, 94(1), 57–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, H., Wang, Y., Liu, F., Tong, L., Li, K., & Yang, H. (2018). Volatile organic compounds in stormwater from a community of Beijing, China. Environmental Pollution, 239, 554–561.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, B., Chen, L., Huang, L., Wang, Y., & Li, Y. (2015). Distribution of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface water, soil, and groundwater within a chemical industry park in Eastern China. Water Science and Technology, 71(2), 259.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, L., & Zhou, H. (2011). Investigation and assessment of volatile organic compounds in water sources in china. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 173(1–4), 825–836.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzo, T. D., Borgoni, R., Ambrosini, R., Cifoni, M., Galassi, D., & Petitta, M. (2015). Occurrence of volatile organic compounds in shallow alluvial aquifers of a mediterranean region: baseline scenario and ecological implications. Science of the Total Environment, 538, 712–723.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malherbe, L., & Mandin, C. (2007). VOC emissions during outdoor ship painting and health-risk assessment. Atmospheric Environment, 41(30), 6322–6330.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moran, M. J., Hamilton, P. A., & Zogorski, J. S. (2007). Volatile organic compounds in the nation’s ground water and drinking-water supply wells. Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, 16, 2650–2658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moran, M. J., Lapham, W. W., Rowe, B. L., & Zogorski, J. S. (2004). Volatile organic compounds in ground water from rural private wells, 1986 to 1999. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 40(5), 1141–1157.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pizzol, L., Zabeo, A., Critto, A., Giubilato, E., & Marcomini, A. (2015). Risk-based prioritization methodology for the classification of groundwater pollution sources. Science of the Total Environment, 506–507, 505–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, B. L., Toccalino, P. L., Moran, M. J., Zogorski, J. S., & Price, C. V. (2007). Occurrence and potential human-health relevance of volatile organic compounds in drinking water from domestic wells in the united states. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(11), 1539–1546.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toccalino, P. L., Rowe, B. L., & Norman, J. E. (2006). Volatile organic compounds in the nation’s drinking-water supply wells—What findings may mean to human health. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 19(22), 3411–3415.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S.EPA. (1995). Method 524.2—Measurement of Purgeable Organic Compounds in Water by Capillary Column Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, Revision 4.1. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development. http://www.ultrasci.com/docs/analyticalmethod/method11.pdf. Retrieved 10 October 2018.

  • U.S.EPA. (2015). Chemical-specific Inputs for the 2015 final updated human health ambient water quality criteria [EB/OL]. Washington DC: US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/wqc/human-health-water-quality-criteria-and-methods-toxics. Retrieved 10 October 2018.

  • U.S.EPA. (2018). Integrated Risk Information System. IRIS assessment: List of Chemicals. Washington DC: US EPA. Available: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris_drafts/simple_list.cfm. Retrieved 10 October 2018.

  • Wan, Y., Kang, T., & Zhou, Z. (2009). Health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds in water of Beijing Guanting reservoir 9in Chinese). Research of Environmental Sciences, 22(2), 150–154.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M., Webber, M., Finlayson, B., & Barnett, J. (2008). Rural industries and water pollution in China. Journal of Environmental Management, 86(4), 648–659.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y., & Zhu, K. (2005). Chinese water resources actuality and the strategies of its sustainable use (in Chinese). Journal of Lanzhou Jiaotong University, 5(24), 78–80.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, J., Wang, L., Deng, L., & Jin, Z. (2018). Characteristics, sources, water quality and health risk assessment of trace elements in river water and well water in the Chinese loess plateau. Science of the Total Environment, 650, 2004–2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zereg, S., Boudoukha, A., & Benaabidate, L. (2018). Impacts of natural conditions and anthropogenic activities on groundwater quality in Tebessa plain, Algeria. Sustainable Environment Research, 28(6), 340–349.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, G., Mi, Z., & Xie, X. (2010). Environmental policy analysis for water management in Lanzhou city. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 2(6), 656–664.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Z., et al. (2006). Prospect for sustainable groundwater development in the North China. Report of China Geological Survey Project, Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences.

  • Zhu, L., Sun, S., & Liu, J. (2014). Effect of urbanization on groundwater system in Lanzhou (in Chinese). Journal of Water Resources and Water Engineering, 25(3), 111–115.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Special Research Funding for the Public Benefits sponsored by Ministry of Ecology and Environment of PRC (201409029) and Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment (No. 2017ZX07401004).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 10012, China

    Yan Liu, Shuran Hao, Xingru Zhao, Xue Li, Xiaocui Qiao & Binghui Zheng

  2. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Yan Liu, Shuran Hao, Xingru Zhao, Xue Li, Xiaocui Qiao & Binghui Zheng

  3. Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DChEE), University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221-0012, USA

    Dionysios D. Dionysiou

Authors
  1. Yan Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shuran Hao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xingru Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xue Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiaocui Qiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Dionysios D. Dionysiou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Binghui Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Binghui Zheng.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, Y., Hao, S., Zhao, X. et al. Distribution characteristics and health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds in the groundwater of Lanzhou City, China. Environ Geochem Health 42, 3609–3622 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-020-00591-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-020-00591-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation