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Molecular Linkage of Dissolved Organic Matter in Groundwater with Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease with Unknown Etiology

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Abstract

Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) is receiving considerable attention throughout the world due to its severe threat to human health. However, the linkage between dissolved organic matter (DOM) in groundwater to CKDu is still unclear, especially at molecular level. Herein, the molecular differences of DOM between groundwaters related to CKDu (CKDu groundwater) and to non-CKDu (non-CKDu groundwater) in CKDu-prevalence areas and control area from Sri Lanka were unraveled by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Compared with DOM in non-CKDu groundwater, DOM in CKDu groundwater was more unsaturated, oxidized, biologically refractory, and high-molecular-weight, and contained more aromatics (AS, 15.4%) and less aliphatics (AL, 8.2%), which was probably related to the recharge of surface water. The enrichment of biologically refractory DOM in CKDu groundwater might encompass toxic substances. Furthermore, the ratios of AS to AL (AS/AL) in groundwater were positively correlated with Ca2+, F−, and Si (r ≥ 0.66) that were generally associated with CKDu. It is explained that aromatic substances might be toxic by forming a complex with cation (Ca2+) and aliphatic substances could facilitate release of toxic anions (F−) in CKDu groundwater. According to the above findings and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the groundwater with AS/AL value larger than 1.43 are unsafe and likely to cause CKDu. The linkage between CKDu and specific DOM molecules provides scientific support for constructing a quick early screening of potential CKDu groundwater and helps ensure the safety of drinking water.

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All authors confirm that all data and materials support the publication and comply with field standards. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors upon reasonable request.

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Funding

The study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41861144027, 41825017, and 42177201), 111 Project (No. B20010), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 265QZ2021004). Sampling in Sri Lanka was supported by National Science Foundation Grant No. ICRP/NSF-NSFC/2019/BS/01.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution & School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, China

    Xianjiang Zeng, Wei He, Huaming Guo & Qiutong Shi

  2. State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, China

    Xianjiang Zeng, Huaming Guo & Qiutong Shi

  3. State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China

    Chen He & Quan Shi

  4. Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

    Meththika Vithanage

  5. Molecular Microbiology and Human Diseases, National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka

    Meththika Vithanage

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  1. Xianjiang Zeng
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  2. Wei He
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  4. Chen He
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. XZ: Data Curation, Laboratory testing, Writing- Original Draft. WH: Writing- Design, Writing- Reviewing and Editing, Funding acquisition. HG: Funding acquisition, Writing- Reviewing and Editing, Project administration, Resources, Supervision. CH: Laboratory testing. QS: Laboratory testing. QS: Laboratory testing. MV: Samples collection, Funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to Wei He or Huaming Guo.

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Zeng, X., He, W., Guo, H. et al. Molecular Linkage of Dissolved Organic Matter in Groundwater with Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease with Unknown Etiology. Expo Health 15, 489–503 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-022-00509-w

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