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Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Water near a Uranium Tailing Pond in Jiangxi Province, South China

Author

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  • Liu He

    (College of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China
    Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China)

  • Bai Gao

    (College of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China)

  • Xin Luo

    (Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China)

  • Jimmy Jiao

    (Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China)

  • Huanhuan Qin

    (College of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China)

  • Chunyan Zhang

    (College of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China)

  • Yihui Dong

    (College of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China)

Abstract

This study was performed in the Linshui River Watershed to explore the contents of heavy metals in river water, their species, and health risks. The test results show that the contents of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), uranium (U), and thorium (Th) are relatively low and below the limit of class III of the environmental quality standards for surface water. According to the analysis through PHREEQC (version 2.18), the main species of As, Cr, Cu, U, and Th are H 2 AsO 4 − and HAsO 4 2− , HCrO 4 − , Cr 2 O 7 2− and CrO 4 2− , Cu 2+ , CuSO 4 and CuCO 3 , UO 2 CO 3 , (UO 2 ) 2 CO 3 (OH) 3 − , and UO 2 (CO 3 ) 2 2− , Th(OH) 4 , Th(OH) 2 2+ , and Th(OH) 3 + , respectively. Health risk assessment demonstrates that the average total risk value is 5.68 × 10 −5 year −1 , which is higher than the maximum acceptable level of 5.05 × 10 −5 year −1 recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Moreover, the average of total radionuclide risk (U and Th) is calculated to be 7.85 × 10 −9 year −1 , which is five orders of magnitude lower than the standard value of 5.0 × 10 −4 year −1 . The health risk of chemical non-carcinogenic (Cu) is lower than that of chemical carcinogenic (As and Cr). Human health risk values descend in the order of Cr, As, U, Th, and Cu. Therefore, As and Cr in the study area are labeled as the priority pollutants.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu He & Bai Gao & Xin Luo & Jimmy Jiao & Huanhuan Qin & Chunyan Zhang & Yihui Dong, 2018. "Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Water near a Uranium Tailing Pond in Jiangxi Province, South China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-12, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:1113-:d:140082
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hanjra, Munir A. & Qureshi, M. Ejaz, 2010. "Global water crisis and future food security in an era of climate change," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 365-377, October.
    2. Packey, Daniel J. & Kingsnorth, Dudley, 2016. "The impact of unregulated ionic clay rare earth mining in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 112-116.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kai Dong & Zhankuan Mi & Dewei Yang, 2022. "Comprehensive Diagnosis Method of the Health of Tailings Dams Based on Dynamic Weight and Quantitative Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Ling Yi & Bai Gao & Haiyan Liu & Yanhong Zhang & Chaochao Du & Yanmei Li, 2020. "Characteristics and Assessment of Toxic Metal Contamination in Surface Water and Sediments Near a Uranium Mining Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-13, January.

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