Critical Issues in Groundwater Pollution Monitoring and Risk Warning

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The complexity of hydrogeological conditions, coupled with the diversity of pollutants and their sources, presents a multifaceted challenge in monitoring and managing groundwater quality. Achieving high-precision identification and enabling risk warnings for groundwater pollution are the keys to ensuring the safety and sustainable utilization of groundwater resources. Therefore, developing and applying innovative monitoring technologies and constructing pollutant migration and transformation models and risk warning frameworks are crucial. Addressing these issues will contribute to the protection of groundwater resources, the prevention of pollution, and the establishment of effective response strategies to contamination events. In this Topic, we invite contributions that explore critical issues in groundwater pollution monitoring and risk warnings. We welcome innovative ideas and new methodologies from a multidisciplinary perspective to enhance our understanding and management of groundwater pollution. Submissions on, but not limited to, the following topics are encouraged:

1. Advanced monitoring techniques for identifying and quantifying groundwater pollutants;
2. Sources and consequences of emerging contaminants in groundwater systems;
3. Risk assessment methodologies for groundwater pollution and public health implications;
4. Groundwater quality monitoring and risk warnings based on machine learning;
5. Early warning systems for groundwater contamination and their integration into decision-making processes;
6. The interplay between groundwater pollution and other environmental challenges, such as climate change and urbanization.

Prof. Dr. Wenjing Zhang
Dr. Wenxia Wei
Dr. Huan Huan
Prof. Dr. Zhi Dou
Prof. Dr. Yuanzheng Zhai
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Environments environments	3.5	5.7	2014	25.7 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Hydrology hydrology	3.1	4.9	2014	18.6 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	6.8	2009	20 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Water water	3.0	5.8	2009	16.5 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

MDPI Topics is cooperating with Preprints.org and has built a direct connection between MDPI journals and Preprints.org. Authors are encouraged to enjoy the benefits by posting a preprint at Preprints.org prior to publication:

1. Immediately share your ideas ahead of publication and establish your research priority;
2. Protect your idea from being stolen with this time-stamped preprint article;
3. Enhance the exposure and impact of your research;
4. Receive feedback from your peers in advance;
5. Have it indexed in Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results

Content type Publication Date

Result details

Normal Extended Compact

Journals

All Environments Hydrology Sustainability Water

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

attachment

Supplementary material:
Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 2642 KiB)

15 pages, 1498 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Decade-Long Comparison of Heavy Metal(loid)s in the River and Children’s Health Risk Assessment of an E-Waste Recycling Area

by Hongfei Hu, Xiang Zeng, Chenxu Dai, Bo Xie, Jian Zhang, Xijin Xu and Xia Huo

Water 2024, 16(22), 3226; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16223226 - 9 Nov 2024

Viewed by 412

Abstract

Informal e-waste recycling can cause serious heavy metal(loid) pollution to nearby bodies of water, thereby increasing the risk of heavy metal exposure to local residents. This study investigates metal(loid) pollution levels in the Lianjiang River, which flows through Guiyu, an e-waste recycling town [...] Read more.

Informal e-waste recycling can cause serious heavy metal(loid) pollution to nearby bodies of water, thereby increasing the risk of heavy metal exposure to local residents. This study investigates metal(loid) pollution levels in the Lianjiang River, which flows through Guiyu, an e-waste recycling town in Shantou, Guangdong. In 2009 and 2020, water samples from the Lianjiang River were taken, and the levels of 12 metal(loid)s (V, Cr, Mn, Sr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Ba, and Pb) were measured by ICP-MS. In total, 380 valid questionnaires from Guiyu kindergarten children were selected to assess child health. Exposure health risks for children were calculated using two forms of exposure (dermal and inhalation) and statistical methods (multiple linear regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression—BKMR). The concentrations of Mn, Ni, Pb, and Cd in 2009 were significantly higher than those in 2020. The concentration of heavy metal(loid)s had been decreasing in 2020. The non-carcinogenic risk levels of the 12 metal(loid)s in both exposure routes were at an acceptable risk level. The average carcinogenic risk levels for As, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Cd exceeded the ILCRi <10–6 acceptable range. According to MLR, it was found that daily oral intake doses of Pb [β(95% CI): −0.949 (−1.596, −0.863), p < 0.001 and Se [β(95% CI): −0.911 (−1.888, −0.092), p = 0.031] were negatively associated with body mass index. A BKMR model was developed, through which the synergistic effects of co-exposure to 12 heavy metal(loid)s on growth and development indicators in children were analyzed. Concentrations of heavy metal(loid)s in rivers near e-waste recycling sites have been decreasing for 10 years. It was found that the growth and development of children are affected by the intake of heavy metal(loid)s in water. The reduction in heavy metal(loid) contamination in e-waste recycling areas needs to be continued, and concern about its impact on children’s health must remain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Critical Issues in Groundwater Pollution Monitoring and Risk Warning)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

attachment

Supplementary material:
Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 2555 KiB)

18 pages, 2556 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Simulation of Groundwater Dissolved Organic Carbon in Yufu River Basin during Artificial Recharge: Improving through the SWAT-MODFLOW-RT3D Reaction Module

by Xiaotao Hong, Xuequn Chen, Kezheng Xia, Wenqing Zhang, Zezheng Wang, Dan Liu, Shuxin Li and Wenjing Zhang

Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6692; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156692 - 5 Aug 2024

Viewed by 828

Abstract

To keep groundwater levels stable, Jinan’s government has implemented several water management measures. However, considerable volumes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) can enter groundwater via water exchange, impacting groundwater stability. In this study, a SWAT-MODFLOW-RT3D model designed specifically for the Yufu River Basin [...] Read more.

To keep groundwater levels stable, Jinan’s government has implemented several water management measures. However, considerable volumes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) can enter groundwater via water exchange, impacting groundwater stability. In this study, a SWAT-MODFLOW-RT3D model designed specifically for the Yufu River Basin is developed, and part of the code of the RT3D module is modified to simulate changes in DOC concentrations in groundwater under different artificial recharge scenarios. The ultimate objective is to offer valuable insights into the effective management of water resources in the designated study region. The modified SWAT-MODFLOW-RT3D model simulates the variations of DOC concentration in groundwater under three artificial recharge scenarios, which are (a) recharged by Yellow River water; (b) recharged by Yangtze River water; and (c) recharged by Yangtze River and Yellow River water. The study shows that the main source of groundwater DOC in the basin is exogenous water. The distribution of DOC concentration in groundwater in the basin shows obvious spatial variations due to the influence of infiltration of surface water. The area near the upstream riverbank is the earliest to be affected. With the prolongation of the artificial recharge period, the DOC concentration in groundwater gradually rises from upstream to downstream, and from both sides of the riverbank to the surrounding area. By 2030, the maximum level of DOC in the basin will exceed 6.20 mg/l. The Yellow River water recharge scenario provides more groundwater recharge and less DOC input than the other two scenarios. The findings of this study indicate that particularly when recharge water supplies are enhanced with organic carbon, DOC concentrations in groundwater may alter dramatically during artificial recharge. This coupled modeling analysis is critical for assessing the impact of recharge water on groundwater quality to guide subsequent recharge programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Critical Issues in Groundwater Pollution Monitoring and Risk Warning)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 6091 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Hydrogeochemical Formation and Evolution of the Karst Aquifer System in the Yufu River Based on Hydrochemistry and Isotopes

by Xuequn Chen, Cuihong Han, Shuxin Li, Zezheng Wang, Dan Liu, Qinghua Guan and Wenjing Zhang

Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6580; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156580 - 1 Aug 2024

Viewed by 954

Abstract

Jinan, renowned as the “Spring City” in China, relies significantly on karst groundwater as an indispensable resource for socio-economic development, playing a crucial role in ecological regulation, tourism, and historical and cultural aspects. The Yufu River basin, situated within Jinan’s karst region, represents [...] Read more.

Jinan, renowned as the “Spring City” in China, relies significantly on karst groundwater as an indispensable resource for socio-economic development, playing a crucial role in ecological regulation, tourism, and historical and cultural aspects. The Yufu River basin, situated within Jinan’s karst region, represents a vital riverine leakage zone. Therefore, investigating the evolutionary characteristics and causative mechanisms of surface water and groundwater at different aquifer levels in the Yufu River basin can provide a scientific foundation for the protection of Jinan’s springs. This study, based on hydrogeochemical and isotopic data from the river water, shallow groundwater, deep groundwater, and springs in the Yufu River basin, explored the hydrogeochemical evolution in this region. The findings revealed significant spatial variations in the hydrochemical parameters of the Yufu River basin. Groundwater received contributions from surface water, while springs represented a mixture from both surface water and various recharge aquifers. Dominant ions include Ca²⁺ and HCO₃⁻, with prevailing hydrochemical types being HCO₃·SO₄-Ca and HCO₃-Ca. Atmospheric precipitation served as the primary source of recharge for surface water and groundwater in the Yufu River basin, albeit influenced by pronounced evaporation processes. The hydrochemical composition in the Yufu River basin was primarily attributed to water–rock interactions, mainly driven by the combined effects of carbonate rock, silicate rock, and gypsum weathering and dissolution. Among these, the weathering and dissolution of carbonate rocks played a dominant role, with human activities exerting a relatively minor influence on the hydrochemistry of the Yufu River basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Critical Issues in Groundwater Pollution Monitoring and Risk Warning)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

 

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

Displaying articles 1-3