Spatial variation, water quality, and health risk assessment of trace elements in groundwater in Beijing and Shijiazhuang, North China Plain.

Metal(loid)s pollution of groundwater in northern China is of great concern due to the increasing shortage of fresh water resources. In the present study, total 159 of groundwater samples were collected from the Miyun-Huairou-Shunyi (MHS) districts in Beijing city and the Hutuo River Plain (HRP) in Shijiazhuang city. Nineteen trace elements dissolved in groundwater were measured. Results showed that Al (12.3 %), Mn (5.3%), Zn (1.8%), As (1.8%), and Pb (1.8%) in the MHS samples, and Mn (2.2%) in the HRP samples exceeded their standard threshold of WHO and China. Exceedance of trace elements was attributed to both geochemical background and local human activities. Human health risk assessment showed that local consumers were exposed at a low level of health risk, except in specific area with a high level of arsenic. Elements of arsenic and chromium were important risk contributors in the two regions. The risk of oral exposure was greater than that of skin uptake. Children were more susceptible to non-carcinogenic risk and less to carcinogenic risk than adults. A Nemerow index and CRITIC-weighted WQI were applied to classify groundwater quality. The results from the two methods were comparable to a large extend. More population living in plain rather than mountain resulted in a gradual deterioration trend of groundwater quality from mountain to plain. The samples with poor water quality were almost collected in the area with heavy industrial and agricultural activities. The CRITIC-weighted WQI was recommended for groundwater quality assessment. A simple classification criterion was reformulated based on the MHS hazard index analysis. The groundwaters in the two research fields were not seriously polluted, but potential risks should not be ignored.