Health risk assessment of heavy metal pollution in groundwater of a karst basin,SW China

To investigate the presence of metal elements and assess their health risk for the populace in the Nandong Underground River Basin(NURB),we conducted an analysis of eleven common heavy metals in the water body.A Health risk assessment(HRA)model was employed to analyze 84 water samples from the NURB.The detection results revealed the following order of heavy metals concentrations:Fe>Al>Mn>Zn>As>Cd>Pb>Cr>Ni>Cu>Hg.Correlation analysis indicated a certain similarity in material source and migration transformation among these eleven metal elements.Our study identified that the health risks for local residents exposed to metal elements in the water of NURB primarily stem from carcinogenic risk(10^(−6)–10^(−4)a^(−1))through the drinking water pathway.Moreover,the health risk of heavy metal exposure for children through drinking water was notably higher than for adults.The maximum health risks of Cr in both underground and surface water exceeded the recommendation standard(5.0×10^(−5)a^(−1))from ICRP,surpassing the values recommended by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency,the Dutch Ministry of Construction and Environment and the British Royal Society(5.0×10^(−6)a^(−1)).The results of the health risk assessment indicate that Cr in the water of NURB is the primary source of carcinogenic risk for local residents,followed by Cd and As.Consequently,it is imperative to control these three carcinogenic metals when the water was used as drinking water resource.

Application of hydrochemistry and strontium isotope for understanding the hydrochemical characteristics and genesis of strontium-rich groundwater in karst area,Gongcheng County,Southwest China

Understanding the hydrochemical characteristics and genesis mechanisms of strontium-rich groundwater is pivotal for supporting the exploitation and utilization of natural strontium-rich groundwater.In this research,27 groundwater samples were collected.By analyzing major ion chemistry and strontium isotope data,and considering the hydrogeological context,various analytical approaches,including multivariate statistics,ion ratios,and isotopes,were used to reveal the characteristics and genesis mechanisms of strontium-rich groundwater in the study area.The findings indicate that the predominant hydrochemical type of groundwater is HCO_(3)-Ca,with Ca^(2+)and HCO_(3)^(-)as the primary cations and anions.The hydrochemistry of the strontium-rich groundwater is predominantly influenced by rock weathering processes.A combination of factors,including ion exchange,and anthropogenic activities,shapes the compositional characteristics of the groundwater in the region.The dissolution of calcite due to weathering emerges as the principal source of strontium in the groundwater.While ion exchange processes are not conducive to strontium enrichment in groundwater,their effect is relatively limited.The impact of human activities on the groundwater is minor.

Carbon emission reduction: Contribution of karst carbon sinks and practice in China

Carbonate rocks, as soluble rocks, will dissolve and experience karstification driven by flowing water. This process consumes CO_(2)from the air and converts atmospheric CO_(2) and CO_(3)^(2-)of rocks into HCO_(3)^(-), resulting in the transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to the hydrosphere. Part of those dissolved HCO3-in the groundwater and surface water will degrade as CO_(2) and return to the atmosphere.

Application of remote sensing technique to mapping of the map series of karst geology in China and Southeast Asia

Based on the mapping program of the map series of karst geology in China and Southeast Asia, the paper summarizes the application of remote sensing technique and the process of acquiring information from remote sensing images. Generally, remote sensing technique serves as an effective method to recognize information about karst topography, rocky desertification and karst collapse. Interpretation of remote sensing images, in combination with field verification and cartographic generalization, provides basic data for updating the program database and compiling synthetic maps. In interpreting remote sensing images, automatic extraction can make it more efficient and visual interpretation can improve its accuracy.

Compilation of serial maps on karst geology of China and Southeast Asia

The compilation of serial maps of karst geology in China and Southeast Asia is a project under the 'One Belt One Road' geological survey plan granted by China Geological Survey. This paper summarized the research trend of geoscientific mapping in China and Southeast Asia and introduced the significance, contents, technical routes, operating methods and progress of the project. Through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, this project builded an international cooperation platform for mapping and completes the preliminary compilation of related karst geological maps in China and Southeast Asia, thus filling up the blank of karst geological maps in this region.

Bicarbonate Daily Variations in a Karst River:the Carbon Sink Effect of Subaquatic Vegetation Photosynthesis

Using the Guancun River, an underground stream-fed river, in Rong＇an County of Guangxi, China as a case study, the daily biochemical cycle was examined in this paper based on the data collected a weeklong via high resolution data logger monitoring and high-frequency sampling. Furthermore, the loss of inorganic carbon along its flow path was estimated. Results show that chemical components of the groundwater input are quite stable, showing little change extent; while all of the chemical parameters from two downstream monitoring stations show diel variation over the monitoring period, suggesting that plant activity in the river has a strong influence on water chemistry of the river. The comparison of the input fluxes from the groundwater with the output fluxes of HCO~ estimated at the downstream monitoring station during the high-frequency sampling period shows a strong decrease of HCO~, indicating that the river is losing inorganic carbon along its flow path. The loss is estimated to be about 1,152 mmol/day/m of HCO~ which represent about 94.9 kg/day of inorganic carbon along the 1,350 m section of the Guancun River. It means that HCO~ entering the river from karst underground stream was either consumed by plants or trapped in the authigenic calcite and thus constitutes a natural sink of carbon for the Guancun karst system.

Groundwater quality and land use change in a typical karst agricultural region:a case study of Xiaojiang watershed,Yunnan

Taking the typical karst agricultural region, Xiaojiang watershed in Luxi of Yurman Province as a research unit, utilizing the groundwater quality data in 1982 and 2004, the aerial photos in 1982 and TM images in 2004, supported by the GIS, we probe into the law and the reason of its space-time change of the groundwater quality over the past 22 years in the paper. The results show： （1） There were obvious temporal and spatial changes of groundwater quality during the past 22 years. （2） Concentrations of NH4^＋, SO4^2- , NO3, NO2^-, Cl^- and the pH value, total hardness, total alkalinity increased significantly, in which NH4^2-, NO3, and NO2^- of groundwater exceeded the drinking water standards as a result of non-point pollution caused by the expansion of cultivated land and mass use of the fertilizer and pesticide. （3） Oppositely, Ca^2＋ and HCO3^- showed an obvious decline trend due to forest reduction and degradation and stony desertification. Meantime, there was a dynamic relation between the groundwater quality change and the land use change.

Identifying the Sources of Solutes in Karst Groundwater in Chongqing,China:a Combined Sulfate and Strontium Isotope Approach

Groundwater from karst subterranean streams is among the world＇s most important sources of drinking water supplies, and the hydrochemical characteristics of karst water are impacted by both natural environment and people. Therefore, the study of hydrochemistry and its solutes＇ sources is very important to ensure the normal function of life support systems. In this paper, thirty-five representative karst groundwater samples were collected from different aquifers （limestone and dolomite） and various land use types in Chongqing to trace the sources of solutes and relative hydrochemical processes. Hydrogeochemical types of karst groundwater in Chongqing were mainly of the Ca-HCO3 type or Ca （Mg）-HCO3 type. However, some hydrochemical types of karst groundwater were the K＋Na＋Ca-SO4 type （G25 site） or Ca-HCO3＋SO4 type （G26 and G14 site）, indicating that the hydrochemistry of these sites might be strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities or unique geological characteristics. The dissolved Sr concentrations of the studied groundwater ranged from 0.57 to 15.06 ~tmmol/L, and the STSr/S6Sr varied from 0.70751 to 0.71627. The j34S-SO42- fell into a range of-6.8%o-21.5%o, with a mean value of 5.6%o. The variations of both 87Sr/S6Sr and Sr values of the groundwater samples indicated that the Sr element was controlled by the weathering of limestone, dolomite and silicate rock. However, the figure of STSr/S6Sr vs. Sr2＋/[K＋＋Na＋] showed that the anthropogenic inputs also obviously contributed to the Sr contents. For tracing the detailed anthropogenic effects, we traced the sources of solutes collected karst groundwater samples in Chongqing according to the j34S value of potential sulfate sources. The variations of both j34S and 1/ SO42- values of the groundwater samples indicated that the atmospheric acid deposition （AAD）, dissolution of gypsum （GD）, oxidation of sulfide mineral （OS） or anthropogenic inputs （SF： sewage or fertilizer） have contributed to solutes in karst groundwater. The influence of oxidation of sulfide mineral, atmospheric acid deposit and anthropogenic inputs to groundwater in Chongqing karst areas was much widespread.

Geophysical Prospecting of Karst Water in Yunnan Province,China

由于岩溶发育的不均匀性，决定了岩溶水的埋藏分布也具有不均匀的特征，含水层富水性的空间差异极大。岩溶水的不均匀性给岩溶水勘查和开发工作带来了很大的困难，以至于裸露型岩溶石山区的供水勘探孔成井率仍然很低。要有效地发挥岩溶水资源的优势，合理有效地开发岩溶水资源，解决岩溶地区严重干旱缺水问题，关键是解决找水难的问题。要解决岩溶地区普遍存在的找水难题，

Global significance of the carbon cycle in the karst dynamic system:evidence from geological and ecological processes

On the basis of proposing the existence of a karst carbon cycle and carbon sink at a watershed scale,this paper provides four pieces of evidence for;the integration of geology and ecology during the carbon cycle processes m the karst dynamic system,and estxmated the karst carbon sink effect using the methods of comparative monitoring of paired watersheds and the carbon stable isotope tracer technique.The results of the soil carbon cycle in Maocun,Guilin,showed that the soil carbon cycle in the karst area,the weathering and dissolution of carbonate rocks under the soil,resulted in a lower soil respiration of 25% in the karstoarea than in a non-karst area (sandstone and shale),and the carbon isotope results indicated that 13.46% of the heavy carbon of the hmestone is involved in the soil carbon cycle.The comparative monitoring results m paxred watersheds,suggesting that the HCO3 concentration m a karst spring is 10 times that of a rivulet in a non-karst area,while the concentration of inorganic carbon flux is 23.8 times.With both chemical stoichiometry and carbon stable isotopes,the proportion of carbon in karst springs derived from carbonate rocks was found to be 58.52% and 37.65% respectively.The comparison on carbon exchange and isotopes at the water-gas interface between the granite and carbonate rock basins in the Li River showed that the CO2 emission of the karst water is 10.92 times that of the allogenic water from the non-karst area,while the carbon isotope of HCO3^- in karst water is lighter by 8.62%.However,this does not mean that the karst water body has a larger carbon source effect.On the contrary,it means the karst water body has a greater karst carbon sink effect.When the karst subterranean stream in Zhaidi,Guilin,is exposed at the surface,carbon-rich karst water stimulated the growth of aquatic plants.The values of carbon stable isotopes in the same species of submerged plants gradually becomes heavier and heavier,and the 512 m flow process has a maximum range of 15.46%.The calculation results showed that 12.52% of inorganic carbon is converted into organic carbon.According to the data that has been published,the global karst carbon sink flux was estimated to be 0.53-0.58 PgC/a,equivalent to 31.18%-34.41% of the global forest carbon sink flux.In the meanwhile,the karst carbon sink flux in China was calculated to be 0.051 PgC/a,accounting for 68% of its forest carbon sink flux.

The features of soil erosion and soil leakage in karst peak-cluster areas of Southwest China

Through utilizing water flow monitoring, rock scratching, soil wood piles and radionuclide ^(137)Cs tracing in the Longhe karst ecological experimental site(hereinafter referred to"Longhe site"), Pingguo County, Guangxi Province, the features and values of soil erosion and soil leakage in different geomorphologic locations and land uses in the karst peak-cluster depressions are showed clearly. There are four kinds of geomorphologic locations in the karst peak-cluster depression, namely peaks, strip, slopes and depression. The soil leakage modulus in the peaks and strips respectively occupy 92.43% and 96.24% of the total mean soil erosion modulus at experimental sites. On the slope, soil leakage accounted for about 75%. At the bottom of depression, surface water was the main factor of soil erosion, and at last most soil leaked into underground rivers from sinkholes. The total soil erosion modulus and the contribution rates of relative surface soil erosion in regard of peaks, slopes and depressions gradually increased. There are also five major types of land use in the karst peak-cluster depressions, farmland, Kudingcha tea plantations, young Lignum Sappan fields, shrub-grassland and pastures. The soil erosion modulus of slope farmland has the highest value with an increasing trend year by year. But soil erosion modulus of other four land use types decreased by year, which shows the "grain for green" will result in better soil protection. By handling with rocky desertification and ecological rehabilitation in Longhe site, the mean soil erosion modulus of the karst peak-cluster depression has decreased about 80% from 2003 to 2015.

Structural Features and Function of the Karst Critical Zone

1 Major achievements of IGCP 661 The IGCP661 project"Processes,Cycle,and Sustainability of the Critical Zone in Karst Systems(2017-2021)"has been carried out for two years.Besides five International karst meetings and two training courses for karst that have been held,some scientific achievements include the basic roles of the function and structural evolution of the karst critical zone have been determined.In various types of karst critical zone,the different forms of calcite and HCO3-cycling were determined.

Pool Sizes and Turnover of Soil Organic Carbon of Farmland Soil in Karst Area of Guilin

The three-pool and first-order model separates the mineralizable organic carbon into active,slow,and passive carbon pools.This paper used the model and decomposition curves of the soil organic carbon to fit the active pool and its decomposition rate,slow pool and its decomposition rate.The results showed that the size of the active pool from different profiles accounted for 2.09%-3.08% of the total soil organic carbon and the mean residue time was 3.57-17.21 days.And the size of the slow pool accounted for 3.19%-43.55% and the mean residue time was 1.12-4.94 years.Acid hydrolysis（6M HCl） was used to fractionate the passive organic carbon,which accounted for 50.83%-94.44% of the total soil organic carbon.

Pollution pattern of underground river in karst area of the Southwest China

Investigation of groundwater pollution has been carried out on multiple typical karst underground river systems in recent years in order to reveal the characteristics and mechanism of underground river pollution. Through the summary of the survey results, five characteristics of underground river pollution have been revealed, including directionality, weak hysteresis, easier for reversibility, linear and intermittent(or seasonal); combining with karst geomorphic types, pollution sources(primordial, secondary pollution and compound), pollution ways and pollution receptors, three basic pollution patterns of the underground river were depicted: Recharge area pollution, runoff area pollution and discharge area pollution. At the same time, the study discloses the reality of the underground river pollution is the three basic patterns and their subgenera in combination with super imposition on the space and time. And from the angle of the hydrogeological model, the study expounds the process of underground river pollution. Finally, the study gives naming rules of pollution pattern of the underground river and sets up PISAB method of pattern recognition. The results provide scientific basis for pollution repair and management of underground river in the southwest karst region.

Applying a modified conduit flow process to understand conduit-matrix exchange of a karst aquifer

Due to the high heterogeneity and complexity of water flow movement for multiple karst water-bearing mediums,the evaluation,effective development,and utilization of karst water resources are significantly limited.Matrix flow is usually laminar,whereas conduit flow is usually turbulent.The driving mechanisms of water exchange that occur between the karst conduit and its adjacent matrix are not well understood.This paper investigates the hydrodynamic characteristics and the mechanism of flow exchange in dual water-bearing mediums(conduit and matrix)of karst aquifers through laboratory experimentation and numerical simulation.A karst aquifer consisting of a matrix network and a conduit was proposed,and the relationship between the water exchange flux and hydraulic head differences generated from the laboratory experiments was analyzed.Two modes of experimental tests were performed with different fixed water level boundaries in the laboratory karst aquifer.The results indicate that the water exchange capacity was proportional to the square root of hydraulic head differences.The linear exchange term in the conduit flow process(CFP)source program was modified according to experimental results.The modified CFP and the original CFP model experimental data results were compared,and it was found that the modified CFP model had better fitting effects.These results showed that the water exchange mechanism between conduit and matrix is very important for solid-liquid interface reaction,water resource evaluation,and understanding of karst hydrodynamic behavior.

Hydrogeochemical Features of Karst in the Western Thailand

the hydrogeochemical features of typical karst region in Western Thailand were discussed based on the high-resolution automatic hydrochemical monitor and karst spring water quality test data. The standard dissolution tablet method was employed to calculate dissolution rate of different lands and main characters and dynamic factors of Thailand karst growth were analyzed. Comparing with the typical karst spring region in the southwest China,karstic water of the Western Thailand has the features of high calcium(100-120 mg/L), high contents of bicarbonate ions(8.6-9.3 mmol/L) and high specific conductance(700-820μs/cm);the dissolution quantity of soils in the dry season was between 28.95 mg/m^2·d and 214.84mg/m^2·d; the annual dissolution quantity was twice-three times greater than that of Jinfo Mountain in Chongqing or Guangxi Mashan County peak cluster depressions, indicating that under the condition of tropical monsoon climate, the karst process in river catchment was significantly stronger than that of subtropical karst region in the southwest China.

Zircon U-Pb age evidence of the Mesoarchean(2.9–3.2 Ga)crustal remnant in the Southern Dabie Orogen,South China

1.Objective Unlike the North China Plate where Archean and Paleoproterozoic crustal rocks are widely distributed,Early Precambrian basement rocks in the Yangtze Block of South China are locally exposed(Fig.1a),such as in the Kongling Complex,the Zhongxiang Complex,and the Douling Complex(Zhao GC and Cawood PA,2012).The Dabie Orogen is the eastward extension of the Qinling Orogen.

Influence of precipitation on bacterial structure in a typical karst spring,SW China

Micro-organisms are major components in the environment, which play a key role in groundwater environment. This study aims to investigate the bacterial diversity over time in a typical karst spring named S31 and its response to hydrogeochemical parameters. Quantitative PCR and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was adopted to detect changes of the bacterial community structure. For the correlations between hydrogeochemical parameters and predominant phyla, redundancy analysis were adopted. According to the results, hydrochemical characteristics were controlled by carbonate equilibrium system and dynamic groundwater transformation which was influenced distinctly by precipitation. In addition, the redundancy analysis indicates that HCO_3^-, Ca^(2+), Eh, temperature and cumulative precipitation are the most important hydrogeochemical and environmental parameters to determine the bacterial community structures. That is to say, temperature can influence bacterial abundance by controlling dissolved oxygen content. Precipitation is another important factor which determines the community composition and bacterial structure directly or indirectly. Moreover, acidobacteria, proteobacteria, and bacteroidetes play key roles in response to the environmental factors in the groundwater of karst zones.

Compiling distribution of karst in Southern China and Southeast Asia

As China and Southeast Asian countries have accelerated and globalized their economic development, karst environmental problems have become increasingly prominent and studying on and compiling maps of karst geology is quite important. Therefore, based on a wide collection of data in Southeast Asian countries, a cooperative map compilation has been carried out internationally. Through comprehensive research and analysis, a unified understanding has been achieved in terms of compiling principles, contents and representing methods, Distribution of Karst in Southern China and Southeast Asia(1/5 000 000) has been compiled, which provides foundations for environmental protection and scientific studies of karst geology.

Efficacy and Challenges of Using Springs for Early Detection of Contaminant Release from Waste Disposal Facilities Constructed in Karst Terranes

Early detection of groundwater contamination from waste disposal facilities is challenging in karst terranes. First, one needs to demonstrate that the groundwater system at the study site is monitorable. Both springs and wells are potential monitoring locations if they are effectively connected to the groundwater system, and they are not impacted by any other disposal facilities. Second, due to dynamic responses to recharge events, particularly discharge and chemical constituents at karst springs, multiple-parameter, long-term, and high-frequency monitoring may be required to collect background data. Sampling and analysis plans should be designed to reflect the unique characteristics of the monitoring locations. Characterization of the natural variations in water quality may require sampling efforts under different flow conditions. Third, evaluation of the potential impact of waste disposal units on the groundwater system requires an effective statistical evaluation program. Due to heterogeneity of karst aquifers, intra-locational comparison is generally preferred to inter-locational comparison. Sufficient groundwater monitoring data prior to construction of waste disposal units are required to develop the intra-locational statistical evaluation. In the case study presented in this paper, procedures to address these above-mentioned challenges were presented for two springs using seven dye tracing tests, two spring instrumentations, nine background sampling, flow-weighted concentrations, and an innovative statistical evaluation method were presented. These procedures were developed to evaluate potential contaminant release from a solid waste disposal facility constructed in a relatively isolated karst terrane. Although the specific procedures may not be duplicated, the overall technical approaches discussed in the paper may shed light on groundwater monitoring programs in other karst areas.