BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (m-, p-xylene and o-xylene)) in shallow groundwater were investigated in 16 monitoring wells of the Songyuan region (Songhua River basin). Mean concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes were found to be 1.53 μg/L, 1.76 μg/L, 2.11 μg/L and 0.30 μg/L, respectively. Ecological and human health risk assessments were conducted to evaluate potential adverse effects of the BTEX compounds in terms of toxicity. Toluene posed a severe ecological risk, xylenes a moderate risk, while benzene and ethylbenzene were both considered to be a low risk. The mean cancer risk for benzene was estimated to be 1.14 × 10−6, which is higher than the acceptable risk level of 1.0 × 10−6. The mean non-carcinogenic risks for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes were lower than the standard threshold level of 1.0, both individually and cumulatively. In terms of a screening assessment, these results indicate that BTEX in groundwater may pose a threat to the ecosystem and residents in the Songyuan region of the Songhua River basin. This information will be useful for the further evaluation and risk management of groundwater in this area.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
August 10 2015
Risk assessment of BTEX in the groundwater of Songyuan region of Songhua River in China Available to Purchase
Zhuo Zhang;
1Engineering Research Centre of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
2State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Yanguo Teng;
Yanguo Teng
1Engineering Research Centre of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Guanlin Guo;
Guanlin Guo
2State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Fasheng Li;
Fasheng Li
2State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Chao Zhang
Chao Zhang
2State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Supply (2016) 16 (1): 135–143.
Article history
Received:
April 01 2015
Accepted:
July 28 2015
Citation
Zhuo Zhang, Yanguo Teng, Guanlin Guo, Fasheng Li, Chao Zhang; Risk assessment of BTEX in the groundwater of Songyuan region of Songhua River in China. Water Supply 1 February 2016; 16 (1): 135–143. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2015.120
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
eBook
Pay-Per-View Access
$38.00