Spatial distribution,pollution characterization and health risk assessment of selected metals in groundwater of Lahore,Pakistan

Groundwater pollution is a major global environmental issue especially in the large cities and trace metals are considered as most important aquatic pollutants. The present study is based on the measurement and characterization of various physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, TDS, DO, alkalinity, hardness, and chloride), major cations (Ca, Mg, Na and K) and selected trace metals (Sr, Li, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Ag, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) in the groundwater of Lahore, Pakistan during summer and winter (2017–18) seasons. Groundwater is the main source of drinking water in urban areas of Lahore. Seasonal comparison of the data indicated that majority of the metals showed relatively higher concentrations during winter than summer. Most of the metals exhibited significant spatial variability during both seasons; relatively higher metal levels were found in the old settlements and thickly populated areas of the city. Average concentrations of Pb, Ni, Cd and Co in the groundwater were found to be higher than the national and international guideline values. Factor analysis and cluster analysis revealed major anthropogenic contributions of Ni, Co, Cd, Cu, Cr and Pb in the groundwater while rest of the metals showed mixed and/or natural contributions. Evaluation of human health risks for the metal contents in groundwater revealed that Pb, Co, Ni and Cd were associated with significantly higher non-carcinogenic risks (HQ_ing > 1); the calculated risk for children was considerably higher than the adults. Moreover, the carcinogenic risk associated with Ni, Cr, Cd and Pb exceeded the safe limits. The present study revealed significantly higher anthropic pollutants in the groundwater which imposed considerable risks to human; therefore, it is recommended to implement immediate remedial measures to ensure safe drinking water.     

Using geographical information systems to assess groundwater contamination from arsenic and related diseases based on survey data in Lahore,Pakistan

The present study was aimed at assessing the groundwater contamination from arsenic (As) and its impact on health from survey data in Lahore, Pakistan. OK (ordinary kriging) technique was used to create As and pH surfaces for samples from 380 groundwater wells at different locations and depths in the study area. Geographic information systems (GIS) was applied to delineate areas for safe, risk, and dangerous zones of As in drinking water from groundwater wells at 640 to 850 ft depths. To analyze effects of high As on public health, GIS-based field surveys were conducted to link health data along location of respondents to As contamination levels in the delineated safe, risk, and dangerous zones. Moreover, various pH levels and their effectiveness were studied to suggest cost-effective As treatment in the study area. Our results show that As contaminated strata varies with depth of groundwater wells, i.e., 44.50% areas comprising safe zone of drinking water from deep wells at 850 ft depth compared to 26% areas of shallow water at 640 ft depth. About 35% area with pH range (7 to 7.5) is marked in the risk and danger zones of As that can be initially targeted for treatment. Surveys confirm that people living in the risk and danger zones have some kind of As-related diseases.     

巴基斯坦印度扇近海盆地油气地质条件分析

南秦岭柞水银洞子—山阳桐木沟铅银锌矿带地处陕西柞山地区中部,位于中秦岭晚古生代弧前盆地的柞水—山阳矿集区内。该带东西长约71 km,南北宽1～7 km。对带内银洞子（铜）铅银菱铁矿床、黑沟铅锌菱铁矿床、桐木沟锌矿床、南沟（银）铅矿床和松林沟铅矿点的地质、矿体、蚀变、矿化规律进行总结,发现矿体均严格产于中-上泥盆统青石垭组,具有明显的时控、层控、岩控及后期热液改造成矿特征,属典型的海底热水喷流沉积-热液改造层控矿床,构成与晚古生代海底热水喷流沉积-热液改造作用有关的铅锌银成矿系列。建立以层控+热液改造为主控矿条件,以青石垭组热水沉积岩+断裂+化探异常+硫化物、重晶石、菱铁矿蚀变分带为组合的找矿模型,对柞山地区金属矿的找矿突破具有重要的指导意义。     

巴基斯坦穆斯林巴赫铬铁矿床成矿环境、 地质特征及控矿因素

巴基斯坦境内蛇绿岩广泛分布,且大多发育铬铁矿化。穆斯林巴赫铬铁矿床位于巴基斯坦中部,是新特提斯缝合带中大型豆荚状铬铁矿床之一,目前已经发现数百个矿体,储量超过4000 kt,是巴基斯坦境内最重要的铬铁矿产地。张洪瑞等（2013）总结了中部瓦济里斯坦-贝拉蛇绿岩带的地质特征和穆斯林巴赫铬铁矿床的产出特征,认为穆斯林巴赫铬铁矿床成因仍存在争议,其形成构造环境、控矿因素有待于进一步研究。本文论述穆斯林巴赫矿床的地质特征,通过矿床地球化学和铬尖晶石矿物化学等研究,结合我国典型的罗布莎豆荚状铬铁矿研究成果,分析了主要控矿因素,为巴基斯坦境内相同类型矿床的找矿勘查提供依据。     

浅析铜陵地区地质构造与岩溶塌陷分布的关系

正铜陵地区岩溶塌陷十分发育,为该市最突出的地质灾害,自有详细记录的1955年小街地区岩溶塌陷至2017年,先后有31处被列为岩溶塌陷地质灾害点,造成巨大的经济损失,为矿业开采、工程建设带来重大影响。区内地质构造发育,对岩溶塌陷控制作用明显。本文通过研究岩溶塌陷在地质构造上的分布特征,浅析地质构造对岩溶发育的强弱、方向、深度的影响。     

潞安目标区煤层气赋存和生产的地质因素分析

分析了影响潞安目标区煤层气赋存和生产的主要地质因素,提出了本区煤层气井产气量低、产水量高的原因。潞安目标区与晋城目标区相比较,张性断层发育,3号煤顶板砂岩条带发育。地下水从浅部接受大气降水补给,部分在文王山和二岗山断裂带排泄,煤层顶板砂岩含水层与煤层不仅构成了一个统一的地下水系统,又由于与断层的沟通作用形成了一个完整的地下水补径排系统,使得地层能量被释放,煤层气大量运移逸散,煤储层压力降低,煤层气井产能降低。     

Geo-spatial assessment of community vulnerability to flood along the Ravi River,Ravi Town,Lahore, Pakistan

Natural Hazards - Pakistan is exposed to hydro-meteorological and geological hazards. Flood is one of the hydro-meteorological hazards, and so far 25 major floods have occurred in Indus River...     

Vertical distribution of bacterial populations associated with arsenic mobilization in aquifer sediments from the Hetao plain, Inner Mongolia

To understand the mechanism of arsenic mobilization from sediment to groundwater mediated by microorganism, vertical distribution of bacterial populations in aquifer sediments of the Hetao plain, Inner Mongolia was investigated by a two-step nested PCR-DGGE and 16S rRNA gene clone libraries, combined with sediment geochemistry. A borehole to 30 m depth was drilled and 11 sediment samples were collected. Lithological profile and different geochemical characteristics of sediments indicated a distinct transition of oxidizing–reducing environment along the depth of the sediment core. As(III) and Fe(II) concentrations elevated progressively from 10 m, simultaneously coupling with decrease of As(V) and Fe(III) concentrations, implying that reductive dissolution of arsenic-rich Fe(III) oxyhydroxides led to arsenic release. Results of DGGE displayed that sediment samples with higher concentrations of total arsenic and total organic carbon had lower population diversity, which suggested total arsenic concentrations were important to determine the population diversity of sediments. Bacterial communities of a sediment sample with the highest diversity and ratio of As(III) to total As were dominated by aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria and belonged to Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria and Firmicutes group. Most of the retrieved sequences were closely related to high arsenic-resistance organisms, sulfide/thiosulfate oxidizers, denitrifiers, and aromatic hydrocarbon degraders. Thiobacillus distinctly predominated in clone library, which suggested that arsenic might be released by oxidized dissolution of sulfide minerals coupled to arsenate reduction or nitrate reduction in anaerobic condition. These data have important implications for understanding the microbially mediated arsenic mobilization in aquifers.     

爆炸荷载作用下中隔墩应力场的影响因素分析

针对影响中隔墩动应力分布的各种因素，包括中隔墩的宽度，力学参数，两侧岩体的爆破开挖顺序等，分别建立不同的有限元计算模型，利用ANSYS5．5．2有限元分析软件对中隔墩在爆炸荷载作用下的应力分布情况进行了计算,分析，还对沿中隔墩高程分布质点振速的放大效应进行了讨论，结果表明中隔墩的宽度，力学参数，两侧岩体的爆破开挖顺序对中隔墩的应力分布均有很大的影响，实际施工中应对这些因素进行严格控制，以确保中隔的安全与稳定。     

A Parametric Study on Stability of Open Excavations in Alluvial Soils of Lahore District, Pakistan

Rapid urbanization and expansion of metropolitans in the developing world is pressing the need of tall structures with multiple basements. In several such projects, open land is available around excavation site and unsupported deep excavations by maintaining appropriate side slopes offer economical solution. In this research, subsoil stratigraphy of Lahore district was established to be comprising of a top clay stratum 1.5–8 m thick, followed by a sand layer. Considering subsoil data from several geotechnical investigation reports, the effect of four key parameters viz., cohesion of clay layer, friction angle of sand layer, thickness of clay layer at the top and slope inclination of underlying sand layer on safety factor of open excavations was studied. Six hundred twenty-five slope stability analyses were conducted by considering different geometries and soil properties. Based on the results of these analyses, a regression model was suggested to estimate safety factor of open excavations in similar stratigraphy which would be useful in feasibility studies and preliminary design of deep excavations. It was established that the clay layer cohesion was the most dominant contributor to safety factor.     

Groundwater chemistry and occurrence of arsenic in the Meghna floodplain aquifer,southeastern Bangladesh

Dissolved major ions and important heavy metals including total arsenic and iron were measured in groundwater from shallow (25–33 m) and deep (191–318 m) tube-wells in southeastern Bangladesh. These analyses are intended to help describe geochemical processes active in the aquifers and the source and release mechanism of arsenic in sediments for the Meghna Floodplain aquifer. The elevated Cl⁻ and higher proportions of Na⁺ relative to Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and K⁺ in groundwater suggest the influence by a source of Na⁺ and Cl⁻. Use of chemical fertilizers may cause higher concentrations of NH₄⁺ and PO₄³⁻ in shallow well samples. In general, most ions are positively correlated with Cl⁻, with Na⁺ showing an especially strong correlation with Cl⁻, indicating that these ions are derived from the same source of saline waters. The relationship between Cl⁻/HCO₃⁻ ratios and Cl⁻ also shows mixing of fresh groundwater and seawater. Concentrations of dissolved HCO₃⁻ reflect the degree of water–rock interaction in groundwater systems and integrated microbial degradation of organic matter. Mn and Fe-oxyhydroxides are prominent in the clayey subsurface sediment and well known to be strong adsorbents of heavy metals including arsenic. All five shallow well samples had high arsenic concentration that exceeded WHO recommended limit for drinking water. Very low concentrations of SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ and high concentrations of dissolved Fe and PO₄³⁻ and NH₄⁺ ions support the reducing condition of subsurface aquifer. Arsenic concentrations demonstrate negative co-relation with the concentrations of SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ but correlate weakly with Mo, Fe concentrations and positively with those of P, PO₄³⁻ and NH₄⁺ ions.     

Conversion,sorption, and transport of arsenic species in geological media

This work addresses the inter-conversion and sorption of inorganic As species in representative geological media. Through the sensitive quantification of As(III) and As(V) with liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and through integrated batch and column approaches, it is shown that natural media can either reduce or oxidize As species. Oxidation of As(III) to As(V) is shown in the Hanford sediment, while reduction of As(V) to As(III) is shown for the surface soil of Savannah River Site. Overall, the sorption distribution coefficient of As(V) onto geological media is much larger than that of As(III), and a reduction of the more sorptive As(V) to As(III) will lead to groundwater enrichment with As. Coupled with the different sorption behavior of As(III) and As(V), the inter-conversion of these species will strongly affect the geochemical cycling of redox-sensitive As in the subsurface.     

基于分形理论的浙江省地质灾害分布特征与影响因素分析

在浙江省地质灾害空间分布特征研究中引入了多重分形方法,基于分形理论研究地质灾害分布的影响因素。研究结果表明：浙江省地质灾害空间分布具有明显的分形特征,西北和东南地区发育较强烈;浙江省地质灾害空间分布与水系分布、降水量、地形坡度、坡高、地层岩性、道路分布及地形地貌有关,其中在降雨量为2 232～2 565 mm、坡度为25°～35°范围内、坡高为500～1 000 m范围内和侏罗系地层范围内,崩塌、滑坡、泥石流灾害发育明显,在山地地形范围内地质灾害易发生。浙江省的道路分布中,省道分布对地质灾害发育的影响比较大;浙江省钱塘江水系和瓯江水系比较复杂,且对地质灾害发育的影响比较大。研究成果进一步明确了浙江省地质灾害分布特征及主要影响因素影响规律,对灾害防治开展具有指导参考意义。     

Hydrochemical evolution and arsenic release in shallow aquifer in the Titas Upazila,Eastern Bangladesh

Groundwater arsenic (As) concentrations above 10 μg/L (World Health Organization; WHO standard) are frequently found in the Titas Upazila in Bangladesh. This paper evaluates the groundwater chemistry and the mechanisms of As release acting in an underground aquifer in the middle-northeast part of the Titas Upazila in Bangladesh. Previous measurements and analyses of 43 groundwater samples from the region of interest (ROI) are used. Investigation is based on major ions and important trace elements, including total As and Fe in groundwater samples from shallow (8–36 m below ground level: mbgl) and deep (85–295 mbgl) tube wells in the aforementioned ROI. Principal hydrochemical facies are Ca–HCO₃, with circumneutral pH. The different redox-sensitive constituents (e.g., As, Fe, Mn, NH₄, and SO₄) indicate overlapping redox zones, leading to differences regarding the redox equilibrium. Multivariate statistical analysis (factor analysis) was applied to reduce 20 chemical variables to four factors but still explain 81% of the total variance. The component loadings give hints as to the natural processes in the shallow aquifers, in which organic matter is a key reactant. The observed chemistry of As, Fe, and Mn can be explained by simultaneous equilibrium between Fe-oxide and SO₄ reduction and an equilibrium of rhodochrosite precipitation/dissolution. A correlation test indicates the likeliness of As release by the reductive dissolution of Fe-oxides driven by the degradation of sediments organic matter. Other mechanisms could play a role in As release, albeit to a lesser extent. Reactive transport modeling using PHREEQC reproduced the observed chemistry evolution using simultaneous equilibrium between Fe-oxide and SO₄ reduction and the equilibrium of rhodochrosite dissolution/precipitation alongside organic matter oxidation.     

Processes affecting geochemistry and contaminant movement in the middle Claiborne aquifer of the Mississippi embayment aquifer system

Groundwater chemistry and tracer-based age data were used to assess contaminant movement and geochemical processes in the middle Claiborne aquifer (MCA) of the Mississippi embayment aquifer system. Water samples were collected from 30 drinking-water wells (mostly domestic and public supply) and analyzed for nutrients, major ions, pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and transient age tracers (chlorofluorocarbons, tritium and helium-3, and sulfur hexafluoride). Redox conditions are highly variable throughout the MCA. However, mostly oxic groundwater with low dissolved solids is more vulnerable to nitrate contamination in the outcrop areas east of the Mississippi River in Mississippi and west Tennessee than in mostly anoxic groundwater in downgradient areas in western parts of the study area. Groundwater in the outcrop area was relatively young (apparent age of less than 40 years) with significantly (p < 0.05) higher dissolved oxygen and nitrate–N concentrations and higher detections of pesticides and VOCs compared to water samples from wells in downgradient areas. Oxygen reduction and denitrification rates were low compared to other aquifers in the United States (zero order rate constants for oxygen reduction and denitrification were 4.7 and 5–10 μmol/L/year, respectively). Elevated concentrations of nitrate–N, and detections of pesticides and VOCs in some deep public supply wells (>50 m depth) indicated contaminant movement from shallow parts of the aquifer into deeper oxic zones. Given the persistence of nitrate in young oxic groundwater that was recharged several decades ago, and the lack of a confining unit, the downward movement of young contaminated water may result in higher nitrate concentrations over time in deeper parts of the aquifer containing older oxic water.     

Hydrogeologic factors affecting gas content distribution in coal beds

Gas content in coal is not fixed but changes when equilibrium conditions within the reservoir are disrupted. Therefore, gas content distribution in coal varies laterally within individual coal beds, vertically among coal beds in a single well, and within thicker coal beds. Major hydrogeologic factors affecting gas content variability include gas generation, coal properties, and reservoir conditions. Gas generation affects gas content variability on a regional scale, whereas coal properties influence gas content distribution on a regional and local scale. Reservoir conditions affect gas content more locally within specific fields or individual wells. The potential for high gas content is controlled directly by the amount of thermogenic and secondary biogenic gases generated from the coal which in turn are controlled by burial history, maceral composition, and basin hydrodynamics. Variability in mineral matter (ash) and moisture content, sorption behavior among macerals, diffusion coefficients, and permeability result in heterogeneous gas content distribution. Gas content decreases with decreasing pressure and temperature, and coal beds become undersaturated with respect to methane during basin uplift and cooling. Gas content generally increases where conventional and hydrodynamic trapping of coal gases occur and may decrease in areas of active recharge with downward flow potential and/or convergent flow where there is no mechanism for entrapment.     

Emission quantification of refrigerant CFCs,HCFCs and HFCs in megacity Lahore (Pakistan) and contributed ODPs and GWPs

An integrated assessment of emissions of some important refrigerant ozone depleting substances (ODSs) (CFC-11, CFC-12, HCFC-141b and HFC-134a) and their contributed ozone depletion potentials (ODPs) and global warming potentials (GWPs) have been made in the megacity Lahore (Pakistan) for the period from 2005 to 2013. During the production of 6.488 million refrigerator units, the cumulative estimated emissions of CFC-11, CFC-12, HCFC-141b and HFC-134a were 129.7, 6.8, 1257 and 104 mega grams (1 Mg = 10⁶ grams). The estimated GWP (CO₂-eq) and ODP (CFC 11-eq) associated with production phase emissions of these four gases were 616.07, 73.52, 910.96, and 87.36 kilotonnes, and 129.7, 6.8, 139.4, and 0 tonnes, respectively. ODP of HFC-134a is considered to be zero. In addition, the repair and maintenance of 81.2 thousand units resulted in 10.8 Mg emissions of CFC-12 with 10.8 tonnes ODP(CFC 11-eq) and 117,802 tonnes GWP (CO₂-eq) that were higher than the HFC-134a emissions recorded at 4.3 Mg causing 4563 tonnes GWP(CO₂-eq). A decrease in ODP (CFC 11-eq) and GWP (CO₂-eq) at the rate of ?8.3% and ?8.2% per year is observed to be contributed by all the selected ODSs during the study period.     

Statistical analysis of factors affecting landslide distribution in the new Madrid seismic zone, Tennessee and Kentucky

More than 220 large landslides along the bluffs bordering the Mississippi alluvial plain between Cairo, Ill., and Memphis, Tenn., are analyzed by discriminant analysis and multiple linear regression to determine the relative effects of slope height and steepness, stratigraphic variation, slope aspect, and proximity to the hypocenters of the 1811-12 New Madrid, Mo., earthquakes on the distribution of these landslides. Three types of landslides are analyzed: (1) old, coherent slumps and block slides, which have eroded and revegetated features and no active analogs in the area; (2) old earth flows, which are also eroded and revegetated; and (3) young rotational slumps, which are present only along near-river bluffs, and which are the only young, active landslides in the area.

Discriminant analysis shows that only one characteristic differs significantly between bluffs with and without young rotational slumps: failed bluffs tend to have sand and clay at their base, which may render them more susceptible to fluvial erosion.

Bluffs having old coherent slides are significantly higher, steeper, and closer to the hypocenters of the 1811-12 earthquakes than bluffs without these slides. Bluffs having old earth flows are likewise higher and closer to the earthquake hypocenters.

Multiple regression analysis indicates that the distribution of young rotational slumps is affected most strongly by slope steepness: about one-third of the variation in the distribution is explained by variations in slope steepness. The distribution of old coherent slides and earth flows is affected most strongly by slope height, but the proximity to the hypocenters of the 1811-12 earthquakes also significantly affects the distribution.

The results of the statistical analyses indicate that the only recently active landsliding in the area is along actively eroding river banks, where rotational slumps formed as bluffs are undercut by the river. The analyses further indicate that the old coherent slides and earth flows in the area are spatially related to the 1811-12 earthquake hypocenters and were thus probably triggered by those earthquakes. These results are consistent with findings of other recent investigations of landslides in the area that presented field, historical, and analytical evidence to demonstrate that old landslides in the area formed during the 1811-12 New Madrid earthquakes.

Results of the multiple linear regression can also be used to approximate the relative susceptibility of the bluffs in the study area to seismically induced landsliding.