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Journal of Tianjin Normal University(Natural Science Edition) >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 2: 45 - 53

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19638/j.issn1671-1114.20260206

Geography and Environmental Sciences

Source apportionment and health risk assessment of U and Th in Beidagang Reservoir

  • WU Qian ,
  • ZHU Zhaozhou
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  • 1. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment,Tianjin Normal University,Tianjin 300387,China;
    2. Geography Department,Tianjin Normal University,Tianjin 300387,China

Received date: 2024-06-20

  Online published: 2026-06-03

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Abstract

To investigate the pollution characteristics, health risks, and sources of radioactive nuclides uranium (U) and thorium (Th) in Beidagang Reservoir, their concentrations in the water were determined using solid-phase extraction coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The pollution level and health risks posed by U and Th were assessed via the Nemerow composite pollution index method and health risk models, incorporating Monte-Carlo simulations. Finally, pollution source apportionment was conducted using the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. The results showed that: ① The activity concentrations of U and Th in the water of Beidagang Reservoir were (50.5 ± 16.5) mBq/L and (0.074 ± 0.034) mBq/L, respectively. Concentrations during the dry season were higher than those in the wet season, primarily due to reduced precipitation recharge and enhanced evaporation. ② During the wet season, the probabilities of the water being at clean and relatively clean levels were 3.16% and 96.80%, respectively, with a 0.04% probability of slight pollution. In the dry season, the probability of the water being at clean and relatively clean levels were 0% and 83.50%, while the probabilities of slight and moderate pollution were 16.14% and 0.36%, respectively. ③ The total carcinogenic risk index of U and Th was 13.93 × 10-6, indicating a potential carcinogenic risk. The chemical toxicity hazard quotient was minimal, suggesting that chemical toxicity could be neglected. ④ The pollution source analysis results showed that the main sources of radioactive nuclide U in Beidagang Reservoir were soil, agriculture, marine, and industrial, with contribution rates of 24.6%, 50.8%, 20.9%, and 3.7%, respectively. The main sources of Th were soil, marine, and industrial, with contribution rates of 57.6%, 32.6%, and 9.8%, respectively.

Key words： Beidagang Reservoir; uranium (U); thorium (Th); pollution characteristics; health risk; positive matrix factorization (PMF); Monte-Carlo simulations

Cite this article

WU Qian , ZHU Zhaozhou . Source apportionment and health risk assessment of U and Th in Beidagang Reservoir[J]. Journal of Tianjin Normal University(Natural Science Edition), 2026 , 46(2) : 45 -53 . DOI: 10.19638/j.issn1671-1114.20260206

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