Solute geochemistry and health risk of water quality for an abandoned rare earth mine in South Jiangxi Province, China

Abstract Water quality strongly impacts human health and plays an irreplaceable role in mining areas. This study adopted multiple assessment techniques to elucidate the hydro-chemical processes controlling the solutes in the water and to evaluate the quality of the water and its human health risks in an abandoned rare earth mine in Jiangxi province, China. The results showed that the water samples were unsuitable for drinking while the Water Quality Index (WQI) ranged from 757 to 5621 and might cause a potential salinity hazard for irrigation because the electrical conductivity (EC) was high at 4103.4 μS/cm. All water samples were of the Ca·Mg-SO4·Cl type, which was predominant in Ca2+ and Mg2+. The water quality is polluted by the following parameters: SO4 2−, NH4 +, NO3 −, NO2 −, F−, Al, Pb, Cd, and Ni. Health risk assessment results showed that 100% of the water samples have a high non-carcinogenic risk for both adults and children. The rock weathering and mineral dissolution enhanced by mining activities were the dominant processes controlling the solute geochemistry of water in the study area. This study is helpful to the decision-makers for the sustainable development and utilization of rare earth mining areas.