Research papersEffects of water-sediment interaction and irrigation practices on iodine enrichment in shallow groundwater

- High iodine groundwater was observed in both shallow and deep groundwater.
- Intense water-sediment interaction was identified by groundwater Sr isotope.
- The stratification of 18O and 2H isotope indicates the vertical mixing by irrigation.
- Extra O2/NO3/SO4 introduction by irrigation promotes iodine release into groundwater.

High iodine concentrations in groundwater have caused serious health problems to the local residents in the Datong basin, northern China. To determine the impact of water-sediment interaction and irrigation practices on iodine mobilization in aquifers, isotope (2H, 18O and 87Sr/86Sr) and hydrogeochemical studies were conducted. The results show that groundwater iodine concentrations vary from 14.4 to 2180 μg/L, and high iodine groundwater (>150 μg/L) mainly occurs in the central area of the Datong basin. Sediment iodine content is between <0.01 and 1.81 mg/kg, and the co-occurrence of high iodine and high DOC/TOC concentrations of groundwater and sediment samples in the deeper aquifer indicates that the sediment enriched in iodine and organic matter acts as the main source of groundwater iodine. The 87Sr/86Sr values and groundwater chemistry suggest that aluminosilicate hydrolysis is the dominant process controlling hydrochemical evolution along groundwater flowpath, and the degradation of TOC/iodine-rich sediment mediated by microbes potentially triggers the iodine release from the sediment into groundwater in the discharge area. The vertical stratification of groundwater 18O and 2H isotope reflects the occurrence of a vertical mixing process driven by periodic surface irrigation. The vertical mixing could change the redox potential of shallow groundwater from sub-reducing to oxidizing condition, thereby affecting the iodine mobilization in shallow groundwater. It is postulated that the extra introduction of organic matter and O2/NO3/SO4 could accelerate the microbial activity due to the supplement of high ranking electron acceptors and promote the iodine release from the sediment into shallow groundwater.

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