[Screening of Highly Hazardous Pollutants in Groundwater of Beijing].

ABSTRACT

Groundwater contaminants pose a great threat to water safety and human health. Therefore, in this study, the traditional hazard assessment method was improved and a comprehensive system covering hazard assessment, screening, and characterization by combining the toxicological priority index (Tox Pi) framework; absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretory (ADME) analysis; and bipartite network analysis was constructed. Then, the system was applied to hazard assessment and toxic pollutants screening from the 234 hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) identified in the groundwater of Beijing. First, the top 20 pollutants with hazard potential were screened out using the Tox Pi method. Subsequently, 17 high-priority HOCs were further identified based on the ADME property analysis. Then, the molecular targets of these 17 high-priority HOCs were characterized through systematic bipartite network analysis. Finally, ten HOCs with high hazard were screened through correlation and weighted average analysis, and it was revealed that their toxic effects were mainly concentrated in the endocrine-disrupting effect, carcinogenic effect, and genetic toxicity. This study provides technical support for the prevention of regional groundwater contaminants.