๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ง Analysis of Distribution Features and Causes for Strontium Content in Groundwater at the Northern Foot of Lushan Mountain, Shandong, China


Groundwater is one of the most valuable natural resources that sustains human life, agriculture, and industry across the globe ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ง. In semi-arid and agriculturally productive regions of China ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ, groundwater plays an especially critical role in ensuring water security, supporting economic development, and maintaining ecological balance. However, the chemical composition of groundwater is highly variable, influenced by both natural geochemical processes ⛏️⚗️ and anthropogenic activities ๐Ÿšœ๐Ÿญ. Among the trace elements present in groundwater, strontium (Sr) has attracted considerable attention in hydrogeochemical studies due to its unique behavior, environmental implications, and health impacts ๐Ÿง‘‍⚕️๐Ÿฆด. The northern foot of Lushan Mountain, located in Shandong Province, represents a fascinating case study for understanding the distribution and causes of strontium enrichment in groundwater, as the region combines distinctive geological features, complex hydrogeological conditions, and intense human utilization of water resources.

In recent decades, hydrogeochemists, environmental scientists, and policy-makers have increasingly recognized the need to evaluate not just the quantity of groundwater, but also its quality parameters, including trace elements such as strontium ๐Ÿ“Š๐Ÿ”. Unlike contaminants such as arsenic or fluoride, which are typically associated with clear toxicological hazards ๐Ÿšซ☠️, strontium occupies a unique position: it is a naturally occurring element that, at moderate levels, can even play beneficial roles in bone health ๐Ÿฆด✨, yet at elevated concentrations, it poses risks to human well-being, particularly to infants and children ๐Ÿ‘ถ⚠️. This duality makes strontium an element of both scientific intrigue and public health importance.

The northern foot of Lushan Mountain (้ฒๅฑฑ) in Shandong Province ⛰️๐Ÿ“ is a region characterized by diverse lithological units, including carbonate rocks, clastic sedimentary formations, and igneous intrusions, all of which contribute differently to groundwater chemistry. The area lies at a hydrogeological boundary where mountain-front recharge interacts with piedmont plains aquifers ๐ŸŒŠ➡️, creating gradients in water chemistry and opportunities for distinctive strontium behavior. Preliminary surveys have shown that groundwater here contains measurable variations in strontium concentration, with some zones exhibiting values significantly above background levels ๐Ÿ”ฌ๐Ÿ“ˆ. This raises pressing scientific questions:

  • What geological and hydrogeochemical factors control the distribution of strontium in this area?

  • To what extent are elevated strontium levels natural versus anthropogenic?

  • How do spatial and temporal variations in strontium content reflect broader water–rock interactions, climate conditions, and land-use practices?

  • What are the potential implications for groundwater utilization, especially drinking water safety ๐Ÿšฐ๐Ÿง‘‍⚕️?

Addressing these questions requires an integrated approach that considers the distribution features (spatial, temporal, and depth-dependent patterns) and the causes (both geogenic and anthropogenic) of strontium in groundwater ⚗️๐Ÿ“Š. By systematically analyzing these aspects at the northern foot of Lushan Mountain, this study aims to not only advance hydrogeochemical understanding of strontium, but also provide a model for similar investigations across northern China and beyond ๐ŸŒ.

✨ 1. Importance of Strontium in Hydrogeochemistry

Strontium is an alkaline earth element (atomic number 38) that belongs to the same chemical family as calcium, magnesium, and barium ⚗️๐Ÿงช. In groundwater systems, strontium concentrations typically reflect the dissolution of strontium-bearing minerals, such as strontianite (SrCO₃), celestite (SrSO₄), and trace strontium substitutions within calcite and plagioclase feldspar ⛏️๐Ÿ”ฌ. Due to its geochemical similarity to calcium, strontium often substitutes into carbonate lattices, leading to coupled behavior with Ca²⁺ in aqueous systems. This means that groundwater enriched in calcium often exhibits measurable strontium, but the ratio of Sr/Ca varies depending on lithology, water–rock interaction time, and redox conditions ๐Ÿ“Š๐Ÿ“ˆ.

From a health perspective ๐Ÿง‘‍⚕️:

  • Low-to-moderate strontium levels may support bone strength ๐Ÿฆด.

  • Excessive intake, however, can interfere with normal calcium metabolism, potentially leading to rickets-like symptoms in children ⚠️๐Ÿ‘ถ.

  • Regulatory limits differ worldwide: the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests guideline values, while the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has proposed maximum contaminant levels based on epidemiological evidence. In China ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ, attention to strontium in groundwater has grown in parallel with research on fluoride and arsenic.

Thus, studying strontium is not merely an academic exercise but a public health necessity ๐Ÿšฐ๐Ÿ”.

✨ 2. Regional Significance of the Study Area (Northern Foot of Lushan Mountain)

The study area, situated in Shandong Province, lies within a transitional zone between mountainous uplands and alluvial–proluvial plains ๐Ÿ—บ️⛰️➡️๐ŸŒพ. This geomorphic setting exerts a strong influence on groundwater recharge, flow, and geochemistry:

  • Mountain recharge: Precipitation infiltrates through fractured bedrock at higher elevations, dissolving minerals rich in calcium, magnesium, and strontium ๐ŸŒง️⛏️.

  • Alluvial–proluvial aquifers: Groundwater migrates into coarser sediments at the piedmont, where water–rock contact increases residence time and chemical enrichment ๐Ÿ•ฐ️⚗️.

  • Anthropogenic overlay: Agricultural irrigation ๐Ÿšœ, fertilizer application, and small-scale mining activities further modify groundwater chemistry, introducing competing ions (e.g., nitrate, sulfate) that may mobilize or suppress strontium availability.

The northern foot of Lushan Mountain is also hydrologically dynamic, with seasonal fluctuations in recharge linked to the East Asian monsoon ๐ŸŒง️๐ŸŒฌ️. During the wet season, dilution and rapid flow may lower strontium concentrations, while during the dry season, evaporation and longer residence times may increase concentrations ๐Ÿ“ˆ☀️. Understanding this variability requires systematic monitoring and detailed chemical analysis.

✨ 3. Objectives of This Investigation

This expanded analysis of strontium in groundwater at the northern foot of Lushan Mountain pursues multiple interconnected objectives ๐ŸŽฏ๐Ÿ“Š:

  1. Characterize Distribution Features ๐Ÿ—บ️๐Ÿ“ˆ

    • Map spatial variations of strontium across the study area.

    • Examine depth-related differences between shallow, intermediate, and deep aquifers.

    • Assess temporal variations across wet and dry seasons.

  2. Identify Causes of Variability ⚡๐Ÿ”

    • Determine geogenic sources (carbonate dissolution, feldspar weathering, sulfate minerals).

    • Assess anthropogenic influences (agriculture, industry, domestic use).

    • Explore hydrogeochemical processes (ion exchange, adsorption, redox interactions).

  3. Evaluate Environmental and Health Implications ๐Ÿง‘‍⚕️๐Ÿšฐ

    • Compare strontium levels with drinking water standards.

    • Assess potential risks to local communities relying on groundwater.

    • Suggest management strategies for safe and sustainable groundwater use.

By fulfilling these objectives, the study not only contributes to academic hydrogeochemistry but also provides actionable insights for water resource managers, health authorities, and local residents ๐ŸŒฑ๐Ÿ’ก.





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