{"paper_id":"287587de-344a-477b-b4cf-b59d9c1dcbfb","body_text":"Analysis of the Formation of High-Fluoride and High-Nitrate Groundwater in the Datan Area of Chengde and Human Health Risk Assessment | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Analysis of the Formation of High-Fluoride and High-Nitrate Groundwater in the Datan Area of Chengde and Human Health Risk Assessment Siyang Qin, Wei Xu, Zizhao Cai, zhiguang Yang, Shuangying Li This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8188505/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 14 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Long-term consumption of water with high levels of fluoride (F-) and nitrate (NO3-) poses serious health risks to humans. This study aimed to analyze and determine the causes of elevated F- and NO3- concentrations in Datan Town, Fengning County, Chengde City, Hebei Province. A total of 91 groundwater samples were collected, 20 hydrogeochemical parameters were analyzed, and a health risk assessment was conducted using the HHRA model. In the study area, 15.38% of F- and 32.97% of NO3- concentrations were elevated, exceeding China's maximum permissible limits for drinking water (1.0 mg/L and 10 mg/L, respectively). The formation of high-F- groundwater was primarily attributed to fluorite dissolution, while increased NO3- levels resulted mainly from human activities. Health risk assessments for ions posing potential human health hazards revealed significant non-carcinogenic risks for F- and NO3- in both adults and children, exceeding acceptable thresholds (HI>1). For carcinogenic risks, all samples exceeded the acceptable threshold (1×10-6), with As playing a dominant role in groundwater carcinogenic risk. This study holds significant importance. It provides a comprehensive examination of groundwater hydrogeochemistry and health risk assessment in the study area, filling a gap in the knowledge of the Chengde Bashang region. It assists decision-makers in the Datan area in formulating long-term plans for groundwater resource development and lays a foundation for subsequent research. Nitrate Fluoride Groundwater Source identification Health risk assessment Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 18 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 17 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 06 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 02 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 15 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 15 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 06 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 16 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 15 Jan, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 14 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 24 Nov, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 24 Nov, 2025 First submitted to journal 23 Nov, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-8188505\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Research Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":574442434,\"identity\":\"3fc81a48-20fc-4bf0-9eb6-37e7e2e3ee09\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Siyang Qin\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Survey\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Siyang\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Qin\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":574442436,\"identity\":\"2da28587-005a-498b-8559-4f7d6db80cf9\",\"order_by\":1,\"name\":\"Wei 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This study aimed to analyze and determine the causes of elevated F- and NO3- concentrations in Datan Town, Fengning County, Chengde City, Hebei Province. A total of 91 groundwater samples were collected, 20 hydrogeochemical parameters were analyzed, and a health risk assessment was conducted using the HHRA model. In the study area, 15.38% of F- and 32.97% of NO3- concentrations were elevated, exceeding China's maximum permissible limits for drinking water (1.0 mg/L and 10 mg/L, respectively). The formation of high-F- groundwater was primarily attributed to fluorite dissolution, while increased NO3- levels resulted mainly from human activities. Health risk assessments for ions posing potential human health hazards revealed significant non-carcinogenic risks for F- and NO3- in both adults and children, exceeding acceptable thresholds (HI\\u003e1). 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