Since the mainstream of the Yangtze River lower reach is an important drinking water source for residents alongside it, it is essential to investigate the concentration, distribution characteristics and health risks of heavy metals in the water. In this study, a total of 110 water samples were collected on both the left and right banks from the upstream to the downstream. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the sources of heavy metals. Their non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were studied with health risk assessment models, and uncertainties were determined through Monte Carlo simulation. Results showed that concentrations of all heavy metals were significantly lower than the relevant authoritative standards in the studied area. From the upstream to the downstream, Ni, Cu and Cr had similar concentration distribution rules and mainly originated from human industrial activities. Pb, Cd and Zn had a fluctuating but increasing trend, which was mainly due to the primary geochemistry, traffic pollution and agricultural activities. The maximum As concentration appeared in the upstream mainly because of the carbonatite weathering or mine tail water discharge. Concentrations of Zn, As, Cd and Pb on the left bank were higher than those on the right bank, while concentrations of Cu, Ni and Cr on the right bank were higher than those on the left bank. The non-carcinogenic risk index (HI) was less than 1 (except of L11), and HI on the left bank was higher than that on the right bank. The carcinogenic risk (CR) was generally larger than 1.0 × 10−4, CR on the right bank overall was higher than that on the left bank, and the health risk of kids was greater than that of adults. Furthermore, Monte Carlo simulation results and the actual calculated values were basically the same.

Groundwater contaminant source identification is an endeavor task in highly developed areas that have been impacted by diverse natural processes and anthropogenic activities. In this study, groundwater samples from 84 wells in the pilot promoter region of the Yangtze River Delta integration demonstration zone in eastern China were collected and then analyzed for 17 groundwater quality parameters. The principal component analysis (PCA) method was utilized to recognize the natural and anthropogenic aspects impacting the groundwater quality; furthermore, the absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model was employed to quantify the contribution of potential sources to each groundwater quality parameter. The results demonstrated that natural hydro-chemical evolution, agricultural activities, domestic sewage, textile industrial effluent and other industrial activities were responsible for the status of groundwater quality in the study area. Meanwhile, the contribution of these five sources obtained by the APCS-MLR model were ranked as natural hydro-chemical evolution (18.89%) > textile industrial effluent (18.18%) > non-point source pollution from agricultural activities (17.08%) > other industrial activities (15.09%) > domestic sewage (4.19%). It is believed that this contaminant source apportionment result could provide a reliable basis to the local authorities for groundwater pollution management.

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