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Zhou Z, Wu F, Tong Y, Zhang S, Li L, Cheng F, Zhang B, Zeng X, Yu Z, You J. Toxicity and chemical characterization of shale gas wastewater discharged to the receiving water: Evidence from toxicity identification evaluation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169510. [PMID: 38154638 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Flowback and produced water (FPW) generated from shale gas extraction is a complex mixture consisting of injected drilling fluid, deep formation water, and byproducts of downhole reactions. Limited knowledge is available regarding the impact of discharged FPW on surface water in China. With the development of shale gas exploitation, this emphasizes an urgent need for comprehensive assessments and stringent regulations to ensure the safe disposal of shale gas extraction-related wastewater. Herein, we explored potential impacts of treated shale gas wastewater discharged into a local river in southwest China through toxicity identification evaluation (TIE). Results revealed that organics and particulates significantly contributed to the overall toxicity of the treated FPW wastewater. Through target and suspect chemical analyses, various categories of organic contaminants were detected, including alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, biocides, phenols, and phthalates. Furthermore, non-target analysis uncovered the presence of surfactant-related contaminants in tissues of exposed organisms, but their contribution to the observed toxicity was unclear due to the lack of effect data for these compounds. Higher toxicity was found at the discharge point compared with upstream sites; however, the toxicity was rapidly mitigated due to dilution in the receiving river, posing little impact on downstream areas. Our study highlighted the importance of monitoring toxicity and water quality of FPW effluent even though dilution could be a viable approach when the water volume in the discharge was small.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Zhou
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Fan Wu
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Yujun Tong
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Shaoqiong Zhang
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Liang Li
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Fei Cheng
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Biao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environment and Resources, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Xiangying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environment and Resources, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Zhiqiang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environment and Resources, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Jing You
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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