The untold story of my article
Published in Earth & Environment and Civil Engineering
The Motivation Behind My Study
The Sarakhs Plain is a vital agricultural and residential area, but its water resources face serious threats from salinity, over-extraction, and contamination. Having witnessed firsthand the struggles of local communities who depend on groundwater for their livelihoods, I was determined to contribute to a better understanding of the water quality issues and explore sustainable management strategies.
The Challenges I Faced
One of the biggest challenges in conducting this research was ensuring a representative sample of wells across the region. I aimed to select the largest possible dataset while maintaining geographical diversity to capture the real hydrogeochemical variations. Additionally, it was crucial that each well had comprehensive water quality data available to allow for a thorough and meaningful analysis.
Key Findings and Insights
By analyzing 292 groundwater samples, I discovered that:
Salinity levels were critically high, rendering all samples unsuitable for drinking.
The western and central parts of the plain had the highest levels of contamination, whereas eastern areas benefited from natural dilution processes due to the Harirud River.
The hydrogeochemical composition of groundwater was significantly influenced by evaporation, mineral dissolution, and anthropogenic activities.
Nearly half of the samples were classified as unsuitable for drinking, yet many were still usable for irrigation under specific conditions.
The Impact of This Research
This study highlights the urgent need for sustainable groundwater management in the Sarakhs Plain. The findings provide valuable insights for:
Local policymakers and environmental agencies to implement better water quality monitoring and management strategies.
Farmers and agricultural planners to adopt efficient irrigation techniques and avoid excessive groundwater use.
Researchers and water resource managers seeking solutions to similar hydrogeochemical challenges in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide.
By sharing this research, I hope to raise awareness about the growing water quality issues and contribute to sustainable solutions that ensure safe and accessible water for future generations.
I look forward to engaging with the research community and exchanging insights on tackling global water challenges.
I am Maryam Tajbakhshian, a geologist specializing in sedimentology and environmental geoscience. I hold a Ph.D. in Sedimentary Geology from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. My research focuses on sediment transport, hydrogeochemistry, and water quality assessment. I have published multiple papers in national and international journals and have experience reviewing scientific articles. I am proficient in geoscience software like PHREEQC, Rockware AqQA, and GIS. Additionally, I have strong academic English skills and hold TELP and MSRT language certifications.
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Environmental Geochemistry and Health
This journal publishes original research papers and review papers across the broad field of environmental geochemistry. It aims to establish and explain links between the natural or disturbed chemical composition of the earth’s surface and the health of the ecosystem, animals and people.
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Marine environments are increasingly affected by a combination of natural and anthropogenic stressors, leading to changes in seawater quality that can have direct and indirect impacts on both environmental and human health. Contaminants such as bioaccumulative toxins, marine litter, and emerging chemical pollutants can enter marine food webs, affect biodiversity, and ultimately pose risks to human populations dependent on marine resources.
This Special Issue aims to provide new insights into the complex pathways through which multi-stressor marine environments influence environmental and human health, contributing to a more holistic understanding needed for effective management and policy actions. It will gather research that investigates the interactions between multiple stressors in marine environments and their consequences for ecosystem and human health. It will include contributions on climate related parameters, bio-essential and toxic elements, litter, organic pollutants, biodiversity, radioactivity, frugal monitoring technologies, and citizen science approaches to environmental health surveillance. Emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary studies that link marine environmental quality indicators to potential health outcomes, risk assessment, stakeholder engagement, and policy recommendations.
Publishing Model: Hybrid
Deadline: Mar 31, 2026
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