Potentially Toxic Metal(loid) ContaminationImpact of the Weathering Profile in theKarst Area with Artisanal Zinc Smelting

Water is a crucial global resource but scarce in many parts of the world.It is necessary for human health and socioeconomic development [1][2][3].Based on this, groundwater tends to be the most important water resource, especially within semi-arid and arid regions such as Saudi Arabia.For example, in countries like India, which has the highest population globally, groundwater provides more than 80% of the rural drinking water demands [4].If cautiously managed, groundwater reservoirs can provide sustainable and reliably safe drinking water for future generations [5].However, this may require establishing considerable