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Pokhara valley is gifted with nine lakes out of which the largest lake, Phewa is the lifeline for the economic development of that region. However, the lake water is deteriorating owing to wastewater discharge from nearby hotels, restaurants, and urban settings. Therefore, the current study aims to rate the status of water quality in Phewa Lake concerning the water quality index (WQI), heavy metal pollution index (HPI), and pollution load index (PI). Ten selected physicochemical parameters like pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, turbidity, hardness, chloride, and alkalinity were analysed for the calculation of WQI. Likewise, iron (Fe), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) were selected for HPI and PI calculations. The average WQI value in the winter, rainy, and autumn seasons of 2021 was 33.64, 66.94, and 58.71 respectively. In general, water quality was good in the WQI classification and it showed significant differences seasonally. However, the value of HPI and PI indicated that the water of Phewa Lake is polluted with heavy metals. The study findings are a useful database that is important for the concerned authorities for effective lake management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the water quality index (WQI) and heavy metal pollution index (HPI) of different industrial effluent and surface water from various sites of the Karnaphuli River, based on the weighted arithmetic index method. The samples were collected from 20 different industries, including textile dyeing, textile washing, oil processing, chemicals, and tannery, and 17 stations of the Karnaphuli River, from the Kalurghat Bridge to the estuary where the river meets with the Bay of Bengal. This study was carried out in the dry season of the 2021–2022 fiscal year. Six physicochemical parameters, namely pH, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, and hardness, were taken for the determination of the WQI, and concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Fe, Cd, Cu, Cr, Mn, and Ni) were considered for the calculation of the HPI. Both indexes were calculated against the Bangladesh Standard (denoted by subscript a) and WHO standards (denoted by subscript b). The water quality indexes WQIa and WQIb for industrial effluent ranged from 11.66 to 176.77 and 44.45 to 9703.99, respectively. Samples namely TD‐5, TD‐7, TD‐8, TD‐9, TD‐10, OS‐1, and C‐1 showed excessively high WQI value. On the other hand, the HPIa and HPIb of industrial effluent varied from 43.6 to 167,785.3 and 0.34 to 18,412.3, respectively. Furthermore, oil processing and chemical effluents showed noticeably higher HPI values than other industrial samples. Both WQI and HPI values indicated a serious pollution load in most experimental samples. No river water sample showed a WQI value below 100, denoting it was unfit for consumption. The water quality indexes WQIa and WQIb for river water samples ranged from 1275.40 to 29,405.77 and 131.20 to 5860.99, respectively. According to the Bangladesh Standard, the river water samples were moderately to highly polluted by metal. The highest HPI value for the river water sample was 7965, denoting extreme metal pollution. The investigation revealed that most industrial effluents and Karnaphuli River water samples contained significant pollution load. Therefore, effective measures must be adopted immediately for future sustainability to cope with this contamination. The results emphasize the immediate requirement for strict regulations and advanced water treatment technologies to reduce contamination risks in the Karnaphuli River. Prompt action by authorities is essential to safeguard the river, prevent ongoing ecological damage, and address metal accumulation in fish affecting the food chain. Public awareness and legislative measures are vital for ecosystem preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silver deposits located in the upper basin of the Felent Stream are currently the largest producing mine in the Türkiye. It is also significantly impacted by industrial, agricultural, and thermal spring-related waste in Kütahya Province. The main objectives of this study were to examine the spatiotemporal variations of 12 dissolved potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the surface water of Felent Stream, to identify their possible sources, and to assess their probable risks. As a result of this study, among investigated PTEs, the highest mean concentrations of 3592–14,388 µg/L for Mg and the lowest of 0.15–0.19 µg/L for Cd were noted in Felent Stream water. The average concentrations of PTEs were found in the order of Mg > Ca > Na > As > Mn > B > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cr > Cd. Remarkably, during the dry season, there was a conspicuous escalation in the average PTEs contents of water, with an approximately multifold amplification. PTEs in stream water were evaluated for their potential ecotoxicological risks and possible sources. Based on ecological risk assessment indices, the stream exhibited low pollution levels during the wet season but displayed elevated pollution levels during the dry season, indicating a general shift towards heightened pollution conditions. The hazard index (HI) data for As exhibited significant potential noncarcinogenic risks across all monitoring stations. Conversely, the carcinogenic risk (CR) data underscored the imperative nature of addressing the health risks associated with As in the waters of the studied region. Mining activities were identified as the primary origin of PTEs based on principal component analysis (PCA). Moreover, upstream regions, proximal to the mining site, emerged as the most heavily contaminated areas according to cluster analysis (CA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater serves as a vital water source for a significant population in the Gujarat region of India. However, substantial contamination from heavy metals, pose a serious threat to human health through various pathways, including drinking water. The rapid industrial and agricultural growth in recent years has exacerbated heavy metal pollution in the state. This study focuses on assessing the heavy metal contamination in the groundwater of Gujarat using the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI). The research covers the entire state, considering its diverse physical, climatic, topographical, and geographical conditions. The HPI scores obtained from individual studies highlight the extent of pollution caused by heavy metals. The overall findings underscore the severe problem of heavy metal contamination in Gujarat's groundwater and the associated health risks. Various other pollution indicators, including the Heavy Metal Evaluation Index, Degree of Contamination, Metal Index, and Water Pollution Index are discussed as tools to assess contamination levels. These indices compare concentrations of different heavy metals with established limits to determine the pollution level. The goal is to provide valuable insights for investors and policymakers in formulating strategies to manage and reduce heavy metal contamination across the state. Additionally, the paper explores effective, environmentally friendly, and economically viable treatment techniques to remove heavy metals from aquatic systems, safeguarding the environment. By employing pollution indicators and remedial actions, this study aims to guide efforts in mitigating the impact of heavy metal contamination in the groundwater of Gujarat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid economic expansion of the worldwide coastal settlements has resulted in the discharge of substantial amounts of heavy metals (HMs), posing a considerable risk to marine organisms. The present work aims to evaluate the HM contamination of seawater and determine their potential sources in Al Qunfudhah seawater, Red Sea coast utilizing contamination factor (CF), degree of contamination (Cd), modified contamination factor (mCd), heavy metal pollution index (HPI), and multivariate analysis. A total of twenty-nine samples of surface seawater were gathered and the analysis of HMs was conducted using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The average concentration of dissolved HMs follows the following order: As (5.83 μg/L) ˃ Ni (0.990 μg/L) ˃ Co (0.168 μg/L) ˃ Cd (0.090 μg/L). The average concentrations of As, Co, Ni, and Cd were below the maximum admissible concentration (MAC) set by the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the criterion continuous concentration (CCC) and criterion maximum concentration (CMC) set by the environmental protection agency. This suggests that the levels of these substances are within the acceptable limits for protecting aquatic life, both in the short-term and long-term exposures. The results of the analysis for CF, Cd, mCd, and HPI suggested clean and uncontaminated seawater in most sites. Few individual samples obtained elevated values, which might be attributed to natural source, mostly from chemical weathering of rock forming minerals from the Arabian Shield, as well as agricultural and coastal activities.

We investigated the spatial–temporal variability, contamination sources, and risk of heavy metals (HMs) on environment and public health in water of the Barnoi River, Bangladesh from July 2019 to June 2020. Surface waters were sampled from five distinct sampling sites and measured for physico-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, total hardness, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, biological oxygen demand, nitrate-nitrogen and phosphate-phosphorus) and HMs (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Cu and Zn) content. Physico-chemical parameters were analyzed following standard procedure, and HMs concentration was analyzed by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). We assessed the surface water quality for drinking and aquatic life standard, metal pollution indices (HPI and HEI) and non– cancer and cancer risks. Furthermore, we employed correlation analysis (CoA), principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis (CA), to define the inter-metal relationship, distribution and potential origin. Our results indicated that all physico-chemical parameters satisfied drinking and aquatic life standards (WHO, USEPA). However, among the analyzed HMs, Cr, As, Pb and Cd surpassed the maximum recommended value. Principle component analysis (PCA) revealed distribution of the studied metals, possibly anthropogenic sources (industrial, agricultural, household, and municipal wastewater). Based on the indices, the Barnoi River water was ‘undrinkable’ (DWQI = 158.66) and the index value was higher at Site-1 and Site-2. However, the CCME-WQI index for aquatic life or fisheries indicated that the surface water was in a ‘fair’ condition (CCME-WQI = 70.65). The mean values of HPI (257.41) and HEI (17.47) indicate ‘unsuitable for drinking’ and ‘medium pollution’ conditions of the surface water, respectively. Health risk evaluation revealed that children are more susceptible to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks by Cr, As and Ni than the adults. Regular monitoring is recommended by the responsible authorities and policymakers.

This study examines the hydrogeochemical and heavy metal parameters of groundwater in Ojo District to determine its suitability for use, potential sources, and human health implications. Ten groundwater samples were assessed, and hydrogeochemical modelling was performed via the Aquachem software. The chemical ions were in the following order: EC > (107.78–448.65 μS/cm) > TDS (182.02–320.77 mg/l) > TH (46.22–182.45 mg/l) > pH (5.55–6.35); HCO3− (64.13–125.82 mg/l) > Na+ (36.87–96.49 mg/l) > Ca2+ (47.65–58.88 mg/l) > SO42− (19.94–53.67) > NO3− (15.55–44.25 mg/l) > Cl− (20.43–27.16 mg/l) > Mg2+ (11.09–16.87 mg/l) and K+ (2.55–7.86 mg/l). The concentrations of heavy metals in groundwater were in the range of: Fe (0.11–0.27 mg/l) > Mn (0.003–0.16 mg/l) > Ni (0.05–0.12 mg/l) > Zn (0.003–0.05 mg/l) > Pb (0.001–0.03 mg/l) > As (0.001–0.005 mg/l) > Cr (0.002–0.005 mg/l) > Cd (0.001–0.003 mg/l) and Cu (0.001–0.0002 mg/l), with Pb, Mn, and Ni exceeding their allowable limits. The Schoeller and Gibbs plots revealed that the major mechanisms controlling the aquifer groundwater in Ojo region are geological rock weathering and mineralization, with a minimal influence of saltwater intrusion. The piper trilinear diagram also revealed that none of the cation was dominant while the anions were strongly dominated by HCO3− (weak acids). The hydrogeochemical facies which describes the geochemical characteristics of the groundwater were classified into 3 types; “Ca2+–Mg+–HCO3– (65 %)”, “mixing zones (30 %)”, and “Na+–K+–Cl––HCO3– (5 %)”. The hydrogeochemical modelling revealed that the groundwater is characterized by forward cation exchange, while rock–water interactions (silicate dissolution) were heavily involved in the geochemical processes. The single pollution index showed that Pb, Ni, and Mn contributed significantly to contamination, and the multi–pollution indices showed that the groundwater was slightly-moderately polluted. The integrated groundwater quality index revealed that only 10 % were clean, 50 % were poor or moderately unclean, 30 % were highly unclean, and only 10 % were extremely unclean (unfit for utilization). The water pollution index showed that 70 % of the groundwater was good. The irrigation indices suggest that the groundwater would enhance soil quality and support plant growth. Multivariate analysis revealed that the groundwater is being influenced by geogenic factors and anthropogenic activities. The health risk assessment (Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index) showed that exposure of adults to the investigated groundwaters could result in noncarcinogenic adverse effects. The cancer risk values also exceeded the minimum limit (1.0 x 10−6) and thresholds (1.0 x 10−4) for adults, indicating the carcinogenic potential of the groundwater.

Abstract Understanding heavy metals in rivers is crucial, as their presence and distribution impact water quality, ecosystem health, and human well-being. This study examined the presence and levels of nine heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in 16 surface water samples along the Chao Phraya River, identifying Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cr as predominant metals. Although average concentrations in both rainy and dry seasons generally adhered to WHO guidelines, Mn exceeded these limits yet remained within Thailand’s acceptable standards. Seasonal variations were observed in the Chao Phraya River, and Spearman’s correlation coefficient analysis established significant associations between season and concentrations of heavy metals. The water quality index (WQI) demonstrated varied water quality statuses at each sampling point along the Chao Phraya River, indicating poor conditions during the rainy season, further deteriorating to very poor conditions in the dry season. The hazard potential index (HPI) was employed to assess heavy metal contamination, revealing that during the dry season in the estuary area, the HPI value exceeded the critical threshold index, indicating the presence of heavy metal pollution in the water and unsuitable for consumption. Using the species sensitivity distribution model, an ecological risk assessment ranked the heavy metals’ HC5 values as Pb > Zn > Cr > Cu > Hg > Cd > Ni, identifying nickel as the most detrimental and lead as the least toxic. Despite Cr and Zn showing a moderate risk, and Cu and Ni posing a high risk to aquatic organisms, the main contributors to ecological risk were identified as Cu, Ni, and Zn, suggesting a significant potential ecological risk in the Chao Phraya River’s surface water. The results of this study provide fundamental insights that can direct future actions in preventing and managing heavy metal pollution in the river ecosystem.

Understanding heavy metals in rivers is crucial, as their presence and distribution impact water quality, ecosystem health, and human well-being. This study examined the presence and levels of nine heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in 16 surface water samples along the Chao Phraya River, identifying Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cr as predominant metals. Although average concentrations in both rainy and dry seasons generally adhered to WHO guidelines, Mn exceeded these limits yet remained within Thailand's acceptable standards. Seasonal variations were observed in the Chao Phraya River, and Spearman's correlation coefficient analysis established significant associations between season and concentrations of heavy metals. The water quality index (WQI) demonstrated varied water quality statuses at each sampling point along the Chao Phraya River, indicating poor conditions during the rainy season, further deteriorating to very poor conditions in the dry season. The hazard potential index (HPI) was employed to assess heavy metal contamination, revealing that during the dry season in the estuary area, the HPI value exceeded the critical threshold index, indicating the presence of heavy metal pollution in the water and unsuitable for consumption. Using the species sensitivity distribution model, an ecological risk assessment ranked the heavy metals' HC5 values as Pb > Zn > Cr > Cu > Hg > Cd > Ni, identifying nickel as the most detrimental and lead as the least toxic. Despite Cr and Zn showing a moderate risk, and Cu and Ni posing a high risk to aquatic organisms, the main contributors to ecological risk were identified as Cu, Ni, and Zn, suggesting a significant potential ecological risk in the Chao Phraya River's surface water. The results of this study provide fundamental insights that can direct future actions in preventing and managing heavy metal pollution in the river ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water quality indices, health risk, and burden of disease attributable to heavy metals in rural communities of Yazd County, Iran during 2015–2021 were studied. The drinking water quality index (DWQI) based on 27 parameters (including heavy metals) and heavy metal pollution index (HPI) were used for assessing drinking water quality. The health risk and burden of disease from heavy metals in drinking water were estimated in terms of hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), and disability-adjusted life year (DALY). Based on the DWQI scores by community, the drinking water quality in rural communities of Yazd County was characterized as good for 61 %, fair for 25 %, marginal for 2 %, and poor for 12 %. The distribution of the rural communities into the HPI categories was as follows: 43 % for excellent, 36 % for good, 14 % for poor, and 7 % for unsuitable. In about 20 % of the rural communities, the average HI level of heavy metals was higher than the boundary limit of one. The highest average HQ level at the county level was related to arsenic (As) to be 0.44. In all the communities, the total ILCR values of the heavy metals were in the category of significant increased cancer risk (10−6 to 10−4). At the county level, As and cadmium (Cd) exhibited the two highest cancer risk levels to be 1.96 × 10−4 and 1.87 × 10−4 for ILCR, respectively. The DALY rate (per 100,000 people) induced by exposure to the heavy metals via drinking water was 13.9, which was considered relatively high as compared to that of other drinking water pollutants obtained in the previous studies. The drinking water quality improvement through decreasing Cd and As levels below the standard values can drastically reduce the attributable burden of disease and promote the public health in the rural communities.

This study examined the water quality of the Turag River, an important tributary river in Dhaka, Bangladesh in terms of physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal contamination to assess the potential risks to both ecological systems and human health. The majority of the water samples complied with the acceptable limits established by the World Health Organization (WHO) for various parameters including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR), except total hardness (TH). The sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), chloride (Cl−), fluoride (F−), nitrate (NO3−), and sulfate (SO42−) levels in the water samples were found to be within acceptable ranges for most cases. Moreover, heavy metals including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), and mercury (Hg) were analyzed and their mean concentrations (μg/L) were found in the order of Fe (244.72 ± 214.35) > Mn (28.93 ± 29.64) > Zn (22.97 ± 10.93) > Cu (8.28 ± 5.99) > Hg (8.23 ± 6.58) > As (1.34 ± 0.39) > Ni (1.20 ± 0.38) > Cr (0.67 ± 0.85) > Pb (0.61 ± 0.72) > Se (0.42 ± 0.48) > Cd (0.13 ± 0.09) which were within the acceptable limit, except Hg. The cumulative effect of all heavy metals was assessed through the heavy metal pollution index (HPI), contamination degree (Cd), and nemerow pollution index (PN). The mean value of HPI (682.38 ± 525.68) crossed the critical index value of 100, indicating an elevated level of pollution. The mean value of Cd (8.763 ± 6.48) indicates a low-moderate-significant level of contamination due to an elevated level of Hg, and for the PN it was found 174.27 ± 146.66, indicating a high level of pollution due to high level of Fe. Ecological risk index (ERI) indicated low levels of risk for Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn, As, Se, Cu, and Zn but a significantly high risk for Hg. The water was classified as good to excellent based on its physicochemical properties (pH, EC, TDS, COD, DO, F−, Cl−, NO3−, and SO42−) while it was deemed poor to unsuitable for heavy metals according to the water quality index (WQI). Among the carcinogenic constituents, As poses the greatest carcinogenic risk, particularly for children. The mean value of Cr, Mn, and As in the HQingestion for adult and child, and Cd, Hg for child exceeded the threshold value established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), while the HQdermal values remained below the maximum limit for all heavy metals. The value of HI at all locations exceeds the threshold of 1, as specified by USEPA. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis revealed that the presence of heavy metals in the Turag River was mainly attributed to anthropogenic sources, including industrial effluent discharge from neighboring industries, domestic wastewater, and agricultural runoff containing agrochemicals from the surrounding lands.

Groundwater quality assessment in the region of potential pollution sources can be performed through the use of index-based methods. The aim of this paper was to present the results of the groundwater quality assessment in the region of the zinc smelter in Miasteczko Śląskie (southern Poland) for the Quaternary aquifer based on monitoring data from 2000, 2011, and 2022. The following parameters were used in the analysis: Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn. Three indices were calculated, i.e., the landfill water pollution index (LWPI), heavy metal pollution index (HPI), and metal index (MI). The values of the indicators suggest that in the described study area, there are waters that are under the strong influence of the zinc smelter infrastructure and landfills. The highest values obtained are about 17 for LWPI, about 66 for HPI, and about 133 for MI. These values indicate significant anthropogenic pollution of the groundwater of the Quaternary aquifer in the study area. Taking into account the values obtained for all three indices, it can be concluded that the HPI indicator is the least reliable due to the need to select two limit values (background and ideal content in waters for each of the parameters), which would suggest that in some cases, waters are not very contaminated. The other two indices show similarities (mainly in their spatial distribution), and only the choice of parameters determines which of the indices should be used. A comparison of the results of local groundwater quality monitoring with the results of the calculated indices indicate that the values of the calculated MI indices are closest to the actual water quality status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of public water supply and groundwater resources is a major concern in many parts of developing nations. Polluted water poses serious health risks to humans and the environment. This research was conducted to investigate the seasonal variations of the water quality parameters in the public water supply. To assess the supply water quality in different blocks of Ambala District, hydro‐chemical analysis was conducted after a series of systematic sampling in various locations. The statistical tools for water quality indexing including water quality indexing (WQI), heavy metal pollution indexing (HMPI), pollution indexing (PI), overall pollution indexing (OPI), metal indexing (MI), and hazard indexing (HI) were used for data as well as the health hazard analysis through water pathway. Overall, 40 water samples were taken from the public water supply systems covering winter and summer seasons, and the levels of pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), EC, F−, Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, HCO3−, As, B, Cd, Co, Pb, Zn, Cr, Fe, and Mn were investigated. The weight arithmetic index method was used for WQI, and water pollution indices such as HMPI, PI, OPI, and MI were calculated using different models to check the severity of contamination. The mean hazard quotient and hazard index values calculated using the concentration levels of As, B, Cd, Co, Pb, Cr, Fe, Mn, Zn, F−, and NO3− reveal that supply water may pose a significant health risk to both adults and children that further varies with temporal and spatial changes. During both seasons, a high carcinogenic risk for both adults and children was observed in the studied area because of high levels of As, Pb, Cd, and NO3−. Practitioner Points: The quality of public supply water was assessed at the selected sites of Ambala, India.High levels of NO3−, As, Cd, and Pb were observed posing a health risk to adults and children via water pathway.95% of the samples qualified for the excellent water quality category with respect to the levels of F−, Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, HCO3−, pH, EC, and TDS.Statistical analysis (HMPI, PI, MI, OPI, HI) using different models revealed water contamination with reference to the levels of NO3−, As, Pb, Cr, Ni, and Cd.Immediate measures are needed to uphold the safety and health of the natives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The research focused on the determination of selected metals in tap water from Upper Silesia region (Poland) and the assessment of risk for consumers. The heavy metal pollution index and metal index were used to characterise the potential risk of heavy metals in drinking water. ICP-MS and ICP-OES have been used to measure the concentrations of Co, Mn, Cu, Ni, Pb, As, Zn and Sr. Chemometric analysis of the resulted data was accomplished using principal component analysis and cluster analysis, emphasising both similarities between the composition of the analysed samples and outliers. It was suggested that chemometric analysis can be used as a decision tool for necessary corrective action in the water distribution network, since it emphasises in a fast and intuitive way the samples with unusual chemical composition for a given context. To the best of our knowledge, such research in this area has not yet been carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River Ganga, one of the largest perennial rivers, conserves the cultural heritage of the Indian sub-continent, supporting as the nectar of life to millions residing on the banks of the river basin. With unlimited use, the river also receives a large amount of untreated wastewater discharged from different industrial, commercial and residential complexes, unbalancing the nutrient concentration at many points along the stretch. The current study assesses water samples collected from 20 monitoring locations and the Ganga River System in the Himalayan region, evaluating the potential risk of heavy metal pollution. The concentration of Zn, Pb, Mn, Fe, Cu, Al, Ni, Cd, Mg and Co is determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Fe, Cd and Mg's observed values exceeded various standards (WHO, BIS and USEPA) for drinking water. The pollution assessment index (heavy metal pollution index: HPI) and multivariate analysis (principal component analysis: PCA and cluster analysis: CA) were implemented to identify the intensity of pollution and its sources. The seasonal values of HPI were found 88.69, 90.32, 88.53 and 84.96 in winter, summer, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. The index value on all monitoring locations varied between the range of PCA outcomes for three factors and explained 72.1% of the variance, indicating natural and man-made activities as responsible metal abundance factors in the river system. The hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) are used to assess non-cancer health risks to humans. The seasonal evaluation recorded HQ < 1 for all the metals and HI > 1 was found for the entire study period. This study contributes to various conservation initiatives for the River Ganga System with factual datasets and characterization of various sampling locations using heavy metal indexing while sharing common masses' findings for people participation at the regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminium slag waste is a residue from aluminium recycling activities, classified as hazardous waste so its disposal into the environment without processing can cause environmental problems, including groundwater pollution. There are 90 illegal dumping areas for aluminium slag waste spread in the Sumobito District, Jombang Regency. This study aims to evaluate the quality of shallow groundwater surrounding aluminium slag disposal in the Sumobito District for drinking water. The methods applied an integrated water quality index ( WQI) and heavy metal pollution index ( HPI), multivariate analysis (principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA)), and geospatial analysis for assessing groundwater quality. The field campaign conducted 40 groundwater samples of the dug wells for measuring the groundwater level and 30 of them were analysed for the chemical contents. The results showed that some locations exceeded the quality standards for total dissolved solids ( TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and Al 2+. The WQI shows that 7% of dug well samples are in poor drinking water condition, 73% are in good condition, and 20% are in excellent condition. The level of heavy metal contamination based on HPI is below the standard limit, but 13.3% of the water samples are classified as high contamination. The multivariate analysis shows that anthropogenic factors and natural sources/geogenic factors contributed to shallow groundwater quality in the study area. The geospatial map shows that the distribution of poor groundwater quality is in the northern area, following the direction of groundwater flow, and is a downstream area of aluminium slag waste contaminants.

Ranipet is an industrial hub located 120 km away from Chennai houses around 250 tanneries beside other industries. Tanneries and Tamil Nadu Chromate and Chemicals Limited (TCCL) generated and dumped tons of chromium waste on land and water bodies which is the major threat to the people living in the area for several years. In this study, heavy metal pollution in Ranipet industrial zone was estimated using the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) model along with spatial distribution maps. The level of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni and Zn in ground and surface water was measured using standard methods, and the results were utilized to make the HPI model. It was observed that the metal level was in the order of Zn > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cr > Cd and Cr > Pb > Zn > Cd > Cu > Ni in ground and surface water respectively. All the ground water samples exhibited high HPI of (> 38). Except one sample with low HPI (˂ 19), and three surface water samples held in midrange (19–38), the other surface water samples displayed high HPI of (> 38). The average HPI of ground and surface water is 500.42 and 523.78. The HPI and spatial distribution of heavy metals revealed that the Cr contamination in Ranipet industrial estate is originated from the premises of TCCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the quality of groundwater sourced from nearby abandoned landfills in an industrial city in Nigeria. Nine (9) groundwater samples were collected from three (3) abandoned landfills in Port Harcourt city and analysed for physicochemical and heavy metal parameters. Water pollution indices such as water quality index (WQI), Pollution load index (PLI), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), and heavy metal pollution index (HPI) were computed for groundwater quality analysis. The concentration of heavy metals analysed are within WHO limit except for Nickel (Ni-0.06 mg/l) across all locations. The WQI computation classified groundwater as “Excellent water (35.12)” to “Good water (60.97)”, PLI (0.142 to 0.17), and HEI (4.893 to 5.133) indicated no pollution, and low pollution level, respectively. The HPI of the groundwater was deemed “Suitable for Drinking (59.11) to “Unsuitable for Drinking” purposes; hence, need for treatment prior to use.

Coal thermal power plants are critical sources of heavy metal pollution in groundwater with a significant health hazard. The current study assessed the seasonal (pre and post-monsoon) concentration of aluminum, arsenic, iron, cobalt, manganese, nickel, copper, chromium, cadmium, lead and zinc concentrations in groundwater along with heavy metal pollution index and human health risks. Further, multivariate statistical approaches i.e. correlation, principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to estimate the groundwater's interactions with heavy metals to know their possible sources of contamination. The results showed the mean higher concentration (µg/L) for aluminum (387.65, 399.184), arsenic (11.368, 17.288), lead (7.92, 9.59), iron (126.22, 272.24) and manganese (248.69, 825.82) throughout both seasons than the standard acceptable limits of national and international agencies. Considering the heavy metal pollution index, the mean value was noticed less than the critical value (> 100) for pre-monsoon (19.92) and post-monsoon season (44.42), denoting low-level pollution. Concerning health risks, arsenic, lead, manganese and zinc were the most significant metals causing health hazards with hazard index (105) exceeding the United States Environmental Protection Agency's standard limit and affecting children's population more than adults. Further, high values of toxic metals were noticed during the post-monsoon season. Besides, multivariate analysis showed that anthropogenic and natural activities are attributed to metal pollution. The present study suggests unsuitability of groundwater for drinking purposes as this can cause a potential health risk. Hence, the study area needs routine groundwater quality monitoring as it is susceptible to heavy metal contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous increase in the demand for water and the scarcity of water to be used as drinking water have made groundwater even more important. The study area, Eber wetland, is located in the Akarçay river basin, which is one of the most important river basins in Turkey. The groundwater quality and heavy metal pollution were investigated in the study using index methods. In addition, health risk assessments were performed. Ion enrichment was determined at locations E10, E11, and E21 related to water–rock interaction. In addition, nitrate pollution was observed in many samples due to agricultural activities and also fertilizer application in the areas. The water quality index (WOI) values of the groundwaters vary between 85.91 and 201.77. In general, groundwater samples located around the wetland were in the "poor water" class. According to the values for the heavy metal pollution index (HPI), all the groundwater samples are suitable for use as drinking water. They are also classified as "low pollution" according to the heavy metal evaluation index (HEI) and the value/degree of contamination (Cd). In addition, since the water is been used for drinking by the people in the area, a health risk assessment was performed to ascertain As and NO3. It was determined that the Rcancer values calculated for As were considerably higher than the tolerable/acceptable values for both adults and children. The results obtained clearly show that the groundwater should not be used as drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Azgir test site is one of the radiation hazardous facilities in Kazakhstan. At the test site, for research purposes, 17 underground nuclear explosions were carried out in the period 1966-1979 to develop the technology of creating cavities for various purposes underground in the rock salt massif. As a result of the work carried out, 9 underground cavities of different volumes and at different depths were created. The article presents the results of studying the trace element and radionuclide composition of the ground water of the Azgir test site, taking into account new data obtained after drilling new observation wells in 2021. It is shown that the values of specific activities of artificial radionuclides in the water of the bore holes and wells under study are at the background level and are comparable with long-term data of radioecological monitoring at the test site, which indicates the absence of migration processes of radionuclides from underground nuclear cavities at the present time. The local collection of underground water of the test site is the "Uzhuntator" mulda, located between the salt domes of the Western and Eastern Azgir. The underground water of the test site also lie in separate disparate lenses. An assessment of the toxicity of waters from observation the bore holes and wells by the content of heavy metals in water using the heavy metal pollution index (HPI) is presented. The dominance of chemical elements in groundwater is established in the order Fe>Mn>Ni>Cr>Co>Mo>Cu>Zn. The conclusions about the unsuitability of these water for drinking purposes have been confirmed. The value of the HPI index is up to 72.6 times higher than the critical value for drinking water, which is due to the hydrogeological conditions of groundwater occurrence. The study was conducted on the basis of the Center of Complex Environmental Research of the RSE Institute of Nuclear Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminium slag waste is a residue from aluminium recycling activities, classified as hazardous waste so its disposal into the environment without processing can cause environmental problems, including groundwater pollution. There are 90 illegal dumping areas for aluminium slag waste spread in the Sumobito District, Jombang Regency. This study aims to evaluate the quality of shallow groundwater surrounding aluminium slag disposal in the Sumobito District for drinking water. The methods applied an integrated water quality index (WQI) and heavy metal pollution index (HPI), multivariate analysis (principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA)), and geospatial analysis for assessing groundwater quality. The field campaign conducted 40 groundwater samples of the dug wells for measuring the groundwater level and 30 of them were analysed for the chemical contents. The results showed that some locations exceeded the quality standards for total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and Al2+. The WQI shows that 7% of dug well samples are in poor drinking water condition, 73% are in good condition, and 20% are in excellent condition. The level of heavy metal contamination based on HPI is below the standard limit, but 13.3% of the water samples are classified as high contamination. The multivariate analysis shows that anthropogenic factors and natural sources/geogenic factors contributed to shallow groundwater quality in the study area. The geospatial map shows that the distribution of poor groundwater quality is in the northern area, following the direction of groundwater flow, and is a downstream area of aluminium slag waste contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Metal pollution in aquatic environment of coal mines is of serious concern and requires to be dealt with to maintain sustainable mining practices. The spatio-temporal variation in metal pollution of surface water of Talcher coalfield area were determined by using multivariate statistical techniques and pollution indices. A total of 56 water samples were collected and analyzed for Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Co, Se, As, Hg, Cr, Ni, Mn, and Al in pre-monsoon and monsoon season. Spatial distribution maps were prepared so that the quality of surface water could easily be recognized. High values of Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), Degree of Contamination (Dc), and Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI) were observed for 3%, 6%, 0% samples in pre-monsoon and 1%, 6%, 3% samples in monsoon. Sewage Treatment Plants (STP), Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP), and Mine Discharge Treatment Plants (MDTP) were found to have low to moderate efficiency in treating metals. The HPI of streams and rivers were observed to be higher in pre-monsoon than that of the monsoon season possibly due to dilution effect caused by intense rain in monsoon. The HPI of downstream was noted to be higher than the upstream indicating pollution due to mine effluent discharge. The average concentrations of Cd, Se, As, Ni, and Al in pre-monsoon and Fe, Cd, Se, As, Ni, and Al in monsoon exceeded the permissible drinking water limits set by WHO (WHO, Guidelines for drinking-water quality, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2011) and BIS (BIS (2012) Drinking water specifications 2nd revision. Bureau of Indian standards (IS 10500: 2012). New Delhi. ftp://law.resource.org/in/bis/S06/is.10500.2012.pdf ). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed significant seasonal variation (p

The goal of this study was to examine the water quality for drinking and domestic purposes in the Korba coalfield region of Chhattisgarh, India. The Korba Coalfield region has seen the collection of fifteen groundwater samples from different places. The content of eight metals was determined using ICP-MS instruments: aluminum (Al), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn). Spatial distribution maps were produced using GIS software to make it simple to understand the groundwater's quality. The groundwater samples were collected during the pre-monsoon season and the amount of Al, Ba, Cd, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni, and Zn exceeded the ideal drinking water standards in a few sites. The elevated metal concentrations in the study region's groundwater could be hazardous to the quality of water. The HPI value based on mean concentration was calculated to be 21.64, which is significantly lower than the reference pollutant index score of 100. The HPI calculation revealed that 73.33% of groundwater samples had low HPI values, 6.67% had medium HPI values, and the remaining 20% had high HPI values. The correlation between heavy metals and HPI was calculated; HPI is positively correlated with Fe (r > 0.9471), Pb (r > 0.9666), and Zn (r > 0.9634), indicating that these elements contribute significantly more to heavy metal concentration in the various samples examined than the other selected elements. The box plot seems to be a graphical representation of the outcomes of the different parameter concentrations which show the mean, maximum, and minimum metal values. The cluster analysis was performed and it was classified into two clusters. Cluster-1 comprises 14 members (93.33%) of the water samples examined and is distinguished by relatively low Ba (<700 µg.L-1), pH, TDS, Al, Fe, Cd, Mn, Pb, and Zn concentrations. Cluster-II is made up of 1 member (6.67%), which is primarily made up of groundwater samples (GW-10) taken in the KCF region, India. High values of HPI are found in the eastern portion of Chhattisgarh's KCF region, reflecting the spatial distribution of metals. Heavy metal leaching from open-pit mining and transit routes was observed to have contaminated groundwater in the eastern section of the research region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the physicochemical parameters of water and sediments in the Naltar Lakes, northern Pakistan. Water and sediments were sampled and analyzed for physicochemical parameters. Heavy metals such as iron (Fe, 11% and 12%), nickel (Ni, 100% and 88%), chromium (Cr, 22% and 12%), and arsenic (As, 0% and 12%) of sampling sites had surpassed the threshold of drinking water set by world health organization (WHO) in the Naltar Lake I (Naltar I) and Naltar Lake II (Naltar II), respectively. Water quality parameters were evaluated for the drinking and irrigation water quality indices (WQI). Drinking WQI values were found within the excellent category for Naltar I and Naltar II, except for the 6% of sampling sites observed in the good category. Toxic parameter concentrations were used for the risk indices, which revealed the highest average daily dose (ADD) values of 138 µg/kg-day and hazard quotient (HQ) 1.8 for children through nitrate (NO3) and As consumption in drinking water from the Naltar I and Naltar II, respectively. Water of the Naltar Lakes were characterized by rock weathering dominance. Heavy metal concentrations of sediments showed a moderate level of contamination that poses a low risk to the Naltar Lake ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aims to assess the water quality of the Al-Diwaniyah River in the city of Al-Diwaniyah to drink in terms of chemical properties and heavy metals and their impact on the health of the local population. The results showed that most of the parameters in the river water are of low concentrations due to the limited human activities in polluting the river water. The study concluded that the water quality is suitable for drinking depending on major cations and anions in all seasons. The Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) showed that the river water was clean and safe, except two slightly polluted samples. The study concluded that river water for drinking or various domestic uses does not pose any danger to human health if there are no other polluting factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Spatio-temporal variability of WQI, HPI and HEI of the Barnoi River has been assessed. • WQI indicated "undrinkable" condition of the surface water for consumption. • CCME-WQI indicated "fair" condition of the surface water for aquatic life. • HPI and HEI indicated "unsuitable for drinking" and "medium pollution" conditions of the surface water. • Children are more susceptible to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks by Cr, As and Ni than the adults based on the indices used. We investigated the spatial–temporal variability, contamination sources, and risk of heavy metals (HMs) on environment and public health in water of the Barnoi River, Bangladesh from July 2019 to June 2020. Surface waters were sampled from five distinct sampling sites and measured for physico-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, total hardness, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, biological oxygen demand, nitrate-nitrogen and phosphate-phosphorus) and HMs (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Cu and Zn) content. Physico-chemical parameters were analyzed following standard procedure, and HMs concentration was analyzed by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). We assessed the surface water quality for drinking and aquatic life standard, metal pollution indices (HPI and HEI) and non– cancer and cancer risks. Furthermore, we employed correlation analysis (CoA), principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis (CA), to define the inter-metal relationship, distribution and potential origin. Our results indicated that all physico-chemical parameters satisfied drinking and aquatic life standards (WHO, USEPA). However, among the analyzed HMs, Cr, As, Pb and Cd surpassed the maximum recommended value. Principle component analysis (PCA) revealed distribution of the studied metals, possibly anthropogenic sources (industrial, agricultural, household, and municipal wastewater). Based on the indices, the Barnoi River water was 'undrinkable' (DWQI = 158.66) and the index value was higher at Site-1 and Site-2. However, the CCME-WQI index for aquatic life or fisheries indicated that the surface water was in a 'fair' condition (CCME-WQI = 70.65). The mean values of HPI (257.41) and HEI (17.47) indicate 'unsuitable for drinking' and 'medium pollution' conditions of the surface water, respectively. Health risk evaluation revealed that children are more susceptible to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks by Cr, As and Ni than the adults. Regular monitoring is recommended by the responsible authorities and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution is a major concern in China because of its serious effects on human health. To assess potential human health and ecological risks of heavy metal pollution, concentration data for seven heavy metals (As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg, Cu, Zn) from 14 sites spanning the rural-urban interface of the Wen-Rui Tang River watershed in southeast China were collected from 2000 to 2010. The heavy metal pollution index (HPI), hazard index (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR) metrics were used to assess potential heavy metal risks. Further, we evaluated the uncertainty associated with the risk assessment indices using Monte Carlo analysis. Results indicated that all HPI values were lower than the critical level of 100 suggesting that heavy metal levels posed acceptable ecological risks; however, one site having an industrial point-source input reached levels of 80-97 on several occasions. Heavy metal concentrations fluctuated over time, and the decrease after 2007 is due to increased wastewater collection. The HI suggested low non-carcinogenic risk throughout the study period (HI  10-4). While most metrics for human health risk did not exceed critical values for heavy metals, there is still a potential human health risk from chronic exposure to low heavy metal concentrations due to long-term exposure and potential metal interactions. Results of this study inform water pollution remediation and management efforts designed to protect public health in polluted urban area waterways common in rapidly developing regions.

In the present study, pollution evaluation indices were carried out to assess the intensity of pollution in Marar industrial area of Ramgarh in Jharkhand. Fifteen groundwater samples were collected from the study area in May 2016. The physicochemical parameters (pH and EC,, HCO3−, Cl−, SO42-, NO3−, F−, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) and heavy metals (Fe, Mn, As, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Se, Al, Ba, Pb and Cd) were analysed. Measured concentration of heavy metals in the study area in decreasing order is as follows: Fe> Zn> Mn > Al> Ba > Ni> Cu > Pb> Cr > Se> As > Cd. Fe concentration was found beyond desirable limit in each sample. In the study area 73%, 60% and 21% water samples surpass desirable limit of Al, Mn and Ni respectively as per BIS,10,500 (2012). Concentration of As, Cu, Cr, Se, Pb, Ba and Cd was within the desirable limit in each sample. The analysed data was then applied for the calculation of Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI) and Degree of Contamination (Cd). HPI values have not surpassed the critical value of 100 in any of the sample despite of various industrial activities. Fe is the prominent contributor for all the three pollution indices followed by Ni, Cr, Pb, Cu and Mn. According to multiple of mean value approach 100%, 93% and 80% of the samples belong to low and medium classes of HEI, HPI, and Cd respectively. Cluster analysis results advocate that heavy metal concentration in groundwater resources are contributed by both lithogenic as well as anthropogenic inputs such as large number of ferro alloys, non-ferrous alloys, sponge iron, foundry, instrument manufacturing and welding industries in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater quality is regulated by hydrological, physical, geochemical and biological factors. The current study assessed groundwater quality with the help of a water quality index by integrating the analysis of physicochemical parameters and heavy metals at 40 rural locations in Hooghly and Howrah districts along the lower Damodar river. The water quality index showed that 51.89 km2 out of the 601.17 km2 study area exceeded acceptable limits (water quality index > 100) of potable water. Arsenic was the most sensitive parameter followed by iron, manganese and fluoride. Bairakurchi area was severely contaminated due to high concentration of arsenic and iron, and Haraditiya was severely contaminated due to high concentration of iron. A risk assessment was performed for adults and children on exposure to heavy metals, using deterministic and probabilistic approaches. Monte Carlo simulation was applied for the probabilistic analysis and sensitivity analysis to determine the parameters most influencing risk hazard. The hazard index demonstrated that children were at higher risk than adults. The sensitivity analysis showed that concentration of heavy metals greatly influenced risk value. Principal component analysis and correlation matrix were applied to ascertain the relationship among the parameters. Five principal components were extracted with 76.29% cumulative variance. A strong correlation was found between heavy metals and physicochemical parameters, i.e. arsenic and iron (0.928), arsenic and manganese (0.809), iron and turbidity (0.867) and calcium and hardness (0.957). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary era, the widespread practice of open dumping persists as a major method for municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal, contributing significantly to global environmental degradation and posing severe health risks. Deficient waste management systems result in over 90% of waste being openly discarded or burned at numerous unregulated dumpsites, particularly in developing nations like India. This research focuses on the active waste dumping site, Bhandewadi Dumpsite in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, aiming to assess soil and groundwater contamination caused by the release of toxic elements into the surrounding region. Various parameters, such as the index of geoaccumulation, contamination factor, potential ecological risk, heavy metal pollution index, and water metal index were employed to evaluate the impact of the dumpsite. Results indicated heavy contamination in soil and groundwater samples, particularly from Bidgoan Road and Pardi, with elevated levels of metals, such as Cr, Ni, and Pb within 2 km radius of Bhandewadi dumpsite, Nagpur (India). The principal component analysis confirmed these locations as highly polluted, emphasizing the influence of leachate migration from the uncontrolled dumpsite. The findings underscore the urgent need to improve waste management strategies at municipal landfills and highlight the importance of policy measures to control environmental pollution and the introduction of scientific methods to curb the migration of metals into the environment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Heavy metal and microbial pollution in groundwater raises health concerns due to its adverse effects. This study aimed to assess the health risks associated with heavy metal and bacterial pollution in groundwater in Mankweng. Heavy metals and Escherichia coli were detected using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometry and a Colilert system, respectively. The heavy metal pollution index (HPI) and non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were computed. The β-Poisson dose-response model was employed to predict the probability of E. coli infection. The metals' concentrations were all within the permissible limits of the South African National Standard (SANS). However, Pb levels at sites E and G exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline (≤0.01 mg/L). HPI values were all less than 100, indicative of low contamination. The hazard quotient values were all less than 1, except for vanadium. The cumulative cancer risk ranged between 3.06 × 10 -5 and 1.81 × 10 -4 and between 3.55 × 10 -5 and 2.20 × 10 -4 for adults and children, respectively. E. coli was only detected at site L. The annual risk of E. coli infection exceeded the WHO risk limit of 10 -4 . The results underscore the need for the regular monitoring of groundwater.

Metal pollution in aquatic environment of coal mines is of serious concern and requires to be dealt with to maintain sustainable mining practices. The spatio-temporal variation in metal pollution of surface water of Talcher coalfield area were determined by using multivariate statistical techniques and pollution indices. A total of 56 water samples were collected and analyzed for Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Co, Se, As, Hg, Cr, Ni, Mn, and Al in pre-monsoon and monsoon season. Spatial distribution maps were prepared so that the quality of surface water could easily be recognized. High values of Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), Degree of Contamination (Dc), and Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI) were observed for 3%, 6%, 0% samples in pre-monsoon and 1%, 6%, 3% samples in monsoon. Sewage Treatment Plants (STP), Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP), and Mine Discharge Treatment Plants (MDTP) were found to have low to moderate efficiency in treating metals. The HPI of streams and rivers were observed to be higher in pre-monsoon than that of the monsoon season possibly due to dilution effect caused by intense rain in monsoon. The HPI of downstream was noted to be higher than the upstream indicating pollution due to mine effluent discharge. The average concentrations of Cd, Se, As, Ni, and Al in pre-monsoon and Fe, Cd, Se, As, Ni, and Al in monsoon exceeded the permissible drinking water limits set by WHO (WHO, Guidelines for drinking-water quality, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2011) and BIS (BIS (2012) Drinking water specifications 2nd revision. Bureau of Indian standards (IS 10500: 2012). New Delhi. ftp://law.resource.org/in/bis/S06/is.10500.2012.pdf). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed significant seasonal variation (p < 0.05) of Fe concentration between pre-monsoon and monsoon. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified major sources of metal pollution in water such as earth's crust and the geological formation of the region, coal mining activities, industrial pollution, vehicular emission and coal burning. Cluster analysis (CA) identified 19 moderately polluted sites, 6 highly polluted sites, 3 very highly polluted sites and 1 severely polluted site in and around the Talcher coalfield area. This study is useful for formulating the metal pollution mitigation plan to enhance the water quality of Talcher coalfield area which affect the aquatic organism as well as the human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium (Cr) is a dangerous industrial pollutant that harms surface water resources and is associated with serious adverse health effects that eventually lead to mortality. In present study Cr concentrations were detected spectrophotometrically by atomic absorption spectrophotometer from October 2018 to October 2020 (in the month of October, January, April, and July) in abiotic (water and sediment) and biotic [plant (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) and fish (Labeo rohita)] components of Yamuna River ecosystem. Samples were collected from Vihar Ghat (Vrindavan), Mathura -- 27.58387, 77.69317 (i.e., M2 site), 100 m upstream (M1 site) and downstream (M3 site) and from Renuka Ghat, Agra -- 27.25190, 77.87535, India (i.e., N2 site), 100 m upstream (N1 site) and downstream (N3 site). Root, stem and leave of studied plant while gill, muscle, liver, and kidney samples of fish were used for determination of Cr toxicity. Results revealed higher concentration of Cr in water throughout the study when compared with permissible limits by WHO and BIS (0.05 mg/L). While sediment sample had the highest metal content with a mean concentration of 51.3 ± 2.34 mg/L in summer 2019. The Heavy Metal Pollution Index for water, sediment, plant and fish samples at Mathura sampling site were shown to be extremely high, that is, 2,555; 31,254; 269 and 2,600 respectively, when compared to the samples from Agra sampling site. The bioconcentration factor in fish tissues was highest in gills (6.4167 in post-monsoon 2018 at Agra), and lowest in kidney (1.0417 in winters 2020 at Mathura). Such studies pave the path for future to establish the highest risk in term of time and components in the river ecosystem for their utility. Besides, such approaches and findings will help policy makers to ensure a safe and sustainable environment in terms of socioeconomics and human health aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Coal mining and ancillary activities have the potential to cause water pollution characterized by acid mine drainage, acid mine leachates, extreme pH conditions and heavy metal contaminations. In the present work, 33 water samples in premonsoon and 34 water samples in monsoon were collected from the surface water bodies of Ib Valley coalfield, India for hydrogeochemical analysis. In premonsoon, pH, TSS, Turbidity, DO, BOD, COD, Magnesium, Cadmium, Selenium, Nickel, Aluminum and in monsoon, pH, TSS, Turbidity, DO, BOD, COD, Iron, Cadmium, Selenium, Nickel and Aluminum were nonconforming to the permissible limit set by the Bureau of Indian Standards, World Health Organisation and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. The average BOD/COD ratio of less than 0.6 in both seasons indicated Ib valley coalfield water was not fairly biodegradable. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that significant seasonal variation (p 0.05) was observed in pH, EC, TDS, DO, BOD, residual chlorine, COD, oil and grease, fluoride, potassium, zinc, copper, selenium, nickel, aluminum, boron, silica, temperature, salinity, cyanide and phenol. Water Quality Index revealed that 39.39% and 35.29% samples belong to poor water quality category in premonsoon and monsoon, respectively. As per Heavy Metal Pollution Index, Degree of Contamination (Cd) and Heavy metal evaluation index, medium degree of pollution were exhibited by 51.52%, 30.30% and 45.45% samples in premonsoon and 20.59%, 35.29% and 26.47% samples in monsoon. Whereas, 5.88%, 2.94% and 5.88% samples were having high degree of pollution in monsoon and 15.15% samples caused high degree of pollution with respect to Cd in premonsoon. However, EC, Na%, PI, SAR and RSC values suggested that the water can be used for irrigation. Water type of the region had been found to be Ca–Mg–Cl–SO4 by Piper diagram.

In the current study, attempts were made to analyze the effect of COVID‐19 lockdown on the heavy metal concentrations in River Gomti through comparison with pre‐COVID‐19 lockdown status. The concentration of all the six heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, and Pb) clearly shows a significant reduction, highlighting the impact of closure of agricultural, industrial, and commercial activities. The values of heavy metal pollution index (HPI) at all sites have also decreased with the maximum improvement at Site S1 (Chandrika Devi), signifying the impact of reduced agricultural runoff into the river from nearby fields. The correlation analysis stated a strong correlation between HPI and Cd, signifying the relatively high weightage of Cd in pollution levels. Findings from the Caboi diagram suggest classification of all water samples under the "near neutral‐low metal" category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dense and industrialized populace in the mining areas of Jharia Coalfield (JCF) is plagued by a severe shortage of water supply. The unutilized pumped out coal minewater discharges may be utilized to cater to the increasing water demand of the region but it runs the risk of getting contaminated from domestic and industrial effluents. The current study aimed to assess the suitability of augmenting underground minewater for potable purposes. For this purpose, ninety underground minewater samples collected from 15 locations across JCF for the hydrological year 2019–2020 were analysed to gain an insight on the physicochemical characteristics of the minewater using an integrated approach of standard hydrochemical methods, integrated water quality index (IWQI), heavy metal pollution index (HPI), and multivariate statistical analysis. For the minewater quality to be deemed suitable for potable purposes, both IWQI (lower than 2) and HPI (lower than 30) values were considered. IWQI values of the minewater samples from the study area ranged from 1.97 to 5.08, while the HPI values ranged from 18.40 to 53.05. The pH of the samples were found to be mildly acidic to alkaline (6.5 to 8.3) with varying total hardness (149 to 719 mg L−1), total dissolved solids (341 to 953 mg L−1), and electrical conductivity (568 to 1389 µS cm−1), reflecting heterogeneity in underlying hydrosystems, variations in geological formations, and the influence of lithogenic and anthropogenic processes on the water chemistry of the region, which was corroborated by the principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of the minewater samples. Two major water types of the region were identified, viz., Ca–Mg–HCO3 and Ca–Mg–Cl–SO4. This multiparametric approach gives a holistically accurate assessment of the minewater quality, overcoming the limitations of traditional water quality indices and facilitating time-saving and effective water management practices, and sets the foundation for augmenting minewater for potable purposes to meet increasing demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, several environmental pollutants have been monitored in surface waters and sediments. However, few studies apply multivariate statistics to identify the main components and correlate them temporally and spatially. In this sense, the present study sought to monitor the quality of water and sediments in the Rio Marrecas/Brazil, through the analysis of physicochemical parameters and trace elements, as well as to identifying sources of contamination, using multivariate statistics. For this purpose, sampling was carried out in nine locations for a period of 12 months. The Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF) technique was used to quantify the 15 elements identified in water and sediment samples. Through multivariate statistical analyses, the most significant elements, their correlations and possible pollutant sources were defined, and the pollution index (HPI) and assessment index (HEI) of heavy metals were applied. The parameters pH and BOD5 do not comply with Brazilian legislation. Based on PCA and Spearman correlation, there was strong evidence of contamination of the water naturally, composed of the elements Ti, V, Mn, Fe, and of anthropogenic origin composed of the elements Ca, Ni, Cu, Zn. These findings provide insights to determine the impacts of heavy metals on human health and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examined the concentration and spatial distribution of heavy metals in groundwater and surface water around the Erdenet ore mining using the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI). The study was carried out in June and September of 2021. In total, 59 water samples were collected randomly from 20 groundwater and 13 surface water sites. We examined 53 heavy metals in the water samples and compared them with water standards including MNS 0900:2018, MNS 4586:1998, and MNS 4943:2015. As the result, we detected 10 out of 53 heavy metals in groundwater and surface water samples. Concentrations of the heavy metals were relatively different between sites. At sites near the mining zone, mean concentrations of Mn (435 µg/L) and Mo (936 µg/L) were above the highest permissible values of the MNS 0900:2018 standard but As (1.30 µg/L) and U (4.65 µg/L) were below the permissible values of the standard. For the groundwater sites, mean concentration of the Sr (1520 µg/L), Cd (0.43 µg/L) and Ni (4.89 µg/L) were below the permissible value of the MNS 0900:2018 standard. 72.2 percent of the total surface water sites were considered at medium to high risks or ecologically risky by the HPI. Hence, we conclude that the Erdenet ore mining area is polluted by heavy metals and further assessment of the environmental status is necessary to evaluate ecological risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Heavy metal pollution in groundwater is a substantial environmental risk for Bangladesh. The Meghna Ghat industrial area in Bangladesh becomes a promising site for installing various industries for few decades. It was necessary to assess the heavy metal level in the groundwater of this area, and current study took the initiative. We collected 20 groundwater samples and tested pH, DO, TDS, EC, turbidity, COD, and DOC as well as four heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, and Ni) to calculate four water quality indices, i.e., water quality index (WQI), degree of contamination (DC), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), and heavy metal pollution index (HPI). Ni was too low to detect by the instrument, whereas the mean concentrations of Cr, Cd, and Pb were 0.07, 0.007, and 0.18 mg/L which exceeded the drinking water standards set by Bangladesh. According to the water quality indices, only 10% samples were good according to WQI; 30% and 15% samples were subjected to low level of pollution considering DC and HEI, respectively. Although according to HPI 35% samples were unsuitable for drinking, rest of the values were very close to characterize as unsuitable. Finally, we proposed two best-fitted models that can represent relationships between the metals and water quality indices. Water quality was comparatively better near the open spaces of the study area. The area needed to be under continuous monitoring for checking further pollution distribution.

The poorly managed effluents from industrial activities in Bangladesh contaminate groundwater aquifer with subsequent health risks as the most of the Bangladeshi people depend on groundwater for their drinking water sources. This study aimed to investigate the contamination level in the groundwater surrounding the Setabganj Sugar Mills Limited, Dinajpur, Bangladesh with special attention on the associated health risk of the dwellers residing around it. Stratified random sampling was adopted to collect 12 water samples from tubewell to identify concentration of heavy metals using atomic absorption spectroscopy. We found metal concentration in groundwater in the order of Mn>Fe>Co>Cu>Pb>Zn>Cr among which mean value of Mn concentration exceeded the drinking water standard while Fe and Pb concentrations in few samples exceeded the standards. Metal Index, Degree of Contamination, Pollution Load Index and Heavy Metal Pollution Index confirmed more groundwater contamination at the vicinity of sugar mill compared with the other samples that taken from far away of sugar mill. Health risk assessment ensures that Infants and children have a great susceptibility to the contaminated groundwater all over the study area while the adults are at high risk only in the sugar mill region. Principal Component Analysis and Factor Analysis reveal that sugar mill contributes largely to groundwater contamination along with other anthropogenic and natural sources. The findings of this study will help the environmental managers and policy makers to understand the potential health risks from the effluent of sugar mills and will knock them to treat it prior to discharge.

This study examines the hydrogeochemical and heavy metal parameters of groundwater in Ojo District to determine its suitability for use, potential sources, and human health implications. Ten groundwater samples were assessed, and hydrogeochemical modelling was performed via the Aquachem software. The chemical ions were in the following order: EC > (107.78-448.65 μS/cm) > TDS (182.02-320.77 mg/l) > TH (46.22-182.45 mg/l) > pH (5.55-6.35); HCO 3 - (64.13-125.82 mg/l) > Na + (36.87-96.49 mg/l) > Ca 2+ (47.65-58.88 mg/l) > SO 4 2- (19.94-53.67) > NO 3 - (15.55-44.25 mg/l) > Cl - (20.43-27.16 mg/l) > Mg 2+ (11.09-16.87 mg/l) and K + (2.55-7.86 mg/l). The concentrations of heavy metals in groundwater were in the range of: Fe (0.11-0.27 mg/l) > Mn (0.003-0.16 mg/l) > Ni (0.05-0.12 mg/l) > Zn (0.003-0.05 mg/l) > Pb (0.001-0.03 mg/l) > As (0.001-0.005 mg/l) > Cr (0.002-0.005 mg/l) > Cd (0.001-0.003 mg/l) and Cu (0.001-0.0002 mg/l), with Pb, Mn, and Ni exceeding their allowable limits. The Schoeller and Gibbs plots revealed that the major mechanisms controlling the aquifer groundwater in Ojo region are geological rock weathering and mineralization, with a minimal influence of saltwater intrusion. The piper trilinear diagram also revealed that none of the cation was dominant while the anions were strongly dominated by HCO 3 - (weak acids). The hydrogeochemical facies which describes the geochemical characteristics of the groundwater were classified into 3 types; "Ca 2+ -Mg + -HCO 3 - (65 %)", "mixing zones (30 %)", and "Na + -K + -Cl - -HCO 3 - (5 %)". The hydrogeochemical modelling revealed that the groundwater is characterized by forward cation exchange, while rock-water interactions (silicate dissolution) were heavily involved in the geochemical processes. The single pollution index showed that Pb, Ni, and Mn contributed significantly to contamination, and the multi-pollution indices showed that the groundwater was slightly-moderately polluted. The integrated groundwater quality index revealed that only 10 % were clean, 50 % were poor or moderately unclean, 30 % were highly unclean, and only 10 % were extremely unclean (unfit for utilization). The water pollution index showed that 70 % of the groundwater was good. The irrigation indices suggest that the groundwater would enhance soil quality and support plant growth. Multivariate analysis revealed that the groundwater is being influenced by geogenic factors and anthropogenic activities. The health risk assessment (Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index) showed that exposure of adults to the investigated groundwaters could result in noncarcinogenic adverse effects. The cancer risk values also exceeded the minimum limit (1.0 x 10 -6 ) and thresholds (1.0 x 10 -4 ) for adults, indicating the carcinogenic potential of the groundwater., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

The water quality indices, health risk, and burden of disease attributable to heavy metals in rural communities of Yazd County, Iran during 2015-2021 were studied. The drinking water quality index (DWQI) based on 27 parameters (including heavy metals) and heavy metal pollution index (HPI) were used for assessing drinking water quality. The health risk and burden of disease from heavy metals in drinking water were estimated in terms of hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), and disability-adjusted life year (DALY). Based on the DWQI scores by community, the drinking water quality in rural communities of Yazd County was characterized as good for 61 %, fair for 25 %, marginal for 2 %, and poor for 12 %. The distribution of the rural communities into the HPI categories was as follows: 43 % for excellent, 36 % for good, 14 % for poor, and 7 % for unsuitable. In about 20 % of the rural communities, the average HI level of heavy metals was higher than the boundary limit of one. The highest average HQ level at the county level was related to arsenic (As) to be 0.44. In all the communities, the total ILCR values of the heavy metals were in the category of significant increased cancer risk (10 -6 to 10 -4 ). At the county level, As and cadmium (Cd) exhibited the two highest cancer risk levels to be 1.96 × 10 -4 and 1.87 × 10 -4 for ILCR, respectively. The DALY rate (per 100,000 people) induced by exposure to the heavy metals via drinking water was 13.9, which was considered relatively high as compared to that of other drinking water pollutants obtained in the previous studies. The drinking water quality improvement through decreasing Cd and As levels below the standard values can drastically reduce the attributable burden of disease and promote the public health in the rural communities., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)