Geology, Remote Sensing, and GIS, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, 500007, Telangana, India.
Department of Geology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, 530 003, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jul;29(32):49070-49091. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-18967-9. Epub 2022 Feb 25.
Evaluation of groundwater quality and related health hazards is a prerequisite for taking preventive measures. The rural region of Telangana, India, has been selected for the present study to assess the sources and origins of inferior groundwater quality and to understand the human health risk zones for adults and children due to the consumption of nitrate ([Formula: see text])- and fluoride (F)-contaminated groundwater for drinking purposes. Groundwater samples collected from the study region were determined for various chemical parameters. Groundwater quality was dominated by Na and [Formula: see text] ions. Piper's diagram and bivariate plots indicated the carbonate water type and silicate weathering as a main factor and man-made contamination as a secondary factor controlling groundwater chemistry; hence, the groundwater quality in the study region is low. According to the Groundwater Quality Index (GQI) classification, 48.3% and 51.7% of the total study region are excellent (GQI: < 50) and good (GQI: 50 to 100) water quality types, respectively, for drinking purposes. However, [Formula: see text] ranged from 0.04 to 585 mg/L, exceeding the drinking water quality limit of 45 mg/L in 34% of the groundwater samples due to the effects of nitrogen fertilizers. This was supported by the relationship of [Formula: see text] with TDS, Na, and Cl. The F content was from 0.22 to 5.41 mg/L, which exceeds the standard drinking water quality limit of 1.5 mg/L in 25% of the groundwater samples. The relationship of F with pH, Ca, Na, and [Formula: see text] supports the weathering and dissolution of fluoride-rich minerals for high F content in groundwater. They were further supported by a principal component analysis. The Health Risk Index (HRI) values ranged from 0.20 to 20.10 and 0.36 to 30.90 with a mean of 2.82 and 4.34 for adults and children, respectively. The mean intensity of HRI (> 1.0) was 1.37 times higher in children (5.70) than in adults (4.16) due to the differences in weight size and exposure time. With an acceptable limit of more than 1.0, the study divided the region into Northern Safe Health Zone (33.3% for adults and 28.1% for children) and Southern Unsafe Health Zone (66.7% for adults and 71.9% for children) based on the intensity of agricultural activity. Therefore, effective strategic measures such as safe drinking water, denitrification, defluoridation, rainwater harvesting techniques, sanitary facilities, and chemical fertilizer restrictions are recommended to improve human health and protect groundwater resources.
地下水质量评估及相关健康危害的研究是采取预防措施的前提。本研究选择印度特伦甘纳邦的农村地区，评估地下水质量较差的来源和成因，以及了解由于饮用硝酸盐 ([Formula: see text]) 和氟化物 (F) 污染地下水对成人和儿童的人类健康风险区。从研究区域采集地下水样本并测定各种化学参数。地下水质量主要受 Na 和 [Formula: see text] 离子控制。Piper 图和二元图表明，碳酸盐水类型和硅酸盐风化是控制地下水化学的主要因素，人为污染是次要因素；因此，研究区域的地下水质量较差。根据地下水质量指数 (GQI) 分类，总研究区域的 48.3%和 51.7%分别为优质（GQI：<50）和良好（GQI：50 至 100）的饮用水水质类型。然而，[Formula: see text] 含量在 0.04 至 585mg/L 之间变化，由于氮肥的影响，有 34%的地下水样本超过了 45mg/L 的饮用水质量限值。这一结果得到了 [Formula: see text] 与 TDS、Na 和 Cl 的关系的支持。F 含量在 0.22 至 5.41mg/L 之间变化，有 25%的地下水样本超过了 1.5mg/L 的标准饮用水质量限值。F 与 pH、Ca、Na 和 [Formula: see text] 的关系支持了富含氟化物的矿物风化和溶解作用，这是导致地下水中高氟含量的原因。主成分分析进一步支持了这一结果。健康风险指数 (HRI) 值在 0.20 至 20.10 和 0.36 至 30.90 之间变化，成人和儿童的平均值分别为 2.82 和 4.34。由于体重和暴露时间的差异，儿童的 HRI 均值（>1.0）（5.70）比成人（4.16）高 1.37 倍，其均值强度（>1.0）更高。研究根据农业活动强度，将区域分为北方安全健康区（成人 33.3%，儿童 28.1%）和南方不安全健康区（成人 66.7%，儿童 71.9%），超过可接受限值 1.0。因此，建议采取有效的战略措施，如提供安全饮用水、脱氮、除氟、雨水收集技术、卫生设施和限制使用化肥，以改善人类健康并保护地下水资源。
