Department of Environmental Engineering, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Apr;30(19):55437-55454. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-26204-0. Epub 2023 Mar 9.
Groundwater contamination studies are important to understand the risks to public health. In this study, groundwater quality, major ion chemistry, sources of contaminants, and related health risks were evaluated for North-West Delhi, India, a region with a rapidly growing urban population. Groundwater samples collected from the study area were analysed for physicochemical parameters - pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, total alkalinity, carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride, nitrate, sulphate, fluoride, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. Investigation of hydrochemical facies revealed that bicarbonate was the dominant anion while magnesium was the dominant cation. Multivariate analysis using principal component analysis and Pearson correlation matrix indicated that major ion chemistry in the aquifer under study is primarily due to mineral dissolution, rock-water interactions and anthropogenic factors. Water quality index values showed that only 20% of the samples were acceptable for drinking. Due to high salinity, 54% of the samples were unfit for irrigation purposes. Nitrate and fluoride concentrations ranged from 0.24 to 380.19 mg/l and 0.05 to 7.90 mg/l, respectively due to fertilizer use, wastewater infiltration and geogenic processes. The health risks from high levels of nitrate and fluoride were calculated for males, females, and children. It was found that health risk from nitrate is more than fluoride in the study region. However, the spatial extent of risk from fluoride is more indicating that more people suffer from fluoride pollution in the study area. The total hazard index for children was found to be more than adults. Continuous monitoring of groundwater and application of remedial measures are recommended to improve the water quality and public health in the region.
地下水污染研究对于了解公共健康风险至关重要。本研究评估了印度西北部德里市的地下水质量、主要离子化学、污染物来源及相关健康风险。该地区城市人口迅速增长。从研究区采集的地下水样本用于分析物理化学参数 - pH 值、电导率、总溶解固体、总硬度、总碱度、碳酸盐、碳酸氢盐、氯化物、硝酸盐、硫酸盐、氟化物、磷酸盐、钙、镁、钠和钾。水化学相调查表明，碳酸氢盐是主要的阴离子，而镁是主要的阳离子。主成分分析和 Pearson 相关矩阵的多元分析表明，研究含水层中的主要离子化学主要归因于矿物溶解、岩石-水相互作用和人为因素。水质指数值表明，只有 20%的样本可接受用于饮用。由于盐分高，54%的样本不适用于灌溉。硝酸盐和氟化物的浓度范围分别为 0.24 至 380.19 毫克/升和 0.05 至 7.90 毫克/升，这是由于肥料使用、废水渗透和地球化学过程造成的。计算了男性、女性和儿童因高浓度硝酸盐和氟化物而面临的健康风险。结果表明，研究区域硝酸盐的健康风险大于氟化物。然而，氟化物风险的空间范围更大，表明研究区域更多人遭受氟污染。儿童的总危害指数被发现高于成年人。建议对地下水进行持续监测并采取补救措施，以改善该地区的水质和公共健康。
