Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, 140306, India.
Chemosphere. 2024 Sep;364:142990. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142990. Epub 2024 Jul 31.
This study focusses on ground and surface water resources in the northern parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plains. The study aims to identify potential contaminants, analyse their distribution, trace their origins, and evaluate associated health risk. Samples from 80 locations; groundwater (n = 69) and surface water (n = 11) were analysed for nineteen trace and toxic elements using ICP-MS. Eight elements in groundwater (Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, As, Tl, U and Se) and six in surface water (Al, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, and Tl) exceeded WHO (2011) and BIS (2012) limits in certain areas. The geospatial analysis reveals hotspots of trace and toxic element concentration, with higher levels detected in the southeast and western regions of the study area. Correlation matrices revealed a robust correlation (∼>0.75-0.99, p < 0.01) among all trace and toxic elements (excluding Li, Be, As, Ag, and U) in surface water samples when compared to groundwater samples. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) (explains 70.09 cumulative percent for total 6 of factors) of groundwater chemistry indicates that Zn, Ni and Tl contamination may originate from industrial activities (metallurgical processes and manufacturing). The potential sources of Mn may be both geological and human-induced, while Fe, Se, As and U can originate from specific geological formations or human-related activities like over-extraction and leaching of excess fertilizers into aquifers. For surface water, PCA (explains 92.92 cumulative percent for total 5 of factors) identifies industrial activities as the main source of Mn, Fe, Tl, Ni, and Zn, while Al originates from both geological and anthropogenic sources. The water quality index indicated poor to very poor water quality in the western and central regions, whereas the northern and eastern regions exhibited excellent water quality. Health risk assessment reveals HI values for groundwater water: 3.85 (adults), 7.70 (children); surface water: 1.52 (adults), 3.05 (children), emphasizing the urgent need for remediation measures.
本研究聚焦于印度恒河平原北部的地下水和地表水水资源。研究旨在识别潜在的污染物，分析其分布，追溯其来源，并评估相关的健康风险。从 80 个地点采集地下水（n=69）和地表水（n=11）样本，使用 ICP-MS 分析了 19 种痕量和有毒元素。地下水（Mn、Fe、Ni、Zn、As、Tl、U 和 Se）中的 8 种元素和地表水（Al、Mn、Fe、Ni、Zn 和 Tl）中的 6 种元素在某些地区超过了世卫组织（2011 年）和 BIS（2012 年）的限值。地理空间分析揭示了痕量和有毒元素浓度的热点，研究区东南部和西部的浓度较高。相关矩阵显示，与地下水样本相比，地表水样本中所有痕量和有毒元素（Li、Be、As、Ag 和 U 除外）之间存在较强的相关性（∼>0.75-0.99，p<0.01）。地下水化学的聚类分析和主成分分析（PCA）（解释了总 6 个因素中的 70.09%）表明，Zn、Ni 和 Tl 的污染可能来自工业活动（冶金过程和制造）。Mn 的潜在来源可能既来自地质，也来自人为因素，而 Fe、Se、As 和 U 可能来自特定的地质构造或人类相关活动，如过度开采和过量肥料向含水层的淋滤。对于地表水，PCA（解释了总 5 个因素中的 92.92%）确定工业活动是 Mn、Fe、Tl、Ni 和 Zn 的主要来源，而 Al 则来自地质和人为来源。水质指数表明，西部地区和中部地区的水质较差至很差，而北部和东部地区的水质则很好。健康风险评估显示，地下水的 HI 值为：成人 3.85，儿童 7.70；地表水为：成人 1.52，儿童 3.05，这强调了急需采取补救措施。
