College of Geography and Environmental Science/Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development and Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China; Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for the Middle and Lower Yellow River Regions (Henan University), Ministry of Education/National Demonstration Center for Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
College of Geography and Environmental Science/Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development and Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
Environ Res. 2024 Dec 15;263(Pt 3):120205. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120205. Epub 2024 Oct 21.
Significant quantities of potentially toxic elements have been and are still being discharged into Pakistan's rivers through natural sources and anthropogenic activities. The present study provides a comprehensive study of potentially toxic element contamination in the water and sediment of the Ravi River, Pakistan. The research aims to examine the extent of pollution, its ecological risks, and the potential human health impacts through detailed geospatial analysis and statistical correlation. Water and sediment representative samples were taken and analyzed for potentially toxic elements, including Cobalt (Co), Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), Nickel (Ni), Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), and Manganese (Mn). Various pollution indices, such as the "Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Modified degree of Contamination (mCd), Nemerow comprehensive pollution index (Pt), Contamination factor (CF), Enrichment factor (EF), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI)," were calculated to determine the contamination levels and ecological risks. The results indicated significant spatial variability in metal concentrations, with higher levels observed in industrial and urban areas (near Lahore). Cd and As were identified as the most critical pollutants, exhibiting high Igeo, CF, EF, and PERI values. The PLI revealed that several regions along the river are heavily polluted. Pt shows high comprehensive pollution near Lahore and moderate to high pollution in surrounding areas. According to mCd, most of the study area, especially sampling points near Lahore, ranges between 8 and 16, indicating a high degree of pollution. The Human Health Risk (HHR) assessment, considering ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact pathways, highlighted that children are particularly vulnerable, showing higher Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) values for several metals. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between certain metals, suggesting common sources of contamination, likely from industrial discharges and urban runoff. The comprehensive mapping and statistical analysis underscore the urgent need for implementing effective pollution control measures to mitigate the risks posed by potentially toxic element contamination in the Ravi River. This study provides critical insights for policymakers and environmental managers to prioritize areas for remediation and to develop strategies to protect both ecological and human health in the region.
大量潜在有毒元素通过自然来源和人为活动被排放到巴基斯坦的河流中。本研究对巴基斯坦拉维河的水和沉积物中的潜在有毒元素污染进行了全面研究。该研究旨在通过详细的地理空间分析和统计相关性研究来评估污染程度、生态风险以及潜在的人类健康影响。采集了水和沉积物的代表性样本，并对潜在有毒元素（包括钴（Co）、镉（Cd）、锌（Zn）、镍（Ni）、砷（As）、铬（Cr）、铅（Pb）、铜（Cu）和锰（Mn））进行了分析。利用“地质累积指数（Igeo）”、“修正的污染程度（mCd）”、“内梅罗综合污染指数（Pt）”、“污染因子（CF）”、“富集因子（EF）”、“污染负荷指数（PLI）”和“潜在生态风险指数（PERI）”等多种污染指数来确定污染水平和生态风险。结果表明，金属浓度存在显著的空间变异性，在工业和城市地区（靠近拉合尔）的浓度较高。Cd 和 As 被认为是最关键的污染物，具有较高的 Igeo、CF、EF 和 PERI 值。PLI 表明，河流沿线的几个地区受到严重污染。Pt 显示拉合尔附近的综合污染程度较高，周边地区为中度至高度污染。根据 mCd，研究区的大部分地区，特别是靠近拉合尔的采样点，范围在 8 到 16 之间，表明污染程度很高。考虑到摄入、吸入和皮肤接触途径的人类健康风险（HHR）评估表明，儿童尤其脆弱，几种金属的危害商数（HQ）和危害指数（HI）值较高。相关分析表明，某些金属之间存在显著关系，表明污染可能来自工业排放和城市径流的共同来源。综合制图和统计分析突出表明，迫切需要实施有效的污染控制措施，以减轻拉维河潜在有毒元素污染带来的风险。本研究为决策者和环境管理者提供了重要的见解，以便优先考虑修复区域，并制定保护该地区生态和人类健康的策略。
