Afzal Iqra, Begum Shaheen, Iram Shazia, Shabbir Rabia, Shahat Abdelaaty A, Javed Tehseen
Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, 46000, Pakistan.
Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sci Rep. 2024 Dec 27;14(1):30639. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-82138-8.
Heavy metal contamination of drinking water, primarily driven by industrial activities, represents a critical challenge, with implications for human health and environmental safety. Gujranwala is an industrial and thickly populated city. The current study aimed to assess and compare heavy metal contamination levels in drinking water from five industrial areas and evaluate their potential impacts on human health. Total 100 water samples were collected and analysed for physicochemical parameters and heavy metals. Zonal variations in heavy metal concentrations revealed that Zone 2 had the highest mean levels of cadmium (0.331 mg/L), lead (0.573 mg/L), chromium (0.164 mg/L), arsenic (0.042 mg/L), and aluminium (0.484 mg/L), while Zone 4 showed elevated mean levels of iron (1.88 mg/L) and mercury (0.259 mg/L). Spearman correlation analysis among heavy metals revealed positive relationships among several heavy metals with As notably showing a strong correlation with Hg (0.701**). Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant spatial variation (p < 0.05) in parameters like pH, EC, TDS, and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Fe, Cu, Mn, Al), indicating spatial heterogeneity across zones. Spatial distribution maps also depicted heavy metal elevated concentrations of Cd, Pb, Fe, Cr, As, and Hg exceeding in Zone 2 (Engineering industries zone) and 4 (Iron and steel industries zone). The findings revealed a strong link between elevated heavy metal levels and health risks, including dermatological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological disorders. This study highlights the need for stricter wastewater management, regular monitoring of drinking water, and policies to address water toxicity in industrial premises and to protect public health.
主要由工业活动导致的饮用水重金属污染是一项严峻挑战，对人类健康和环境安全都有影响。古吉兰瓦拉是一个工业城市且人口密集。本研究旨在评估和比较五个工业区饮用水中的重金属污染水平，并评估其对人类健康的潜在影响。共采集了100份水样，分析其理化参数和重金属含量。重金属浓度的区域差异显示，2区镉（0.331毫克/升）、铅（0.573毫克/升）、铬（0.164毫克/升）、砷（0.042毫克/升）和铝（0.484毫克/升）的平均含量最高，而4区铁（1.88毫克/升）和汞（0.259毫克/升）的平均含量较高。重金属之间的斯皮尔曼相关性分析显示，几种重金属之间呈正相关，其中砷与汞的相关性尤为显著（0.701**）。克鲁斯卡尔 - 沃利斯检验显示，pH值、电导率、总溶解固体以及重金属（镉、铅、铁、铜、锰、铝）等参数存在显著的空间差异（p < 0.05），表明各区域存在空间异质性。空间分布图还显示，2区（工程工业区）和4区（钢铁工业区）的镉、铅、铁、铬、砷和汞等重金属浓度升高。研究结果表明，重金属含量升高与健康风险之间存在紧密联系，包括皮肤病、呼吸系统疾病、胃肠道疾病和神经系统疾病。本研究强调需要更严格的废水管理、定期监测饮用水，以及制定政策来解决工业场所的水毒性问题并保护公众健康。
