Assessment of groundwater quality and potential health risks related to heavy metals in a peri-urban area of a developing country.

Little information was available on the general groundwater quality of Bangladesh's Ishwardi Upazila (peri-urban area). In the current study, 35 groundwater samples were collected from randomly chosen deep tube wells to determine the general quality of groundwater by water quality indices and whether it is fit for human consumption. Estimating pH, EC, TDS, and the concentrations of HCO, Cl, Fe, Mn, As, NO, PO, Zn, and Cu were used to assess groundwater quality. Using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), the Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and As concentrations were determined. HCO-, Fe, and Mn concentrations exceeded Bangladesh drinking water standards (BDWS) for drinking requirements in 100%, 23%, and 54% of samples, respectively. According to the water quality indicator, over 83% of the groundwater samples in the study area are unfit for human consumption. The hazard index (HI) and hazard quotient (HQ) have also been used to measure non-carcinogenic health concerns associated with groundwater drinking. By oral intake, people may be exposed to intolerable non-carcinogenic health risks in the peri-urban region (approximately 91% of samples exceeded the allowable level of HI). Additionally, residents may be at unfavorable risk for cancer due to arsenic (approximately 97% of water samples had levels of As above the permissible limits). Multivariate statistical analyses such as cluster and principal component analysis indicated that inappropriate waste disposal, industrial discharges from the Ishwardi export processing zone (EPZ), and agricultural runoff were potential sources of contaminants in groundwater. The study findings provide information to policymakers addressing groundwater pollution in the peri-urban area of Bangladesh to ensure sound health and socio-economic development of the study area in Bangladesh.