Abstract
In the current study, 62 groundwater samples were collected (31 each in premonsoon and postmonsoon seasons) and analyzed for various physicochemical parameters and trace metals in the Trans-Varuna region, Uttar Pradesh. From the cationic fields of piper chart, it is viewed that 78% and 81% samples in premonsoon and postmonsoon, respectively, fall in no dominance type, while all the samples in postmonsoon and 97% samples in premonsoon fall in bicarbonate type in anionic facies. The Ca/Mg ratio with an average of 1.44 and 1.15 in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon correspondingly points out that carbonate dissolution is the leading cause of Ca in the Trans-Varuna region. A plot between [(Na + K) − Cl] and [(Ca + Mg) − (HCO3 − SO4)] suggests that ion exchange also add ions in the groundwater. According to the Gibbs plot, the hydrogeochemistry of samples signifies that most of the samples are from rock dominance. Saturation indices point out that the groundwater of the Trans-Varuna region is saturated with chalcedony, goethite, hematite, and quartz and undersaturated with reference to anhydrite, aragonite, gypsum, halite, and fluorite. 36% sample in premonsoon and 52% samples in postmonsoon shows high NO3 concentration which is above the WHO standard for drinking purpose. In terms of Fe, 74% of samples are beyond the permissible limit of WHO. Various indices to estimate the aptness of groundwater for agricultural function indicate that most of the samples in both the seasons are safe of farming uses. Chronic daily intake values show that infants and children of the investigative region are very vulnerable to nitrate contamination. Target health quotient of heavy metals was established in the sequence of Pb > Zn > Mn > Fe > Ni > Cu.
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Acknowledgements
The first author (SM) is thankful to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for financial assistance under the UGC NET-JRF Fellowship program (2012-’17). NJR is profoundly grateful UGC for financial support under SAP-DSA II program and 21st century Indo-US Research initiative 2014 of JNU and MSU (clean energy& water research) and also for DST for purse grant and UPOE (ID-170) funds under “Holistic Development program”. SM is grateful to Mr. Umakant and Mr. Ganesh Datt Mishra for their help during the field work and sampling campaign.
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Madhav, S., Raju, N.J. & Ahamad, A. A study of hydrogeochemical processes using integrated geochemical and multivariate statistical methods and health risk assessment of groundwater in Trans-Varuna region, Uttar Pradesh. Environ Dev Sustain 23, 7480–7508 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00928-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00928-2