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Evaluation of irrigation, drinking, and risk indices for water quality parameters of alpine lakes

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Abstract

Alpine lakes are aquatic ecosystems that maintain and regulate water supply for the downstream streams, rivers, and other reservoirs. This study examined the water characteristics of various alpine lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan, Northern Pakistan. For this purpose, water was sampled and investigated for basic parameters, anions, and cations using the multi-parameter analyzers and atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Physicochemical parameters of alpine lakes were noted under the World Health Organization water guidelines, except for fluoride (F−) and turbidity in 4.3% and 36% of samples, respectively. Water quality index (WQI) classified samples (93%) as excellent and good quality (7%). Results showed maximum chronic daily intake values (0.14 ± 0.01 mg/kg-day) for nitrate (NO3−) and hazard quotient (0.80 ± 0.24) for F− in children via water intake from Upper Kachura and Shausar Lakes, respectively. Statistical analyses of Piper and Gibbs’s plots revealed that the water quality is mainly characterized by bedrock geology.

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The data supporting this study's findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Authors sincerely appreciate funding from the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSPD2024R666), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and also technical support of National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan is highly acknowledged.

Funding

Authors sincerely appreciate funding from the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSPD2024R666), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and also the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25130, Pakistan

    Rizwan Ullah, Said Muhammad & Wajid Ali

  2. Department of River Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Brückstra.3a, 39114, Magdeburg, Germany

    Rizwan Ullah

  3. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan

    Sehrish Amin & Sardar Khan

  4. Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia

    Atta Rasool

  5. Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt

    Abd El-Latif Hesham

  6. Department of Geology Sciences, University of Haripur, Haripur, 21120, Pakistan

    Muhammad Umar

  7. Department of Environmental Sciences, Karakoram International University, Gilgit, 15100, Pakistan

    Shaukat Ali

  8. Centre for Planning and Disaster Management, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan

    Shahid Iqbal

  9. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box, 2455, Riyadh - 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Ashfaq Ahmad

Authors
  1. Rizwan Ullah
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  2. Said Muhammad
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Contributions

CRediT author statement Mr. Rizwan Ullah, Mr. Wajid Ali & Ms. Sehrish Amin: Data curation, Writing- Original draft preparation, Dr. Said Muhammad & Dr. Sardar Khan: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing- Reviewing and Editing, Dr. Atta Rasool: Software, Dr. Abd El-Latif Hesham & Dr. Muhammad Umar: Validation, Visualization, Investigation, Dr. Shaukat Ali & Dr. Shahid Iqbal: Field Supervision & sampling collection, Dr. Ashafaq Ahmad Funding, Revision- Reviewing and Editing

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Correspondence to Said Muhammad.

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Ullah, R., Muhammad, S., Ali, W. et al. Evaluation of irrigation, drinking, and risk indices for water quality parameters of alpine lakes. Environ Geochem Health 46, 175 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-024-01950-3

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