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Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contamination and their Distribution in Waters Around Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Sites

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Abstract

Oil and natural gas production has been an important economic booster in the recent past. However, unconventional methods have risen environmental health concerns. This study presents preliminary results of heavy metal concentrations in water (surface and groundwater) around oil and natural gas drilling sites in East-West Godavari districts of A.P, India. A total of 36 samples, 24 surface water (SW) and 12 groundwater (GW), were collected to evaluate the distribution of pH, EC, TDS, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Zn, and radiogenic elements (U, Th). Results acquired were treated with principal component analysis (PCA)/factor analysis (FA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and regression coefficient analysis to identify a collective contamination source. Mean concentrations obtained for surface and groundwater were 7.60 and 7.34 for pH, 4048 and 2964 mg/L for TDS, 8.50 and 5.91 µs/cm for EC, 11.5 and 10.7 μg/L for As, 14.6 and 10.8 μg/L for Cr, 0.60 and 0.70 μg/L for Cd, 18.6 and 29.1 μg/L for Cu, 3.00 and 4.20 μg/L for Mo, 19.9 and 24.8 for Ni, 15.2 and 13.4 μg/L for Pb, 4.60 and 3.10 μg/L for Th, 1.00 and 8.30 μg/L for U, and 187 and 348 μg/L for Zn respectively. FA recognized four factors accountable for data structure elucidating 86.23% of the total variance in SW, four factors in GW explaining 91.6%, and permitted to assemble particular parameters based on collective features. As, Cd, Cu, Mo, Pb, and U were linked and well-ordered by diverse origins with related influence from anthropogenic and geogenic sources. This study describes the importance and efficacy of multivariate statistical methods for evaluation and understanding the data to get better evidence about the water quality.

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Acknowledgements

The three anonymous reviewers are profusely thanked for their constructive comments that have significantly improved the scientific quality of the manuscript. The authors are thankful to Dr. V. M. Tiwari, Director, CSIR-NGRI for his permission to publish this paper. This work was supported by the UGC-JRF fellowship, and the MLP-6406-28 (DSS) project funds were utilized to conduct fieldwork. Our sincere thanks are also to Dr. D. Srinivasa Sarma for his continuous support and encouragement. Thanks are also due to Dr. M. Satyanarayanan for extending the HR-ICP-MS analytical facility. This study forms a part of DBM’s doctoral thesis. This is CSIR-NGRI contribution No. NGRI/Lib/2022/Pub-30.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Habsiguda, Hyderabad, 500007, India

    Babu Mallesh Dasari, Keshav Krishna Aradhi & Dasaram Banothu

  2. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India

    Babu Mallesh Dasari & Keshav Krishna Aradhi

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  1. Babu Mallesh Dasari
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  2. Keshav Krishna Aradhi
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Contributions

D. Babu Mallesh: sample collection, preparation and data interpretation. A. Keshav Krishna: sample analysis, data interpretation, and overall monitoring and assisted in drafting and revising the manuscript. B. Dasaram: sample preparation protocols.

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Correspondence to Keshav Krishna Aradhi.

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Highlights

1. The present study was conducted to investigate distribution of heavy metals in water (surface and groundwater).

2. To monitor the quality of the groundwater by applying basic quality testing and the drilling activities in the study area.

3. This study describes the importance and efficacy of multivariate statistical methods for evaluation and understanding the data to get better evidence about the water quality.

4. It would also help in designing a strategy to control the backwater chemicals generated and spread of pollutants in the study environment.

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Dasari, B.M., Aradhi, K.K. & Banothu, D. Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contamination and their Distribution in Waters Around Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Sites. Water Air Soil Pollut 234, 442 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-023-06426-1

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