Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Prosperity risk assessment by heavy metal contamination on human health and multivariate statistical analysis of groundwater as a drinking source

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The surface and groundwater are the main sources for human consumption, and the groundwater is being used as a supplement where the surface water is not adequate due to insufficient accessibility and contamination. Fast growing population, anthropogenic activities creating serious environmental concerns on the deterioration of groundwater. The quality of drinking water has a significant effect on human health. Contaminated surface and groundwater may be the cause of a number of diseases in 3rd world countries. According to the survey conducted by Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) in 22 districts of Sindh, the weathering of rocks and anthropogenic activities are viewed as principal natural and artificial sources of heavy metals (HM). The aim of this research was to investigate concentration of heavy metal (Co, Cd, Cr, As, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Fe) and the quality of the groundwater of district Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. The research examined the possible health risk of the population triggered by consuming heavy metals (HM). HM concentrations were analyzed by flame air-acetylene atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) using standard burner head with 800 (Perkin Elmer, Singapore). The results were compared with the permissible limit of the WHO, and samples of reference water (Rfw) were collected from a water supply scheme of Hyderabad city. The health risk assessment of hazard quotient (HQ) and chronic daily intake (CDI) was calculated based on the concentration of HM. The CDI values for groundwater Hyderabad rural (GWHR) and groundwater Hyderabad city (GWHC) were higher than the threshold value of 1.00 shown in decreasing order Zn > Fe > Ni > Pb > Mn > Cu > Cd > Cr > Co and Fe > Zn > Cr > Mn > Ni > Co > Pb > Cu, respectively. The HQ values of GWHR and GWHC were found greater than 1.00 in lowering order: Cd > Co > Pb > Cu and Co > Cd > Pb and Cr, respectively. The results of CDI and HQ values were calculated greater than the safe limit 1.00 for multiple metal ions and may be a cause of indicated health risk for the consumers of the district of Hyderabad. This study confirmed that specific methods are required for the incorporated evaluation of the groundwater pollution and affords a systematic foundation for the strategic destiny making plans and complete management for the availability of hygienic water for the habitants of the study area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

The data will be provided on request.

References

  • Abbas, Alkarkhi FM, Ismail N, Mateasa A (2008) Assessment of arsenic and heavy metal contents in cockles (Anadaragranosa) using multivariate statistical techniques. J Hazardous Mater 150:783–789

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agusa T, Kunito T, Fujihara J, Kubota R, Minh TB, Trang PTK, Iwata H, Subramanian A, Viet PH, Tanabe S (2006) Contamination by arsenic and other trace elements in tube-well water and its risk assessment to humans in Hanoi. Vietnam Environ Pollut 139:95e106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2005.04.033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmet D, Fevzi Y, Tuna AL, Nedim O (2006) Heavy metals in water, sediment and tissues of Leuciscuscephalus from a stream in southwestern Turkey. Chemosphere 63:1451–1458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amjad MH, Allah GB, Taj JM, Aftab KA, lM Gul, Y Qipeng (2017) Health risk assessment of trace metals during pre- and post-monsoon seasons in drinking water of Jamshoro, Sindh. I J Sci Eng Res 8(4):1431–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Arain MB, Kazi TG, Baig JE, Jamali MK, Afridi HI, Shah EQ (2009) Determination of Arsenic levels in lake water, sediment, and food stuff from selected area of Sindh, Pakistan: estimation of daily dietary intake. Food Chem Toxicol 47:242–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2008.11.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avino P, Capannesi G, Rosada A (2011) Ultra-trace nutritional and toxicological elements in Rome and Florence drinking waters determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Micro Chem J 97:144–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbee JYJ, Prince TS (1999) Acute respiratory distress syndrome in a welder exposed to metal fumes. Southern Medi J 92:510–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buschmann J, Berg M, Stengel C, Sampson M (2007) Arsenic and manganese contamination of drinking water resources in Cambodia: coincidence of risk areas with low relief topography. Environ Sci Technol 41:2146–2152. https://doi.org/10.1021/es062

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buschmann J, Berg M, Stengel C, Winkel L, Sampson ML, Trang PTK, Viet PH (2008) Contamination of drinking water resources in the Mekong delta flood plains: arsenic and other trace metals pose serious health risks to population. Environ Int 34:756–764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2007.12.025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chanpiwat P, Sthiannopkao S, Kim K, W., (2010) Metal content variation in wastewater and biosludge from Bangkok’s central wastewater treatment plants. Micro Chem J 95:326–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clasen T, Cairneross S, Haller L, Bartram J, Walker D (2007) Cost-effectiveness of water quality intervention for preventing diarrheal disease in developing countries. J of Water and Health 5:599–608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dillingham R, Guerrant R, L (2004) Childhood stunting, measuring and stemming the staggering cost of inadequate water and sanitation. Lancet 363:94–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emsley J (2003) Manganese nature’s building blocks, an A-Z guide to the elements USA, Oxf. Uni. Press, pp. 249–53

  • Escudero LA, Martinez LD, Salonia JA, Gasquez JA (2010) Determination of Zn (II) in natural waters by

  • Frisbie SH, Mitchell EJ, Mastera LJ, Maynard DM, Yusuf AZ, Siddiq MY, Ortega R, Dunn RK, Westerman DS, Bacquart T, Sarkar B (2009) Public health strategies for western Bangladesh that address arsenic, manganese, uranium, and other toxic elements in drinking water. Environ. Health Persp 117, ICP-OES with on-line preconcentration using a simple solid phase extraction system. Micro Chem J 95:164–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Gadgil A (1998) Drinking water developing countries. Annual Review of Energy & Environ 23:253–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gowd SS, Govil PK (2008) Distribution of heavy metals in surface water of Raniput Industrial Area, Tamil, Nadu, India. Environ Moni Assess 136:197–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IARC (1993) Cadmium and cadmium compounds, beryllium, cadmium, mercury and exposure in the glass manufacturing industry, IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks-humans. Lyon 58:119–2378

    Google Scholar 

  • Jain CK, Bandyopadhyay A, Bhadra A (2010) Assessment of grounwater qualityfor drinking purpose, district Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. Environ Monit Assess 166:663–676. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1031-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaiswal RK, Mukherjee S, Krishnamurthy J, Saxena R (2003) Role of remote sensing and GIS techniques for generation of grounwater prospect zones towards rural development–an approach. Int J Remote Sens 24:993–1008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jakariya MD, Vahter M, Rahman M, Wahed MA, Hore SK, Bhattacharya P et al (2007) Screening of arsenic in tube well water with field test kits: evaluation of the method from public health perspective. Sci Total Environ 379:167–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jan FA, Ishaq M, Ihsanullah I, Asim SM (2010) Multivariate statistical analysis of heavy metals pollution in industrial area and its comparison with relatively less polluted area: a case study from the City of Peshawar and district Dir Lower. J Hazard Mater 176:609–616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.11.073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarup L (2003) Hazards of heavy metal contamination. Br Med Bull 68:167–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarup L, Hellstrom L, Alfven T, Carlsson MD, Grubb A, Persson B et al (2000) Low level exposure-cadmium and early kidney damage: The OSCAR study, Occupational. Environ Medicine 57:668–672

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsoyiannis IA, Katsoyiannis AA (2006) Arsenic and other metal contamination of grounwaters in the industrial area of Thessaloniki, northern Greece. Environ Monit Assess 123:393–406. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9204y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan S, Cao Q, Zheng Y, M., Huang, Y, Z., Zhu, (2008) Health risks of heavy metals in contaminated soils and food crops irrigated with wastewater in Beijing China. Environ Pollution 152:686–692

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan A (2014) Grounwater studies for arsenic pollution in indus deltaic aquifers of district Tando Mohammad Khan, Sindh. Pakistan: health-environment hazards and mitigation options (Ph.D. Thesis)

  • Knight C, Kaiser GC, Robothum LH, Witter JV (1997) Heavy metals in surface water and stream sediments in Jamaica. Environ Geochem Health 19:63–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishna AK, Satyanarayanan M, Govil PK (2009) Assessment of heavy metal pollution inwater using multivariate statistical techniques in an industrial area: a case study from Patancheru, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh India. J Hazard Mater 167:366–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.12.131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar M, Ramanathan AL, Keshari AK (2009) Understanding the extent of interactions between grounwater and surface water through major ion chemistry and multivariate statistical techniques. Hydrol. Process 23:297–310. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar M, Rahman MM, Ramanathan AL, Naidu R (2016) Arsenic and other elements in drinking water and dietary components from the middle Gangetic plain of Bihar, India: health risk index. Sci Total Environ 539:125–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.039

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar M, Kumar M, Kumar A, Singh VB, Kumar S, Ramanathan AL, Bhattacharya P (2015) Arsenic distribution and mobilization: a case study of three districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (India). In: Safe and Sustainable Use of Arsenic-contaminated Aquifers in the Gangetic Plain. Springer International Publishing, pp. 111–123

  • Loubieres Y, Lassence AD, Bernier M, Baron AV, Schmitt JMB, Page et al (1999) Acute, fatal, oral chromic acid poisoning. J Clin Toxicol 37:333–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Majidano SA, Arain GM, Bajaj DR, Iqbal P, Khuhawar MY (2010) Assessment of grounwater quality with focus on arsenic contents and consequences. Case study of TandoAllahyarDistrict in Sindh Province. Int J Chem Environ Eng 1(2):91–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Majidano SA, Arain GM, Bajaj DR, Iqbal P, Khuhawar MY (2010) Assessment of grounwater quality with focus on arsenic contents and consequences. Case study of TandoAllahyar District in Sindh Province. Int J Che Env Eng 1(2)

  • Memon M, Soomro M, S., Akhtar, M, S., Memon, K, S., (2011) Drinking water quality assessment, in Southern (Pakistan). Environ Moni and Assessment 177:39–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mirjat MS, Soomro AG, Mirjat KH, Mirjat MU, Chandio AS (2011) 1 Potential of Hill-torrent spate irrigation in the Kohistan areas of Sindh “A Case Study.” Pak J AgricAgrilEng Vet Sci 27(2):100–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortada WI, Sobh MA, El-Defrawy MM, Farahat SE (2001) Study of lead exposure from automobile exhaust as a risk for nephrotoxicity among traffic policemen. Am J Nephrol 21:274–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muhammad S, Shah MT, Khan S (2010) Arsenic health risk assessment in drinking water and source apportionment using multivariate statistical techniques in Kohistan region northern, Pakistan. Food Chem Toxicol 48:2855–2864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muhammad S, Shah MT, Khan S (2011) Health risk assessment of heavy metals and their source apportionment in drinking water of Kohistan region, Northern Pakistan Micro. Chem J 98:334–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Naseem S (2012) Grounwater quality assessment for determining geogenic pollution, contamination and health effects in Thatta-Hyderabad Region, Sindh (Ph.D. thesis unpub.)

  • Nordberg G, Jin T, Bernard A, Fierens S, Buchet J, P, T., Ye, et al (2002) Low bone density and renal dysfunction following environmental cadmium exposure in China. Ambio 31:478–481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nta SA, Ayotamuno MJ, Igoni AH, Okparanma RN, Udom IJ (2020) Application of hazard quotient (HQ) for the assessment of potential health risk of groundwater users around Uyo main dumpsite. Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports, September, 17–23. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajarr/2020/v14i130321

  • Oller AR, Costa M, Oberdörster G (1997) Carcinogenicity assessment of selected nickel compounds. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 143:152–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ouyang Y, Higman J, Thompson J, Toole O, T., Campbell, D., (2002) Characterization and spatial distribution of heavy metals in sediment from Cedar and Ortega Rivers sub-basin. J Contam Hydro 54:19–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) (2010) NRDP on water management of spate irrigation project-Dadu component. Completion report of Spate Project 2005–2010

  • Rabbani U, Mahar GA, Siddique A, Fatmi Z (2016) Risk assessment for arsenic contaminated grounwater along River Indus in Pakistan. Environ Geochem Health 39(1):179–190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-016-9818-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman MM, Dong Z, Naidu R (2015) Concentrations of arsenic and other elements in grounwater of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India: potential cancer risk. Chemosphere 139:54–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.05.051

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rana R, Ganguly R, Gupta AK (2018) Indexing method for assessment of pollution potential of leachate from non-engineered landfill sites and its effect on ground water quality. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 190(1):1–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6417-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robert G, Mari G (2003) Human health effects of metals. US Environmental Protection Agency Risk Assessment Forum, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Seilkop SK, Oller AR (2003) Respiratory cancer risks associated with low-level nickel exposure: An integrated assessment based on animal, epidemiological and mechanistic data. Reg Toxicol Pharmacol 37:173–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shah SMI (2009) Stratigraphy of Pakistan. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Pakistan 22:240

    Google Scholar 

  • Shahab A, Shihua Q, Rashid A, Hasan F, Sohail MT (2016) Evaluation of water quality for drinking and agricultural suitability in the lower Indus Plain in Sindh Province. Pakistan Pol J Environ Stud 25(6):2563–2574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma A, Ganguly R, Kumar Gupta A (2020) Impact assessment of leachate pollution potential on groundwater: an indexing method. J Environ Eng 146(3):1–16. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)ee.1943-7870.0001647

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh AK, Tewary B, Sinha A (2011) Hydrochemistry and quality assessment of grounwater in part of NOIDA metropolitan city. Uttar Pradesh J Geol Soc India 78(523):540. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-011-0124-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soomro A, Qureshi AL, Jamali MA, Ashraf A (2019) Grounwater investigation through vertical electrical sounding at hillyarea from Nooriabad toward Karachi. Acta Geophys 67:247–261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-019-00247-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steenland K, Boffetta P (2000) Lead and cancer in humans: where are we now? American J of Indus Medicine 38:295–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storelli MM, Storelli A, Dddabbo R, Marano C, Bruno R, Marcotrigiano GO (2005) Heavy elements in loggerhead turtles (Carettacaretta) from the eastern Mediterranean Sea, overview and evaluation. Enviro Pollut 135:163–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strachan S (2010) Heavy metal. Current Anesthesia and Critical Care 21:44–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson T, Khan S (2003) Situation analysis and epidemiology of infectious disease transmission, a South Asian regional perspective. Inter J of Environ Health Research 13:S29–S39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyagi SK, Datta PS, Pruthi NK (2009) Hydrochemcial appraisal of grounwater and its suitability in the intensive agricultural area of Muzzaffarnagar District, Uttar Pradesh India. Environ Geol 56:901–912. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1190-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uqaili A.A, Mughal AH, Maheshwari BK (2012) Arsenic contamination in grounwater sources of district Matyari, Sindh. Int J Che Env Eng 3(4)

  • USEPA (2005) Guidelines for carcinogen risk assessment, EPA/630/P-03/001F. Risk Assessment Forum, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatesh T (2004) The effects of environmental lead on human health challenging scenario. Environ Health Focus 2:8–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Wen X, Yang Q, Yan Z, Deng Q (2011) Determination of cadmium and copper in water and food samples by dispersive liquid-liquid micro extraction combined with UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Micro-Chemical J 97:249–254

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2008) Guidelines for drinking water quality, 3rd edn. Recommendations, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2004) Guidelines for drinking water quality, Geneva: World Health Organization 540P

  • Zhou J, Ma D, Pan J, Nie W, Wu K (2008) Application of multivariate statistical approach to identify heavy metal sources in sediment and waters: a case study in Yangzhong, China. Environ Geol 54:373–380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0824-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the assistance of University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan, by offering necessary facilities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dr. M.A. Kazi Institute of Chemistry, University of Sindh, Sindh, Pakistan

    Laeeq Ahmed Khan Khokhar & Zahid Ali Zounr

  2. Institute of Advanced Research Studies in Chemical Sciences (IARSCS)/(HTCRL), University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

    Laeeq Ahmed Khan Khokhar, Muhammad Yar Khuhawar, Taj Muhammad Jahangir, Faiz Muhammad Khokhar, Mazhar Iqbal Khaskheli & Muhammad FarooqueLajwani

  3. Pakistan Council Research in Water, Karachi, Pakistan

    Ghulam Murtaza Arain

  4. Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, Khairpur, Pakistan

    Shaishta Khan

  5. Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities Dawood University of Engineering and Technology Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

    Muhammad Ilyas Abro

  6. School of Hydrology and Water Resources, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Muhammad Ilyas Abro

Authors
  1. Laeeq Ahmed Khan Khokhar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Muhammad Yar Khuhawar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Taj Muhammad Jahangir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ghulam Murtaza Arain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Faiz Muhammad Khokhar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mazhar Iqbal Khaskheli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Shaishta Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Muhammad FarooqueLajwani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Muhammad Ilyas Abro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Zahid Ali Zounr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Laeeq Ahmed Khan Khokhar or Muhammad Ilyas Abro.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Broder J. Merkel

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Khokhar, L.A.K., Khuhawar, M.Y., Jahangir, T.M. et al. Prosperity risk assessment by heavy metal contamination on human health and multivariate statistical analysis of groundwater as a drinking source. Arab J Geosci 16, 136 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11215-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11215-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation