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Heavy metal contamination in soils and stream water in Tungabhadra basin, Karnataka: environmental and health risk assessment

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Abstract

Surface soils and stream water samples were collected from parts of Tungabhadra River basin, Karnataka to assess heavy metal (Cr, Pb, Ni, Co, Cu, Cd and Zn) contamination and effects on the environment and human health. The geo-accumulation index (− 1.79 to 3.7) and ecological risk index (18.74–207.47) indicated negligible to heavy contamination and low to moderate ecological risk. The sequence of non-carcinogenic (NCR) and carcinogenic risk (CR) is ingestion > dermal > inhalation in soils and ingestion > dermal in water samples. The hazard index (HI) in soil and water is < 1, indicating no NCRs for adults and children. However, three soil samples showed HI > 1 for As in children. In water samples, two samples showed HI > 1 for As in adults and about 50% of water samples showed HI > 1 for As in children, which is due to more exposure of children to arsenic contamination as compared to the adults. For adults, total carcinogenic risk (TCR) of Pb was below the recommended limit of 1 × 10–6. The TCR of As and Cr in adults and Pb in children were found within the range of 10−6 < CR ≤ 10−4, indicating lower carcinogenic risk. However, TCR of As and Cr in children were exceeding the threshold limits of 1 × 10–4, indicating significant carcinogenic effects. In water samples, TCR of As and Cd was higher than the threshold limits of 1 × 10–4, indicating significant carcinogenic risk for both adults and children. The study provides the background levels of pollutants in soil and water, which will help to develop regional sediment and water quality guidelines.

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Acknowledgements

The work has been carried out under National Geochemical Mapping (NGCM) programme of Geological Survey of India, State Unit: Andhra Pradesh, SR, Hyderabad during field season programme 2017-18. The authors gratefully acknowledge Director General, Geological Survey of India, Addl. Director General and HOD, Geological Survey of India, Southern Region, Hyderabad and Dy. Director General, State Unit Andhra Pradesh, Southern Region, Hyderabad for providing necessary facilities to carry out the work. The authors are thankful to the officers of Geochemical Lab. GSI SR, Hyderabad for analysis of the water and  soil samples. The authors are also highly indebted to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable scientific comments and suggestions.

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The work has been carried out under Geological Survey of India, Annual Field Season Programme. Not applicable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of India, Regional Headquarters, SR, Hyderabad, 500068, India

    N. A. Bhat

  2. Geological Survey of India, State Unit, Andhra Pradesh, SR, Hyderabad, 500068, India

    P. Ghosh, W. Ahmed, F. Naaz & A. P. Darshinee

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  1. N. A. Bhat
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  2. P. Ghosh
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  3. W. Ahmed
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Contributions

NAB: field work, data compilation, synthesis, conceptualization, methodology, validation, investigation, resources, writing—original draft, PG: supervision, writing, review and editing, visualization. WA: field work, software, validation, data curation, visualization. FN: field work, software, validation, data curation, visualization. APD: field work, software, validation, data curation, visualization.

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Correspondence to N. A. Bhat.

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Bhat, N.A., Ghosh, P., Ahmed, W. et al. Heavy metal contamination in soils and stream water in Tungabhadra basin, Karnataka: environmental and health risk assessment. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 20, 3071–3084 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-022-04040-y

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