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Heavy metal pollution in surface water of the Upper Ganga River, India: human health risk assessment

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Abstract

To assess the risk on human health, heavy metal contamination was analysed from surface water in the Upper Ganga river, India. Spatial and seasonal distribution of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr and Pb was evaluated at eight sites during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season of 2017. Average concentration of heavy metals was high, often exceeding the limits prescribed for surface water by Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Based on heavy metal pollution index (HPI), 87% of the river stretch was classified as medium to highly polluted. Simultaneous assessment of the health risk employing chronic daily intake (CDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) indicates that exposure through ingestion and dermal pathways currently poses no serious threat to human health (CDI < 1, HQ < 1). For the two population groups analysed, HQIngestion values for Cr (adults 0.51, child 0.55) and Pb (adult 0.31, child 0.34) were significantly higher as compared with other heavy metals. HIIngestion varied from 0.85 to 1.64 for adult and 0.92 to 1.77 for child group, indicating health risk to both groups with child group being more risk prone from either of the exposure pathways. In addition, HI values revealed an increased risk to health for both groups during the post-monsoon season. Higher hazard index (HI) values (> 1) in the Upper Ganga river indicate an ever-increasing non-carcinogenic risk to the exposed population within the riverine landscape. The study highlights the impact of heavy metals in degrading the water quality of the Upper Ganga river and also advocates immediate attention towards reducing human health risk.

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Acknowledgements

The first author thankfully acknowledges Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India for IP research fellowship.

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  1. University School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, India

    Satish Prasad, Ridhi Saluja, Varun Joshi & J. K. Garg

  2. Wetlands International South Asia, A-25, Defence Colony, New Delhi, India

    Ridhi Saluja

  3. TERI School of Advanced Studies, Vasant Kunj Institutional Area, New Delhi, India

    J. K. Garg

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  1. Satish Prasad
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Prasad, S., Saluja, R., Joshi, V. et al. Heavy metal pollution in surface water of the Upper Ganga River, India: human health risk assessment. Environ Monit Assess 192, 742 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08701-8

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