Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The state of toxicity and cause of elevated Iron and Manganese concentrations in surface water and groundwater around Naga Thrust of Assam-Arakan basin, Northeastern India

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An alarming situation of exceedingly high Fe and Mn concentrations in both surface water and groundwater has been identified in a tectonically active region located in Assam-Arakan basin of northeast India. Cross plots, Pearson correlation, principal component analysis and flow net methods were applied to elucidate the present state and possible sources of Fe and Mn contamination. Out of 32 water samples collected for the study, all of them found exceeding 28 times more for Fe and 136 times more for Mn than EPA limit. Correlation and cross plots of pH, TDS, EC, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn suggest the reduction of both Fe-hydroxides and Mn-oxides in redox condition into dissolve states leading to Fe and Mn elevations in groundwater. Principal component analysis exhibits three PC factors in which PC1 and PC3 reflected oxidized condition and PC2 reflected reducing environment that controlled Fe and Mn concentrations. The study also revealed that source of high Fe and Mn contaminations was controlled by groundwater flows. Water table contour flow net suggests that the Chathe river acts as influent stream and supplies elevated Fe and Mn water into the shallow aquifers. Baseflow from the discharge areas into low lying areas causes accretion of Fe and Mn in pond, oxbow lake, backswamp and shallow aquifers.

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

References

  • Adams S, Titus R, Pietersen K, Tredoux G, Harris C (2001) Hydrochemical characteristics of aquifers near Sutherland in the Western Karoo, South Africa. J Hydrol 241:91–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alam S, Kodama R, Akiha F, Kamei S, Kawai S (2006) All eviation of manganese phytotoxicity in barley with calcium. J Plant Nutrit 29:59–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • APHA (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water, American Health Public Association, WWA, 21st edn. Washington, DC

  • Ashley RP, Lloyd JW (1978) An example of the use of factor analysis and cluster analysis in groundwater chemistry interpretation. J Hydrol 39:355–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhandari LL, Fuloria R, Sastry VV (1973) Stratigraphy of Assam valley, India. Am Assoc Petrol Geol Bull 57:642–652

    Google Scholar 

  • Borah KK, Bhuyan B, Sarma HP (2009) Lead, Arsenic, fluoride, and iron contamination of drinking water in the tea garden belt of Darrang district, Assam, India. Environ Monit Assess 169:347–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouchard M, Laforest F, Vandelac L, Bellinger D, Mergler D (2007) Hair manganese and hyperactive behaviors: pilot study of school age children exposed through tap water. Environ Health Perspect 115:122–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouchard MF, Sauve S, Barbeau B, Legrand M, Brodeur ME, Bouffard T, Limoges E, Bellinger DC, Mergler D (2011) Intellectual impairment in school-age children exposed to manganese from drinking water. Environ Health Perspect 119:138–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown CJ, Walter DA, Colabufo S (1999) Fe in the aquifer system of Suffolk County, New York. US Geol Surv Wat Resour Invest Rep. 10:99–4126

    Google Scholar 

  • Buragohain M, Bhuyan B, Sarma HP (2010) Seasonal variations of lead, arsenic, cadmium and aluminium contamination of groundwater in Dhemaji district, Assam, India. Envion Monit Assess 170:345–351

    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 41:2146–2156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chakrabarty S, Sarma HP (2011) Heavy metal contamination of drinking water in Kamrup district, Assam, India. Environ Monit Assess 179:479–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapelle FH (2000) The significance of microbial processes in hydrogeology and geochemistry. Hydrogeol J 8:41–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen K, Jiao JJ, Huang J, Huang R (2007) Multivariat statistical evaluation of trace elements in groundwater in a coastal area in Shenzen, China. Environ Pollu 147:771–780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corps EV (1949) Digboi oil field, Assam. AAPG Bull 33:1–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis SN, Dewiest RJM (1966) Hydrogeology. Wiley, New york p 463

  • Dawdy DR, Feth JH (1967) Application of factor analysis in study of chemistry of groundwater quality, Mojaveriver Valley California. Water Resour Res 3:505–510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edmunds WM, Kinniburgh DG, Moss PD (1992) Trace metals in interstitial waters from sandstones: acidic inputs to shallow groundwaters. Environ Pollut 77:129–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Environmental Protection Agency, USA (EPA) (2006) Ground water and drinking water: current drinking water standards. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.html. Accessed 24 Feb 2015

  • Farnham IM, Johannesson KH, Sing AK, Hodge VF, Stetzenbach KJ (2003) Factor analytical approaches for evaluating groundwater trace elements chemistry data. Anal Chim Acta 490:123–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilkes RJ, McKenzie RM (1988) Geochemistry of manganese in soils. In: Graham RD, Hannam RJ, Uren NC (eds) Manganese in soils and plants. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 23–35

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hafeman D, Litvak P, Cheng Z, van Geen A, Ahsan H (2007) Association between manganese exposure through drinking water and infant mortality in Bangladesh. Environ Health Perspect 115:1107–1112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haloi N, Sarma HP (2012) Heavy metal contaminations in the groundwater of Brahmaputra flood plain: an assessment of water quality in Barpeta District, Assam (India). Environ Monit Assess 184:6229–6237. doi:10.1007/s10661-011-2415-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handique GK, Bharali B (1981) Temperature distribution and its relation to hydrocarbon accumulation in upper Assam Valley, India. AAPG Bulletin 65:1633–1641

    Google Scholar 

  • Hem JD (1989) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water, USGS Water Supply Paper 2254,263

  • Horsley SB, Long RP, Bailey SW, Hallett RA, Hall TJ (2000) Factors associated with the decline disease of sugar maple on the Allegheny Plateau. Can J For Res 30:1365–1378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaiswal (2009) Seismic imaging of the Naga Thrust using multiscale waveform inversion. Geophysics 74:129–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenne EA (1968) Controls on Mn, Fe Co, Ni, Cu and Zn concentrations in soils and waters: the significant role of hydrous Mn and Fe oxides. Am Chem Soc 337–387

  • Kent WN, Hickman RG, Dasgupta U (2002) Application of a ramp/flat fault model to interpretation of the Naga thrust and possible implications for petroleum exploration along the Naga thrust front. AAPG Bull 86:2023–2045

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan S, Qureshi MA, Singh JB (1996) Studies on the mobility of heavy metals in soil. Indian J Environ Health 38:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Kogelmann WJ, Sharpe ES (2006) Soil acidity and manganese in declining and nondeclining sugar maple stands in Pennsylvania. J Environ Qual 35:433–441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kondakis XG, Makris N, Leotsinidis M, Prino M, Papapetropoulos T (1989) Possible health effects of high manganese concentration in drinking water. Arch Environ Health 44:175–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kraft GS, Stites W, Mechenich DJ (1999) Impacts of irrigated vegetable agriculture on a humid north–Central US, Sand plain aquifer. Groundwater 37:572–580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishna Rao VV, Parasad KL (1982) Exploration in the “schuppen belt” of Nagaland. Bull Oil Natural Gas Comm 19:213–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Kshetrimayum KS (2015) Hydrochemical evaluation of shallow groundwater aquifers: a case study from a semiarid Himalayan foothill river basin, northwest India. Environ Earth Sci 74:7187–7200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liap Z (1992) Environmental chemistry of trace elements and their biological effect. Chinese Environmental Science Press, Beijing, p 320

    Google Scholar 

  • Ljung K, Vahter M (2007) Time to re-evaluate the guideline value for manganese in drinking water? Environ. Health Perspect 15:1533–1538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lovley DR (1997) Microbial Fe(III) reduction in subsurface environments. Microbiol Rev 30:305–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovley DR, Phillips EJP (1988) Novel mode of microbial energy metabolism: organic carbon oxidation coupled to dissimilatory reduction of iron or manganese. Appl Environ Microbiol 54:1472–1480

    Google Scholar 

  • Manceau A, Gorshkov AI, Drits VA (1992) Structural chemistry of Mn, Fe Co, and Ni in manganese hydrous oxides: part II. Information from EXAFS spectroscopy and electron and X-ray diffraction. Am Mineral 77:1144–1157

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathur LP and Evans P (1964) Oil in India: 22nd Session International Geological Congress Proceedings, pp. 7–52

  • McArthur JM, Banerjee DM, Hudson-Edwards KA, Mishra R, Purohit R, Ravenscroft P, Cronin A, Howarth RJ, Chatterjee A, Talukder T, Lowry D, Houghton S, Chadha DK (2004) Natural organic matter in sedimentary basins and its relation arsenic in anoxic ground water: the example of West Bengal and its worldwide implications. Appl Geochem 19:1255–1293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McArthur JM, Sikdar PK, Nath B, Grassineau N, Marshall JD, Banerjee DM (2012) Sedimentological control on Mn, and other trace elements, in groundwater of the Bengal delta. Environ Sci Technol 46:669–676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mladenov N, Zheng Y, Miller MP, Nemergut D, Legg T, Simone B, Hageman C, Moshiurrahaman M, Ahmed KM, McNight D (2010) Dissolved organic matter sources and consequences for iron and arsenic mobilization in Bangladesh aquifers. Environ Sci Technol 44:123–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers CR, Nealson KH (1988) Bacterial manganese reduction and growth with manganese oxide as the sole electron acceptor. Science 240:1319–1321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nealson KH (1997) Sediment bacteria: who’s there, what are they doing, and what’s new? An Rev Earth Planet Sci 25:403–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nealson KH, Myers CR (1992) Microbial reduction of manganese and iron: new approaches to carbon cycling. Appl Environ Microbiol 58:439–443

    Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu JO, Pacyna JM (1988) Quantitative assessment of worldwide contamination of air, water and soils by trace metals. Nature 333:134–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pawar NJ, Nikumbh JD (1999) Trace element geochemistry of groundwater from Behedi Basin, Nasik district, Maharashtra. J Geol Soc India 54:501–514

    Google Scholar 

  • Post JE (1999) Manganese oxide minerals: crystal structures and economic and environmental significance. Proc Natl Acad Sci 96:3447–3454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Postma D (1985) Concentration of Mn and separation from Fe in sediments—I. Kinetics and stoichiometry of the reaction between birnessite and dissolved Fe(II) at 10 °C. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 49:1023–1033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Postma D, Appelo CAJ (2000) Reduction of Mn-oxides by ferrous iron in a flow system: column experiment and reactive transport modeling. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 64:1237–1247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raju SV, Mathur N (1995) Petroleum geochemistry of a part of upper Assam basin, India: a brief overview. Org Geoch 23:55–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ravenscroft P, McArthur JM, Hoque B (2001) Geochemical and palaeohydrological controls on pollution of groundwater by arsenic. In: Chappell WR, Abernathy CO, Calderon R (eds) Arsenic exposure and health effects IV. Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford, pp 53–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Romic M, Romic D (2003) Heavy metals distribution in agricultural topsoils in urban area. Environ Geol 43:795–805

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowland HAL, Polya DA, Lloyd JR (2006) Characterisation of organic matter in a shallow, reducing, arsenic-rich aquifer, West Bengal. Org Geochem 37:1101–1114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saikia MM, Dutta TK (1980) Depositional environment of source beds of high-wax oils in Assam basin, India. AAPG Bull 64:427–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders CJ, Santos IR, Barcellos R, Filho EVS (2012) Elevated concentrations of dissolve Ba, Fe and Mn in a mangrove subterranean estuary: consequence of seal level rise? Cont Shelf Res 43:86–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schot PP, Van der Wal J (1992) Human impact on regional groundwater composition through intervention in natural flow patterns and changes in land use. J Hydrol 134:297–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spangler AH, Spangler JG (2009) Groundwater manganese and infant mortality rate by county in North Carolina: an ecological analysis. EcoHealth 6:596–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow LA, Uren NC (1987) The role of manganese toxicity in crop yellowing on seasonally waterlogged and strongly acidic soils in northeastern Victoria. Aust J Exp Agric 27:303–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stumm W, Morgan JJ (1981) Aquatic chemistry: an introduction emphasizing chemical equilibria in natural waters. Wiley, New York, p 554

    Google Scholar 

  • Suarez DL, Langmuir D (1976) Heavy metal relationships in a Pennsylvania soil. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 40:589–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subba Rao N (1993) Environmental impact of industrial effluents in groundwater regime of Visakhapatnam industrial complex. Indian J Geol 65:35

    Google Scholar 

  • Subba Rao N, Madhusudhana Reddy P (2006) Monitoring the groundwater quality in an urban area: an environmental impact assessment and management. J Appl Geochem 8:37–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Tariq SR, Shah MH, Shaheen N, Khalique A, Manzoor S, Jaffar M (2006) Multivariate analysis of trace metal levels in tannery effluents in relation to soil and water: a case study from Peshawar, Pakistan. J Environ Manag 79:20–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Usunoff EJ, Guzman-Guzman A (1989) Multivariate analysis in hydrochemistry: an example of the use of factor and correspondence analysis. Ground Water 27:27–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wasserman GA, Liu X, Parvez F, Ahsan H, Levy D, Litvak PF, Kline J, van Geen A, Slavkovich V, LoIacono NJ, Cheng Z, Zheng Y, Graziano JH (2006) Water manganese exposure and children’s intellectual function in Araihazar, Bangladesh. Environ Health Perspect 114:12–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Wasserman GA, Liu X, Parvez F, Litvak PF, Ahsand H, Levy D, Kline J, van Geen A, Mey J, Slavkovich V, Siddique AB, Islam T, Graziano JH (2011) Arsenic and manganese exposure and children’s intellectual function. Neurotoxicology 32:450–457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weng HX, Qin YC, Chen XH (2007) Elevated iron and manganese concentrations in groundwater derived from the Holocene transgression in the Hang-Jia-Hu Plain, China. Hydrogeol J 15:715–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2005) Nutrients in drinking water, World Health Organisation Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. ISBN 9241593989

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Prof N. Pandey, Department of Earth Science, Assam University for sharing his knowledge on geology of NE India. The authors are thankful to the anonymous reviewers for suggestions to improve the understanding of the present manuscript. One of the authors Miss Heizule Hegeu acknowledges Union Grant Commission for providing junior research fellowship Grant to conduct the present study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Science, Assam University, Silchar, 788011, India

    K. S. Kshetrimayum & Heizule Hegeu

Authors
  1. K. S. Kshetrimayum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Heizule Hegeu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. S. Kshetrimayum.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kshetrimayum, K.S., Hegeu, H. The state of toxicity and cause of elevated Iron and Manganese concentrations in surface water and groundwater around Naga Thrust of Assam-Arakan basin, Northeastern India. Environ Earth Sci 75, 604 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5372-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5372-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation