A comprehensive study on aquatic chemistry, health risk and remediation techniques of cadmium in groundwater

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2022-04, Vol.818, p.151784-151784, Article 151784
• Main Authors: Monika Mahajan, Gupta, Pankaj Kumar, Singh, Anita, Vaish, Barkha, Singh, Pooja, Kothari, Richa, Singh, Rajeev Pratap
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assessment; Cadmium; Cadmium - analysis; Environmental Monitoring; Groundwater; Health risk; Humans; India; Management techniques; Nigeria; Remediation; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151784

Cadmium (Cd), a non-essential trace element, it's intrusion in groundwater has ubiquitous implications on the environment and human health. This review is an approach to comprehensively emphasize on i) chemistry and occurrence of Cd in groundwater and its concomitant response on human health ii) sustainable Cd remediation techniques, iii) and associated costs. Current study is depending on meta-analysis of Cd contaminations in groundwater and discusses its distributions around the globe. Literature review primarily comprises from the last three decades online electronic published database, which mainly includes i) research literatures, ii) government reports. On the basis of meta-data, it was concluded that Cd mobility depends on multiple factors: such as pH, redox state, and ionic strength, dissolved organic (DOC) and inorganic carbon (DIC). A substantially high Cd concentration has been reported in Lagos, Nigeria (0.130 mg/L). In India, groundwater is continuing to be contaminated by Cd in the proximity of industrial, agricultural areas, high concentrations (>8.20 mg/L) were reported in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Depending on chemical behavior and ionic radius cadmium disseminate into the food chain and ultimately cause health hazard that can be measured by various index-based assessment tools. Instead of chemical adsorbents, nanoparticles, phytoextraction, and bioremediation techniques can be very useful in the remediation and management of Cd polluted groundwater at a low-cost. For Cd pollution, the development of a comprehensive framework that links the hydro-geological, bio-geochemical processes to public health is important and need to be further studied. [Display omitted] •Elevated concentration of Cd in groundwater is an alarming state.•pH, the redox state, ionic strengths, DOC, and DIC are important for Cd mobility.•Specific chemical behavior and ionic radius makes Cd more hazardous for human.•Adsorption process is the most effective in remediation of Cd polluted groundwater.