Evaluation and health risk assessment of arsenic and potentially toxic elements pollution in groundwater of Majha Belt, Punjab, India

• Published in: Environmental geochemistry and health 2024-06, Vol.46 (6), p.208, Article 208
• Main Authors: Mouttoucomarassamy, Sridharan, Virk, Hardev Singh, Dharmalingam, Senthil Nathan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Arsenic; Arsenic - analysis; Cancer; Carcinogens; Child; Children; Drinking water; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental protection; Evaluation; Geochemistry; Groundwater; Groundwater - chemistry; Groundwater pollution; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Humans; India; Iron; Iron - analysis; Nitrates - analysis; Nuclear energy; Original Paper; Public Health; Risk Assessment; Soil Science & Conservation; Terrestrial Pollution; Toxicity; Trace elements; Uranium; Uranium - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0269-4042; 1573-2983; 1573-2983
• DOI: 10.1007/s10653-024-02002-6

Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) like arsenic, uranium, iron, and nitrate in the groundwater of the Majha Belt (including Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot districts) in Punjab, India were measured to evaluate the health risks associated with its consumption and daily use. The average concentrations of these elements in some locations exceeded the WHO-recommended values. Arsenic and iron toxicity levels were found to be higher in the Amritsar district, while uranium toxicity was more prevalent in Tarn Taran. The Trace Element Evaluation Index suggests that Amritsar is one of the districts most affected by toxic elements. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) guidelines, the HQ values of U, Fe, and nitrate were less than one, indicating that there is no non-carcinogenic health risk for adults and children. However, the hazard quotient (HQ) value for arsenic was greater than one, indicating a higher possibility of health risk due to arsenic in the study area. The total hazard index values of 44.10% of samples were greater than four for arsenic, indicating that people in the Majha Belt are at a very high health risk due to the usage of water for drinking and domestic purposes. The cancer risk assessment values for arsenic in children (5.69E + 0) and adults (4.07E + 0) were higher than the accepted limit of USEPA (10 −4 to 10 −6 ) in the Majha Belt. The average radiological cancer risk values of U for children and adults were 8.68E-07 and 9.45E-06, respectively, which are well below the permissible limit of 1.67 × 10 −4 suggested by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of DAE, India. The results of this study confirm that the residents of the Majha Belt who use contaminated groundwater are at a serious risk of exposure to arsenic in the Amritsar district and uranium in Tarn Taran district.