Surface Water Quality: A Statistical Perspective on the Efficacy of Environmental and Human Health Assessment Tools

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2024-03, Vol.235 (3), p.205-205, Article 205
• Main Authors: Izah, Sylvester Chibueze, Stanley, Herbert Okechukwu, Richard, Glory, Sawyer, Wisdom Ebiye, Uwaeme, Onyebuchi Remy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: absorption; air; Analysis; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Cadmium; Carbonates; carcinogenicity; Carcinogens; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Correlation analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Effectiveness; Environment; Evaluation; hazard ratio; health effects assessments; Health risk assessment; Health risks; human health; Hydrogeochemistry; Hydrogeology; Irrigation; Magnesium; Multivariate analysis; Nigeria; Oral administration; Photosystem I; pollution; Pollution index; Pollution levels; principal component analysis; Principal components analysis; Quality assessment; Rivers; salinity; Sodium; Sodium carbonate; soil; Soil Science & Conservation; Surface water; Trace elements; variance; Water pollution; Water quality; Water Quality/Water Pollution; World Health Organization
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-024-06965-1

This study employs multivariate analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of common indices in assessing surface water quality. The research involves collecting and analyzing 60 samples from the Bomadi and Gbotebo rivers and their associated tributaries. The samples are subjected to comprehensive testing to determine their hydrogeochemical composition, suitability for irrigation, and pollution levels. The study finds that most parameters conform to the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), although occasional instances of elevated cadmium and iron levels are observed. The evaluation of various indices offers insights into the overall quality of the water and its suitability for different uses. The values of the potential salinity (PSi), sodium absorption ratio (SARi), and residual sodium carbonate (RSCi) indices indicate excellent water quality and health conditions. However, other indices like sodium soluble percentage (SSPi), magnesium hazard ratio (MHRi), Kelly ratio (KRi), and percentage sodium (%Na) suggest only marginal suitability for irrigation. Pollution levels, gauged by the pollution index of the surface water (PISw) index, remain consistently low. Assessing health risks stemming from trace elements (TEs) in the water reveals minimal carcinogenic threats through oral route exposure. Correlation analysis establishes a meaningful connection between water evolution indices and the broader water quality and health risks, although this correspondence is not mirrored among ratio indices—except for K/Cl. Within the spectrum of 22 indices, the study identifies four that notably contribute to water classification. Utilizing principal component analysis (PCA), the research successfully highlights the primary sources of variability among the indices, accounting for an impressive 92.392% of the total variance. In conclusion, this study showed the effectiveness of commonly employed indices in evaluating surface water quality.