Evaluation of the Swat River, Northern Pakistan, water quality using multivariate statistical techniques and water quality index (WQI) model

This study evaluates the characteristics of water along the Swat River, Northern Pakistan. For this purpose, water samples ( n  = 30) were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters including heavy metals (HM). The mean concentrations of physicochemical parameters and HM were within the d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science and pollution research international 2020-11, Vol.27 (31), p.38545-38558
Main Authors: Jehan, Shah, Ullah, Ihsan, Khan, Sardar, Muhammad, Said, Khattak, Seema Anjum, Khan, Tariq
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic Pollution
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Drinking Water - analysis
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Health
Environmental Monitoring
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Pakistan
Research Article
Risk Assessment
Rivers
Waste Water Technology
Water Management
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water Pollution Control
Water Quality
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Summary:This study evaluates the characteristics of water along the Swat River, Northern Pakistan. For this purpose, water samples ( n  = 30) were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters including heavy metals (HM). The mean concentrations of physicochemical parameters and HM were within the drinking water guideline values set by the World Health Organization (WHO 2011 ) except 34%, 60%, and 56% of copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb), respectively. Pollution sources were identified by various multivariate statistical techniques including correlation analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) indicating different origins both naturally and anthropogenically. Results of the water quality index (WQI) ranged from 13.58 to 209 with an average value of 77 suggesting poor water quality for drinking and domestic purposes. The poor water quality was mainly related to high sodium (alkalinity) and salinity hazards showing > 27% and 20% water samples have poor alkalinity and salinity hazards, respectively. Hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) were used to determine the health risk of HM in the study area. For water-related health risk, HQ ingestion , HQ dermal , and HI values were >  1, indicating noncarcinogenic health risk (NCR) posed by these HM to the exposed population.
ISSN:0944-1344
1614-7499
DOI:10.1007/s11356-020-09688-y