Arsenic in groundwater and its health risk assessment in drinking water of Mailsi, Punjab, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

The present study was aimed at assessing drinking water quality regarding arsenic (As) and its impact on health from Mailsi (Punjab), Pakistan. Forty-four groundwater samples were collected from two sites, Sargana and Mailsi. Arsenic and other cations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer, whereas the anions were determined either through titration or spectrophotometer. The results revealed that dominant anions were HCO₃⁻ and Cl⁻, Ca⁺² was the dominant cation, and overall water chemistry of the area was CaMgHCO₃⁻ type. Arsenic concentrations were high, ranging from 11 to 828 µg/L that crossed the World Health Organization permissible limits. Likewise, higher SO₄⁻² concentrations ranging from 247 to 1053 mg/L were observed. The health risk index was higher in the Sargana site, which employed the differences in terms of higher Average Daily Dose, Hazard Quotient, and Carcinogenic Risk of arsenic, which is unsuitable for drinking purposes. The area seems to be at high risk due to arsenic pollution and wells have never been tested for arsenic concentrations earlier; therefore, necessary measures should be taken to test the wells with respect to arsenic.

KEYWORDS:

• arsenic
• drinking water
• risk assessment
• health risk
• Mailsi
• Pakistan

Acknowledgments

We are indebted to Geological Survey of Pakistan, Advanced Geosciences Research Laboratories for the arsenic analysis and Dr. Riffat Naseem Malik for providing lab facilities.