Investigation of the hydrogeochemistry, groundwater quality, and associated health risks in industrialized regions of Tripura, northeast India

Abstract

The aim of this study was to elucidate the contaminant sources and the processes controlling the groundwater quality and risk assessment of heavy metals posed on humans by statistical indices. The groundwater sampling was performed at Bodhjungnagar Industrial Estate, A.D. Nagar, Dukli and Badharghat Industrial Cluster, Tripura, India during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon in the year 2017. A total of 21 water quality parameters (Temp, pH, TDS, Ca, Mg, TH, Na, K, HCO₃, Cl, SO₄, PO₄, NO₃, F, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, As, Cu, Zn, and Cr) were determined from collected samples. The statistical and graphical methods were employed to assess the suitability of water. The water quality index (WQI) suggested that the majority of the samples are suitable for drinking purpose. The WATEQ4F model was applied to compute the saturation index (SI) of different minerals present in the water samples. Based on Piper plot the dominant water type is Ca-Cl in the study area. The Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI) indicates that the groundwaters of both industrial sites have moderately to highly deteriorated water with heavy metals. The hazard index (HI) revealed that amongst the population, chronic health risk was greater for children and considering the seasons, the risk was higher during the pre­monsoon season.

Keywords:

• Drinking water
• health risk assessment
• hydrogeochemistry
• saturation index
• water pollution

Acknowledgements

The authors (B. Karmakar and M. K. Singh) are thankful to the Head, Department of Chemistry, Tripura University, India for providing laboratory facilities to carry out analysis of water samples. The corresponding author (SKS) thanks to DST-FIST, New Delhi, India and Coordinator, K. Banerjee Centre of Atmospheric and Ocean Studies,University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, India for providing the infrastructure facilities.

Authors contributions

Conceptualization, SKS (Sudhir Kumar Singh), BKC (Bal K. Choudhary), JCE (Johnbosco C. Egbueri); Data curation, BK (Bishu Karmakar), MKS (Mahesh K. Singh); Formal analysis, BK, MKS, SKG (Sandeep Kumar Gautam); Investigation, SKS, BKC, KSR (Kishan Singh Rawat); Methodology, SKS, KSR, JCE. Software, SKS and JCE. Writing – original draft, SKS, JCE, SKG; Writing – review & editing, SKS, SKG, KSR, and JCE.

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

The authors are agreed to participate.

Consent to publish

The authors give consent for publication.

Competing interests

No competing interests.

Funding

No external funding was received for this work.

Availability of data and materials

As per request.