Physicochemical and elemental contamination assessment in groundwater samples of Khairpur Mir's, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Drinking water contaminated with arsenic poses serious threat to the human health. The present study was aimed for quality assessment of the groundwater of Khairpur Mir's in respect with arsenic and other elemental contamination like Fe, Cu, Co, and Ni. The presence of the trace elements in groundwater from different sources in the study area was measured by using atomic absorption spectroscopy. For arsenic analysis hydride generation technique (MHS-15) was used with detection limit of 0.02 µg l⁻¹. Elevated level of arsenic was observed in most of the samples as compared to recommended value of World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines (10 µg l⁻¹). However, levels of Fe, Cu, Co, and Ni in hand pump (HP) water samples was found in the range of 4–1610 µg l⁻¹, 0–556 µg l⁻¹, 0–230 µg l⁻¹, and 0–700 µg l⁻¹, respectively. Whereas in tube well (TW) water samples the observed values are 5–1620 µg l⁻¹, 0–50 µg l⁻¹, 4–110 µg l⁻¹, and 0–360 µg l⁻¹ for Fe, Cu, Co, and Ni, respectively. Significant difference was observed between TW and HP water samples. It was concluded that the level of arsenic found was very high up to 13 fold more than the WHO recommended limit in study area. While the levels of other elements was noted within the safe limit.

KEYWORDS:

• groundwater
• arsenic analysis
• spectrophotometer
• Khairpur district
• cancer threat

Funding

The authors are thankful to the Government of Pakistan Higher Education Commission for financial support.