Impact of Pollutants on Groundwater Quality and Health Risk Assessment of Quaternary Aquifers in Northern India

Abstract

The tremendous increase in the population and the establishment of numerous industrial setups in the last few decades has caused an augmentation in the demand for water. This has led to a greater reliance on groundwater instead of surface water resources. Due to the dumping of vast industrial effluents and other anthropogenic activities, groundwater quality has worsened. The purpose of this study was to develop the water quality indices to categorize the groundwater quality of the holy city of Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India. To depict the quality of water for various geographic locations in the city, GIS mapping has been carried out. In addition, to evaluate the impact of groundwater pollution on human health in the city, a health risk assessment has been carried out using the assessed physicochemical parameters. The results during the premonsoon season indicate that out of 75 sampling locations, four sampling location samples were poor, 34 sampling locations had very poor quality water, and the water from the remaining 37 sampling sites was unacceptable for drinking consumption. However, during the postmonsoon season, out of the 75 sampling locations, nine were of poor quality water; in 35 sampling locations, the water was of very poor quality, and the water in the remaining 31 locations was unsuitable for drinking. The result for cancer risks (CRs) indicates that during the premonsoon season, there is a higher risk of cancer for infants and children, but infants are more prone than children. However, in the postmonsoon season, infants and children are susceptible to carcinogenic diseases, but infants are more prone than children during this season. Therefore, the water indices and health risk assessment that were developed in this study could be utilized by researchers and policymakers in the overall planning and management of groundwater pollution and could be helpful for the safeguarding of society.