Assessment of physicochemical properties and heavy metal contamination in riverine system and their impacts on public health
Abstract This study investigated the seasonal fluctuations in physicochemical parameters and heavy metal (HMs) concentrations in the Hindon River water throughout 2023. Water samples were collected from the Atali station in Muzaffarnagar district, India. The analyses of various parameters, including...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Discover Water |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-025-00243-9 |
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| Summary: | Abstract This study investigated the seasonal fluctuations in physicochemical parameters and heavy metal (HMs) concentrations in the Hindon River water throughout 2023. Water samples were collected from the Atali station in Muzaffarnagar district, India. The analyses of various parameters, including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity (TUR), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), total alkalinity (TA), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), chlorides (Cl−), sulphate (SO4 2c), nitrate (NO3 −), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+) and measurements of HMs, including cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb), were conducted across different seasons. The results demonstrated that DO levels fell below the required limit according to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) water quality standards in all seasons. Conversely, multiple parameters, encompassing EC, TUR, TDS, TH, TA, BOD, COD, Ca2+, and Mg2+, along with HMs Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, and Pb, exceeded the permissible thresholds established by category A in BIS (IS 2296:1992) and the standards set out by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Water Quality Index (WQI) and Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) values exceeded the threshold of 100, indicating that the water is unsuitable for human consumption. The degree of contamination (Cdeg) exceeded the moderate pollution threshold (10–20), reaching 15.307 in the summer and 13.099 in the winter, while the monsoon period maintained a low pollution level (< 10). The Ecological Risk Index (ERI) indicated moderate pollution in the summer (186.034) and winter (143.698) while indicating low pollution in the monsoon (106.951). Both Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) calculations revealed potential risks associated with oral ingestion, particularly for children, as their values exceeded the acceptable limit (HQ > 1). Dermal exposure assessment underscored a higher risk to the health of children and adults. This underlines the pollution of the Hindon River due to the release of untreated effluents in substantial quantities. Consequently, there is a crucial requirement for effective monitoring and control measures to safeguard the sustainability of the river ecosystem. |
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| ISSN: | 2730-647X |