Using A Water Quality Index to Assess The Impacts of Heavy Metals Contamination for Sustainable Water Management: A Case Study of the Bang Pakong River, Thailand

Anthropogenic activities such as improper waste disposal, excessive fertilizer use, and industrial effluents cause heavy metal contamination in water, soil, and the atmosphere. Herein, the water quality index (WQI) was used to characterize heavy metal (i.e., cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury...

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Main Authors: Khin Yadana Soe, Pokchat Chutivisut, Wilailuk Niyommaneerat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University 2025-08-01
Series:Applied Environmental Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/view/260846
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author Khin Yadana Soe
Pokchat Chutivisut
Wilailuk Niyommaneerat
author_facet Khin Yadana Soe
Pokchat Chutivisut
Wilailuk Niyommaneerat
author_sort Khin Yadana Soe
collection DOAJ
description Anthropogenic activities such as improper waste disposal, excessive fertilizer use, and industrial effluents cause heavy metal contamination in water, soil, and the atmosphere. Herein, the water quality index (WQI) was used to characterize heavy metal (i.e., cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg)) contamination in the Bang Pakong River, Thailand. Specifically, water samples were collected during the dry season from four stations along the river from 2012–2022. The heavy metal concentrations in the samples were analyzed via atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and WQI values were calculated on the basis of standard water quality parameters. At the four sampling stations, high As concentrations were observed, and the Cd and Hg concentrations were below the detection limits. The WQI values in the 10-year period indicated good water quality on average. However, the WQI values decreased from 2020–2021, followed by a recovery to medium levels in 2022. The WQI reflects heavy metal contamination of local communities in an easy-to-understand manner, revealing its effect on aquatic environments and their health and livelihood.
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publisher Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University
record_format Article
series Applied Environmental Research
spelling doaj-art-66d751e492ed4353ac44d1c3e5a87f102025-08-20T03:45:15ZengEnvironmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn UniversityApplied Environmental Research2287-075X2025-08-0147310.35762/AER.2025026Using A Water Quality Index to Assess The Impacts of Heavy Metals Contamination for Sustainable Water Management: A Case Study of the Bang Pakong River, ThailandKhin Yadana Soe0Pokchat Chutivisut1Wilailuk Niyommaneerat2International Postgraduate Program in Environment, Development and Sustainability Program, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, ThailandSustainable Environment Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, ThailandSustainable Environment Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand Anthropogenic activities such as improper waste disposal, excessive fertilizer use, and industrial effluents cause heavy metal contamination in water, soil, and the atmosphere. Herein, the water quality index (WQI) was used to characterize heavy metal (i.e., cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg)) contamination in the Bang Pakong River, Thailand. Specifically, water samples were collected during the dry season from four stations along the river from 2012–2022. The heavy metal concentrations in the samples were analyzed via atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and WQI values were calculated on the basis of standard water quality parameters. At the four sampling stations, high As concentrations were observed, and the Cd and Hg concentrations were below the detection limits. The WQI values in the 10-year period indicated good water quality on average. However, the WQI values decreased from 2020–2021, followed by a recovery to medium levels in 2022. The WQI reflects heavy metal contamination of local communities in an easy-to-understand manner, revealing its effect on aquatic environments and their health and livelihood. https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/view/260846Water quality indexSurface water qualityHeavy metalsBang Pakong RiverFishery sectorLand use
spellingShingle Khin Yadana Soe
Pokchat Chutivisut
Wilailuk Niyommaneerat
Using A Water Quality Index to Assess The Impacts of Heavy Metals Contamination for Sustainable Water Management: A Case Study of the Bang Pakong River, Thailand
Applied Environmental Research
Water quality index
Surface water quality
Heavy metals
Bang Pakong River
Fishery sector
Land use
title Using A Water Quality Index to Assess The Impacts of Heavy Metals Contamination for Sustainable Water Management: A Case Study of the Bang Pakong River, Thailand
title_full Using A Water Quality Index to Assess The Impacts of Heavy Metals Contamination for Sustainable Water Management: A Case Study of the Bang Pakong River, Thailand
title_fullStr Using A Water Quality Index to Assess The Impacts of Heavy Metals Contamination for Sustainable Water Management: A Case Study of the Bang Pakong River, Thailand
title_full_unstemmed Using A Water Quality Index to Assess The Impacts of Heavy Metals Contamination for Sustainable Water Management: A Case Study of the Bang Pakong River, Thailand
title_short Using A Water Quality Index to Assess The Impacts of Heavy Metals Contamination for Sustainable Water Management: A Case Study of the Bang Pakong River, Thailand
title_sort using a water quality index to assess the impacts of heavy metals contamination for sustainable water management a case study of the bang pakong river thailand
topic Water quality index
Surface water quality
Heavy metals
Bang Pakong River
Fishery sector
Land use
url https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/view/260846
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