Abstract
Background: Heavy metals (HMs) contamination from industrial wastewater is a major environmental problem that has been increasing in the past few years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of HMs contamination in Bu-Ali industrial town, Hamedan, western Iran. Methods: The concentration of 9 serious HMs (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, and zinc) in groundwater samples was studied during spring 2017. In order to evaluate water quality for aquaculture and drinking purposes, heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), heavy metal pollution index (HPI), and contamination (Cd) indicator were calculated. Health risk of HMs was also calculated to assess the risk of cancer. Results: The results showed that the mean concentration of the HMs according to the Cd index was as follows: Pb > Ni > Cr > Fe > Cd > As > Cu > Zn > Mn. The mean HEI and HPI values were 89.1 and 815.5, respectively. The results also showed that there was no relationship between the HMs concentration and cancer risk. Conclusion: The concentration of the studied HMs in most samples was higher than the permissible limit for drinking water. The HEI and HPI values in high-risk samples were higher than the permissible limit of drinking water, therefore, there is high risk and limitation for aquatic life, but there is no risk of cancer.
Highlights
Today, with limited water resources, less than one percent of available water resources are suitable for human consumption [1]
According to the WHO report, there is no health risk associated with drinking water with a total dissolved solids (TDS) below 1000 mg L-1 [40]
The results of the present study showed that the Heavy metals (HMs) concentrations in most samples are generally higher than the permissible limits for drinking water, according to the WHO guideline
Summary
With limited water resources, less than one percent of available water resources are suitable for human consumption [1]. Marbooti et al investigated HMs contamination of groundwater in the Behbahan plain, Southwest Iran, as well as its suitability for drinking purposes According to their results, the concentration of Pb, As, Cd, and Se in this area was 33%, 13%, 56%, and 100% higher than the permissible limit presented by the WHO, respectively [25]. The present study was conducted to quantify the HMs pollution of groundwater in Hamedan-Bahar plain (western Iran), affected by Bu-Ali industrial town, as well as its suitability for drinking purposes The importance of this subject is highlighted because groundwater supplies approximately 88% of the water consumed in Hamadan. In Hamedan-Bahar plain, groundwater is the only available and widely used source of drinking water for rural and urban areas, as well as for irrigation [28] For this purpose, the concentrations of 9 important HMs (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, and zinc) were investigated in 26 groundwater samples.
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