Abstract
The Third Pole region contains the largest reserve of fresh water on Earth, which mainly consists of cations such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and anions including Cl−, SO42−, HCO3−, CO32−. The sources of the major ions in water are natural rocks and the concentrations of such ions shows seasonal variation. The presence of trace metals such as Hg, Fe, Mn, Co, Cr, and As when present in low concentrations is a serious health hazard and affects the aquatic ecosystem. The concentration of trace metals in the Third Pole is comparable with that from other parts of the world. Mercury is one of the most serious contaminants in water due to its toxicity, long-range transport, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification in the ecosystem. Overall the concentrations of Hg from the lake water in the Third Pole region are within the natural global range. In the lakes of the Third Pole, the concentration of total Hg varies significantly with the depth. Based on the water quality index, high-altitude lakes (e.g., Lake Gosainkunda) were found to have better water quality than urban lakes (e.g., Lake Phewa). Similarly, a risk assessment shows the lakes in Nepal to have minimal or no risk to human health as compared to the lakes in Pakistan. Trace metals in lake waters in the Third Pole region need more research to understand the real situation.
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