Abstract
The specific objective of the present is to evaluate the human health issue due to the continuous consumption of nitrate-contaminated groundwater among the various age groups of people. In the study, 40 groundwater samples were collected during the post-monsoon season, and the major ions were analysed in a laboratory. Chadha plot revealed that weathering of parent rocks, ion exchange process and leaching of salts from the rocks are primary sources of groundwater contamination. Nitrate concentration varied from 24 to 78 mg/L with a mean of 46.45 mg/L. Nitrogen pollution index (NPI) value divulged that 40% and 17.5% of sample locations are moderately and significantly polluted due to elevated nitrate concentration in groundwater. The human health risk assessment model revealed that health issues are among the various age groups which are infants > kids > children > aged peoples > adults. The nitrate’s identified sources are leaching of salts from the rocks, using synthetic fertilizers, uncovered septic tanks and improper disposal of household waste from the residential area. Therefore, periodic inspection of water supply, health check-up and inspection of underground pipelines are the remedial measures that should be taken to reduce the severe effects of nitrate-contaminated drinking water in the study area.
Highlights
Nitrogen in the various forms of nitrate, nitrite, or ammonium in groundwater is a nutrient needed for enhancing the crop yield and plant growth
Panneerselvam et al (2020a, b) carried out the detailed investigation on groundwater quality associated with human health risk due to high nitrate contamination in the semi-arid region of India and reported that the major factors such as lithological and anthropogenic activities highly influenced the quality of groundwater in the study region (Kadhum et al 2021a; Kalasha and Albayatib 2021)
The concentration of hydrogen ions was expressed in terms of pH and it is significant parameter to evaluate the groundwater quality
Summary
Nitrogen in the various forms of nitrate, nitrite, or ammonium in groundwater is a nutrient needed for enhancing the crop yield and plant growth. The recent studies have recognized an effect of nitrate on human health and correlation between agriculture activities and nitrate contamination in groundwater. Panneerselvam et al (2020a, b) carried out the detailed investigation on groundwater quality associated with human health risk due to high nitrate contamination in the semi-arid region of India and reported that the major factors such as lithological and anthropogenic activities highly influenced the quality of groundwater in the study region (Kadhum et al 2021a; Kalasha and Albayatib 2021). Higher percentage of the population can be exposed to nitrate-contaminated water by both oral and dermal contact pathways. The total hazards value for all sample locations in the study area was computed using Eq 8 and the value greater than 1 is significant risk, while less than 1 is no significant risk to non-carcinogenic risk on human health (Fig. 2)
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