Health and ecological risk assessment of metals in surface water from urban wetlands of Gurugram, India

Abstract

ABSTRACT Fifty-five water samples were collected from four different wetlands of Gurugram, Haryana, to assess the seasonal variation in metals concentration level. Moreover, a heavy metal pollution index (HPI), potential ecological risk index (PERI) and health risk index (HRI) were estimated to assess overall water quality status and associated risk in the study area. In summer, Fe and Cr were above BIS permissible limits whereas, in winter all the metals are within the limits. Highest concentration was observed for Fe and Mn, followed by Zn, Cu, Ni and Cr. Calculated HPI values are below critical index limit of 100. But its value being >30 lies under high class category of HPI in Lost (W1), Damdama (W3) and Basai (W4) wetland, indicating high deterioration, and low–medium HPI in Sultanpur wetland (W2) indicating low deterioration. HI >1 indicates possibility of non-carcinogenic risk to children and adults in W1 and W4, in both summer and winter and in W3 and W4 in summer only, through both ingestion and dermal route. Cancer risk was observed for adults in W1 (2.06), W3 (1.52) and W4 (2.51) in summer only. PERI results suggest low ecological risk based on both degree of contamination and risk index. This study suggests, high HPI and non-carcinogenic risk from certain metals warrants immediate attention towards proper management of these wetlands specially W4.