Health hazards from perchlorate enriched groundwater of a semi-arid river basin of south India and suggesting in-situ remediation through Managed Aquifer Recharge

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the groundwater quality and perchlorate contents in the pre- and post-monsoon groundwater samples along with its associated health concerns with suggesting in-situ remediation in semi-arid Arjunanadi River basin of south India. Most of the samples (86 in pre-monsoon and 84 in post-monsoon out of total 94) showed secondary salinity and secondary alkalinity, and the perchlorate showed positive relations with Na+, K+, SO42-, Cl-, and NO3- contents. The main source of perchlorate could be fireworks manufacturing industries with 23 % of pre-monsoon (246.5 km2) and 33 % of post-monsoon samples (360 km2) showing perchlorate above the World Health Organization (WHO) standard (>0.07 mg/l). Perchlorate health risk assessment (PHRA) and total hazard index (THI) indicated more effect from oral pathway compared to the dermal pathway with about 80 %, 79 %, 65 %, and 60 % of samples causing health complications for infants, children, women, and men during the pre-monsoon. The post-monsoon groundwater showed increased health risks with 90 %, 82 %, 74 %, and 69 % of samples remaining hazardous for infants, children, women, and men. Artificial recharge through Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) techniques in the high-risk area could be useful to minimize the perchlorate contamination in groundwater and associated health risks under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6 (SDGs) for a healthy society.