Abstract
To address the global issue of water scarcity, untreated wastewater irrigation has become a common practice in the developing countries to meet the emerging demand of irrigation water. It is a common practice in Pakistan as well to apply municipal wastewater for irrigation purposes, which is carrying high concentrations of heavy metals originating from industrial sources. The research was conducted in Chak Jhumra, Faisalabad, Pakistan to check the effect on health due to untreated wastewater. The purpose of this research work was to find out the concentrations of hazardous elements present in the wastewater and conduct health risk assessment of utilizing the contaminated vegetables, being grown on untreated effluent. The main parameters to be investigated for groundwater, wastewater, soil and vegetables were EC, TSS, SAR and Heavy metals like (Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cu). Concentrations of the targeted heavy metals were determined in these media and health risk assessment was conducted. It was finally concluded that the soil properties were greatly influenced by the supply of this wastewater. Zinc was found above safe limit, Cu was found within safe limit, Ni and Pb were above critical limits in all sites. Groundwater was found suitable and its values were within safe limits. Health risk assessment has also exhibited significant impact of the concentrations of heavy metals in the vegetables being utilized by the common man.
Highlights
There is water scarcity in Pakistan because of0depleting0ground and the surface0water resources, and other water management issues prevailing in the country
Out0of0which nearly 96 MAF is being used for irrigation purposes, 36 MAF flows to oceans and about 10 MAF is exploited by the system losses which involve seepage, evaporation and spill0during0floods
It was required to find out the health risk due to consumption of vegetables being cultivated on untreated wastewater, green chilli, by following the methodology as described earlier
Summary
There is water scarcity in Pakistan because of0depleting0ground and the surface0water resources, and other water management issues prevailing in the country. There is need to search for other non-conventional0water resources for irrigation purposes e.g. wastewater has become important due to water scarcity. Immense research on this issue has been done and latest statistical data shows that the Indus System and its streams are providing an average 142 MAF of water per year. Total water0availability0has0decreased from 1,299 cubic meters (m3) per0capita in 1996-97 to 1,100 m3 per capita in 2006. It is expected that water availability will be reduced about 700 m3 per capita in 2025 against0the international0standard of 1500 m3 per0capita
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