Possible Sources Of Pollution Research Articles

STATISTICAL ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS FOR POLLUTION SOURCE IDENTIFICATION IN NOYYAL RIVER, COIMBATORE, TAMILNADU

<p>This study aimed to determine the extent of the water quality decrease in the Noyyal River in Tamilnadu by analyzing the seasonal change of water's physicochemical properties, identifying possible sources of pollution, and grouping the monitoring months based on shared characteristics. The measurements were taken during four different seasons. Forty percent of the water quality indices, including turbidity, DO concentration, EC, Cl concentration, TA, and COD in all seasons, were found to be outside the acceptable limits recommended by various agencies, according to the analytical data. A 95% confidence interval's worth of statistical analysis revealed that 52% of the contrasts differed significantly. Four factors accounted for 93.44% of the variation overall, according to the factor analysis, which showed the best fit between the parameters. The significant pollution loading, primarily attributed to toxicological chemicals and industrial discharge, was reflected in Total Dissolved Solids, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Electrical Conductivity, Turbidity, Dissolved Oxygen, and Chloride levels. Cluster analysis revealed a seasonal variation in surface water quality, indicating contamination from rainfall or other sources. Nevertheless, seasons did impact the levels of various physicochemical characteristics, with winter recording the highest pollution values. The Noyyal River's seasonal temperature change and increased rainfall were the causes of this self-refining tendency, which goes winter < summer < pre-winter < rainy season.</p>

Assessment of the Bacteriological Properties of Indoor Dust in some Classrooms of Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro

The bacteriological properties of indoor dust in some classrooms of the Delta State University of Science, Ozoro was examined with a view to identify any possible source of pollution of classroom indoor air quality; measurement of microbial load of classroom dust sample and to compare findings of selected locations as a means to determine high air polluted areas. This was done by the collection of dust samples from classrooms table and chair surfaces. It was observed that the amount of bacteria available in classrooms differ based on activities in and around the classrooms. Bacteria isolates indicated the presence of pathogen associated with disease such as Bacillus sp; Staphylococcus sp; Micrococcus sp. of indoor air pollution exist and this is identified as open dump practice birthing more microbial cells which are transported through air and poor sanitation practice around and within the classrooms. Contamination of sample was observed for dust at different locations with the bacteria count seen to be higher at sample C (1.8x102cfu/m3) and lower in sample D (0.2x102cfu/m3). Staphylococcus sp dominated all the locations that were analyzed while Micrococcus sp. only occurred in site C. This is because poor environmental sanitation is observed at certain classrooms in addition to shattered classroom windows given an ease of access of dust flow indoor. It can be concluded that only a minimal sources of indoor air pollution exist and hence only a small amount of bacteria is present. In spite of this, prevalence of such practices is likely to promote the growth of more microbial cells.

Distribution, source identification, and contamination level of trace metals in the sediment of the Shari-Goyain River in Bangladesh: Implications for ecological health risks

The major issue associated with coal mine drainage is its contribution to river pollution, which occurs at the local, regional, and global levels. The pollution of surface sediment by heavy metals is a major environmental and health concern in coal mining and downstream areas. This study explored the concentrations of eight metal components in the sediments from the Shari-Goyain River of Bangladesh. The trend of decreasing metal concentration was identified as Fe > Mn > Ni > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd in sediment. The level of metal pollution in the study area was assessed by using various indicators like geo-accumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), contamination factor (CF), potential ecological risk factor, and risk index (RI). The sediment in the river exhibited PLI values ranging from 0.133 to 0.543, suggesting a low level of pollution from the evaluated heavy metals (PLI < 1). The mean Igeo showed that the study area was unpolluted whereas Ni showed unpolluted to moderately polluted status. For most of the metals, the sediment samples recorded a low degree of contamination (CF < 1) except Pb, Cd, and Ni which exhibited moderate degree of contamination (1 ≤ CF < 3). Through the application of various statistical analyses, coal mine drainage has been identified as the possible source of pollution of the analyzed metals in the Shari-Goyain River. However, the risk index and RI suggested a low risk of metal pollution in the studied areas. To improve the environmental conditions of the Shari-Goyain River, it is crucial to construct permanent sediment quality monitoring stations and conduct extensive ecological investigations.

Assessment of surface water quality in the Sai Gon and Dong Nai Rivers, Vietnam

The Sai Gon and Dong Nai Rivers are important for the social and economic development of Southern Vietnam. They also serve as crucial water supply sources for Ho Chi Minh City and its surrounding provinces. The objectives of the present study are to evaluate the surface water quality of these rivers and to detect the possible sources of pollutants between 2015 and 2019. The study utilized various methods, including single factor evaluation, water quality index (WQI), and principal component analysis (PCA). Water quality data, such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonia (N-NH4 +), phosphate (P-PO4 3-), and Coliform, from eight monitoring sites along the rivers were used for the evaluation. The results stated that the water quality of the study region generally varied from ‘moderate’ to ‘good’ and had a decreasing trend from the upstream to the downstream during the study period. In addition, PCA results indicated that domestic sewage and industrial wastewater were significant factors affecting water quality in the middle stream of the rivers. The findings of this study can be used by local environmental management authorities to gain insights into water pollution and propose potential solutions for better protection and management of water resources.

Analysis of the dynamics of the ecological state of watercourses in the sub-basin of the Syan River

Based on the generalization of the results of regime observations by environmental monitoring services, an analysis of the dynamics of the ecological state of watercourses in the sub-basin of the Syan River (at six observation points) has been carried out. The dynamics of water use in the Syan River sub-basin for 2021–2022 were analyzed, according to which the total discharge in the Syan sub-basin in 2022 decreased by a quarter. The discharge of polluted wastewater in 2022 was a third higher, accordingly, the discharged volume of treated sewage was also lower than in 2021. An analysis of potentially possible sources of pollution of water bodies in the Syan River sub-basin has been carried out. The most significant impact on the water quality change here is caused by the wastewater discharges of municipal enterprises: the municipal enterprises “Novoyavorivskvodokanal” and “Yavorivvodokanal”. A significant cause of surface water pollution is the discharge of wastewater by the private sector. The Yavoriv quarry “Sіrka” causes the ingress of sulfates into the Shklo River, a significant trend towards their reduction has been observed from 2020 to 2022 by 71.9 %. In Lviv region, agriculture accounts for about 11%, which also negatively affects the state of water bodies. According to the results of monitoring of surface waters within the Ukrainian part of the Vistula River basin, presented by the Basin Water Resources Management of the Western Bug and Syan Rivers for 2021–2022, a high total content of pesticides was observed in 2022, in particular, at the observation point of the Vishnya River in Mostyska – about 5.5 µg/dm3. Also, a high content of manganese, zinc and iron was recorded here. The analysis of monitoring observations of the state of water bodies in the Syan River sub-basin and the calculated water pollution coefficients based on them show that the cleanest water in this area is the water of the Vyar River (the highest Pollution Index in 2021 – 1.463) and the water of the Zavadivka River (the highest Pollution Index in 2021 – 1.218). The most polluted water was the water of the Vishnya River at the observation point in Mostyska, especially due to the high content of iron (7.6 MPC) and manganese (30 MPC), where the pollution coefficient in 2020 was 4.761, and in 2022, it decreased by half. Also, the water of the Shklo River in urban-type settlement Krakivets was quite polluted, where the pollution coefficient in 2022 was 2.057. The BOD5 value was highest in 2021 in the Shklo River – 3.5 MPC and in the Vishnya River in Chernove village – 2.9 MPC, however, in 2022, it decreased to 1.8 MPC across the study area. The COD value in 2021 in all investigated observation points was above the norm, the highest in the Vishnya River, in Chernove village – 2.3 MPC, in 2022, it significantly decreased across the study area, the highest was in the Shklo River in urban-type settlement Krakivets – 1.6 MPC. A high content of ammonium salts and nitrites was recorded in 2022, respectively: in the Shklo River – 3.8 MPC and 2.7 MPC; in the Vishnya River in Chernove village – 2.5 MPC and 3.2 MPC. The phosphate content was highest in 2022 in the Vishnya River in Chernove village (2.6 MPC), however, in 2021 and 2022, it was below the permissible level across the study water area. In all observation points of the Syan River sub-basin, a significant zinc content was observed in the water, the highest was in 2020 in the Vyаr River in Pidmostychi village (5.2 MPC) and in 2022 in the Shklo River in urban-type settlement Krakivets – 4.7 MPC. A high content of sulfates was observed in the Shklo river, especially in 2020 (4.4 MPC), which may be the cause of the influence of the Yavorivsky “Sirka” quarry. Regarding the assessment of water quality in the Syan River sub-basin by pollution levels, in all observation points during the analyzed period, the water is mainly characterized as “slightly polluted”, only at the observation point of the Vishnya River in Mostyska in 2020 and 2021 – “moderately polluted”, in the Zavadivka River, Grushiv village in 2020 the water was “slightly polluted; bordering on clean”.

Assessment of depth wise distribution, enrichment, contamination, ecological risk and sources of soil heavy metals over an Industrial area in Southern India

Assessing the depth-wise distribution of heavy metals in soil can provide valuable insights into the extent of enrichment, contamination, and the possible sources of pollutants. A study was conducted in parts of Patancheru Industrial areas of Hyderabad, India to assess the vertical distribution of heavy metal content in soil, focusing on enrichment, contamination, and pollutant sources. Sixty soil samples from 15 sites, spanning four depths (0–15 cm, 15–30 cm, 30–50 cm, 50–100 cm) were analyzed for total Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Co and Ni concentrations. The concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Co, and Ni, regardless of the study depths and sites, range from 2570–10,667, 22.5–439, 11.6–47.2, 3.47–14.2, 5.53–31.7, 36.0–63.1, 2.99–17.5 to 10.5–47.3 mg kg−1respectively. The mean concentrations of all the measured heavy metals showed minor variation across depths, except for Zn and Pb. Moreover, the mean concentration of all the measured heavy metals at various soil depths was within the threshold or target limits except for total Ni. At certain sampling depths and locations, Ni content exceeded the permissible threshold of 35 mg kg−1 in the soil. Surface soils (0–15 cm) exhibited moderate to significant enrichment of Pb, Zn, Cr, and Co. The enrichment factor for the overall Pb concentration varies from 3.02 to 24.73, indicating a range of moderate to very high enrichment throughout the soil depths. Following Pb, Cr exhibits enrichment levels ranging from 2.31 to 9.35, while Co ranges from 1.07 to 5.58.The sites within the study area varied in contamination levels, spanning from moderate contamination to a slight degree of pollution, as assessed by the contamination/pollution index of each element. Principle component analysis and enrichment factor values show that Cu originated primarily from natural sources; while Pb and Cr were likely to be anthropogenic to purely anthropogenic and Zn, Mn, Ni, and Co had both crustal and like to be anthropogenic origins. The maximum and minimum ecological risk index (ERI) values were recorded for Pb and Zn content, respectively. The maximum PERI value of 15.8 was recorded in the study area, indicating a low ecological risk level. However regular monitoring of the heavy metal concentration in soils is recommended over the study area to maintain a low level of ecological risk via reclamation interventions.

Mapping oil pollution in the Gulf of Suez in 2017–2021 using Synthetic Aperture Radar

The Gulf of Suez region accommodates diverse activities, including oil exploration and production, recreational activities, and export and import ports. The Gulf region is exposed to pollution risks due to these interactions, with few research studies documenting these pollution cases. This research aimed to use Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data to detect and map all the oil pollution incidents within the geographical extent of the Gulf of Suez that occurred from 2017 to 2021, locating the most affected regions and possible sources of pollution. It enabled the detection and mapping of nearly 150 oil spill incidents that occurred over 67 dates during the study period and covered 851 km2 of the sea surface. The year 2018 recorded the greatest pollution area over the study period, with 201 km2. Along the Gulf coast, Suez, Ain Sokhna, and Ras Ghareb cities recorded the highest number of marine pollution incidents. The research also located seven sources of pollution that frequently discharge into the Gulf water without regulations. This research recommends implementing a real-time monitoring system for oil pollution to robustly detect any future oil incidents in these high-risk areas as quickly as possible and minimize their environmental impact.

Receptor model-based source-specific health risks of toxic metal(loid)s in coal basin-induced agricultural soil in northwest Bangladesh.

Toxic metal(loid)s (TMLs) in agricultural soils cause detrimental effects on ecosystem and human health. Therefore, source-specific health risk apportionment is very crucial for the prevention and control of TMLs in agricultural soils. In this study, 149 surface soil samples were taken from a coal mining region in northwest Bangladesh and analyzed for 12 TMLs (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Cu, As, Se, and Hg). Positive matrix factorization (PMF) and absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) receptor models were employed to quantify the pollution sources of soil TMLs. Both models identified five possible sources of pollution: agrochemical practice, industrial emissions, coal-power-plant, geogenic source, and atmospheric deposition, while the contribution rates of each source were calculated as 28.2%, 17.2%, 19.3%, 19% and 16.3% in APCS-MLR, 22.2%, 13.4%, 24.3%, 15.1% and 25.1% in PMF, respectively. Agrochemical practice was the major source of non-carcinogenic risk (NCR) (adults: 32.37%, children: 31.54%), while atmospheric deposition was the highest source of carcinogenic risk (CR) (adults: 48.83%, children: 50.11%). NCR and CR values for adults were slightly higher than for children. However, the trends in NCR and CR between children and adults were similar. As a result, among the sources of pollution, agrochemical practices and atmospheric deposition have been identified as the primary sources of soil TMLs, so prevention and control strategies should be applied primarily for these pollution sources in order to protect human health.

The potentiality of GIS for assessing soil pollution – A review

The assessment of soil pollution is only one instance where geographic information systems (GIS) have shown to be an invaluable tool in environmental management and assessment. Globally, there is growing worry over soil pollution since it can have catastrophic repercussions on plant, animal, and human life. A more in-depth understanding of the scope and severity of contamination is made possible by GIS, which offers a flexible and all-encompassing method to studying and assessing soil pollution. With the aid of GIS technology, precise maps of soil contamination may be produced by combining data from numerous sources, such as remote sensing, aerial photography, and ground surveys. This information can then be evaluated using a variety of techniques, such as spatial analysis, to pinpoint polluted areas, possible sources of pollution, and the effects they are most likely to have on the environment and human health. By making it easier to identify sensitive regions that need additional research or remediation, GIS can also help with the analysis of the risk of pollutant movement and dispersion. Comparing GIS to conventional methods for assessing soil pollution has various benefits. First of all, it enables a more thorough and in-depth examination of the degree and breadth of contamination, enabling the identification of locations that need urgent care. Second, it makes it easier for different stakeholders, such as environmental agencies, researchers, and policymakers, to share data and information, enabling better decision-making. Thirdly, it makes it possible to monitor and control soil contamination more effectively, allowing for the early detection of potential issues and the implementation of suitable corrective actions. In general, GIS technology is a useful tool for assessing soil pollution since it offers a more thorough and knowledgeable approach to environmental management. It is a crucial tool for environmental experts engaged in the assessment and control of soil pollution due to its capacity to combine different data sources, perform spatial analysis, and promote information sharing.

Procjena rizika od zagađenja otpadnim vodama sa plovila u Luci Kotor

The efficiency of risk management is dependent on understanding the complexity, type and nature that the environment deals with. The Bay of Kotor stands as the most prominent natural resource of our country and, as being such, it requires a high level of protection. Sea vessels that visit the Bay of Kotor represent a potential hazard in terms of possible discharge of wastewater. With the increase in the traffic volume in the Bay of Kotor and Port of Kotor, the need for a stronger use of risk assessment tools in the effort to identify the possible source of pollution, has also arisen. The risk assessment model aimed at detecting wastewater pollution in the Bay area caused by seagoing vessels that visit the Boka Bay and Port of Kotor may be considered as a generally applicable method for identifying and assessing the risk of sea pollution by wastewater.

Sediment quality and environmental risk assessment in a Mediterranean coastal system using geochemical and multivariate statistical analyses: the case of Boughrara Lagoon (southeastern Tunisia)

Coastal ecosystems are the most vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic pressures which should be assessed using various chemical and ecological indicators. Our study aims to provide practical monitoring of anthropogenic pressures related to metal discharges in coastal waters for identifying potential ecological deterioration. The spatial variability of various chemical elements concentrations and their main sources were determined in the surficial sediments of a Mediterranean coastal area submitted to high anthropogenic pressure, the semi-enclosed Boughrara Lagoon located in southeastern Tunisia, by conducting several geochemical and multi-elemental analyses. The grain size and the geochemical analyses both suggested a marine influence of the sediment inputs in the north of the area (near Ajim channel), whereas continental and aeolian features dominated the sedimentary inputs in the southwestern lagoon. This last area was also characterized by the highest concentrations of metals, in particular Pb (4.45-173.33ppm), Mn (68.45-1469.27ppm), Cu (7.64-134.26ppm), Zn (28.74-244.79ppm), Cd (0.11-2.23ppm), Fe (0.5-4.9%), and Al (0.7-3.2%). By referring to background crustal values and the contamination factor calculations (CF), the lagoon is considered as highly polluted for Cd, Pb, and Fe (3 < CF < 6). Three possible sources of pollution were identified: phosphogypsum effluents (P, Al, Cu, and Cd), the ex-Pb mine (Pb and Zn), and the cliff weathering and streams input from the red clay quarry (Fe). Furthermore, pyrite precipitation was identified for the first time in the Boughrara lagoon, suggesting the occurrence of anoxic conditions in this lagoon.

Monitoring and evaluation of the passage of high water and floods in 2018 in the Amur region

The Amur Region has significant water resources, which are characterized by a pronounced rise in water levels during the spring flood, significant rises and falls in the summer-autumn period. The hydrological regime of the region's water basin requires competent interaction with the operational services of the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, with the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision, the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Natural Resources, the Federal Service for Supervision in the protection of consumer rights and human well-being, with the executive authorities of the Amur Region and local governments, as well as the correct forecasting of the development of floods in the basins of the main rivers, the forecast of the timing of their opening, as well as the preparation of planned preventive and preventive anti-flood measures, allows minimizing the negative impact of water from high water and floods. Raid activities were carried out to examine possible sources of pollution and economic facilities located in water protection zones and zones of predicted flooding, which may have a negative impact on the quality of water resources.

Comparison of two model environmental burdens with massive light non-aqueous phases liquids (LNALP) pollution – the extent of pollution identified by geological survey vs. reality uncovered by remediation

The paper deals with the results of exploration and remediation in two railway operations. Locomotive depots in Štúrovo and Leopoldov belonged to heavily polluted sites with the occurrence of light non-aqueous phases liquids (LNAPL) on the groundwater table. Remediation began on the sites in 2018. The results of the pre-remediation surveys did not indicate the presence of large volumes of pollution in the form of free phase, however, during the remediation LNAPL flowed into new wells. At the same time, the spreading of LNAPL accumulations and the progressing of pollution in dissolved form by groundwater has not been confirmed. Comparison of surveys and remediation points to various facts that must be considered when evaluating the degree of pollution of the site. It is necessary to perceive the whole space of the railyard as possible source of pollution. Remediation project should not be based solely on the presence of LNAPL. Its presence and the risk it poses must be verified. Outcomes of activities, based on limited data, may in that case differ from the remediation goals.

Characterization of suspended particulate matter using cascade impactor and X-ray fluorescence

Atmospheric pollution has become one of the biggest environmental and public health problems in large urban centers. The process of industrialization and urbanization of large cities together with population growth and motorized transport has caused an increase in the level of air pollution in these places. Thus, this work approaches the characterization of suspended particulates in the surroundings of the Duque de Caxias Refinery (REDUC) from the identification of the chemical elements present using the X-ray fluorescence technique - XRF. A PIXE 8-stage impactor was used to collect the particulate material (aerodynamic diameters of 16 – 0.12 µm). On the other hand, the experimental measurements of XRF were performed using a commercial system ARTAX 200 (Bruker) and under the following conditions: voltage of 45 kV, current of 500 µA, acquisition time of 300 s and no filter in the incident X-ray beam. The study allowed estimating the dimensions of the particulate materials, identifying the chemical elements present and pointing out possible sources, from samples collected in three residential points that are in the surroundings of REDUC in the region of Campos Elísios. The X-ray fluorescence technique proved to be efficient and it was possible to detect the following chemical elements: Silicon, Sulfur, Chlorine, Potassium, Calcium, Titanium, Manganese, Iron, Nickel and Zinc. Correlations were observed between some elements making it possible to identify possible sources of pollution.

Assessment of the quality of drinking water of the Republic of Kalmykia by trace element composition

The article presents the data of the environmental assessment of the degree of contamination of drinking waters of Kalmykia. The assessment based on analyses of drinking waters of the republic’s districts, monitoring of drinking sources for 10 years, calculation of pollution coefficients. Today, 45 settlements of the republic, where 70.2% of the population of Kalmykia lives, provided with centralized and mixed drinking water supply. Residents of 140 settlements with a population of 60 thousand people (20.5% of the total population) in 4 districts (Iki-Burul, Priyutnensky, Oktyabrsky, Yashkulsky, Lagansky districts) are provided with imported water and delivered by special water carriers, water is delivered by rail from Dagestan to Ulan-Hall station. As representative indicators, the ratio of calculations of the values of excess of MPC by macro- and microelement composition was chosen. The results obtained rank the SRM by water quality class as, very clean in three rural municipalities (SRM), moderately dirty make up the majority - nine SRM, polluted and dirty - three SRM. This assessment of water quality coincides with the assessment of water exceeding the standards for individual indicators. A high value of this indicator indicates possible sources of pollution.

Protection of peri-urban groundwater catchments: a multi-tracer approach for the identification of urban pollution sources

Abstract. Groundwater catchment located in peri-urban areas may be impacted by many pollutants coming from different types of point or diffuse sources such as accidental spills, continuous hidden leaks in drainage networks, old landfills, treated/untreated wastewater and watercourses. In the scope of the CASPER project, a new methodological approach has been developed based on field survey and interpretation of the collected data in order to distinguish between the different sources of contamination and mixtures of pollutants. First, the groundwater catchment area corresponding to the land surface perimeter in which abstracted groundwater is recharged is determined and characterised in hydrogeological terms. The possible sources of pollution are identified. In a second step, a groundwater and surface water monitoring survey is established, and water samples are collected focusing on a combination of physicochemical parameters and set of various hydrochemical indicators. In particular, different stable isotopes are considered. The NO3- and Boron stable isotopes are used to distinguish between inputs linked to urban effluents, agricultural fertilisers and manure. Stable isotopes of SO42- are used to distinguish between sulphide minerals oxidation, sulphur-carbon compounds mineralisation, lixiviation and human pollution. Moreover, the occurrence of specific molecules like pharmaceutical and lifestyle products (carbamazepine, caffeine, etc.) are used as effective tracers of anthropogenic contamination. Microbiological analyses are also undertaken to identify microbial populations associated with specific sources of pollution or specific biochemical reactions occurring in soil and groundwater. The resulting hydrochemical dataset is then processed using multivariate and clustering analyses. In this context, the objective here is to describe the rigorous methodological approach to assess pollution sources and to illustrate the first steps of this process using a case study corresponding to a groundwater catchment is a chalk aquifer in Western Belgium.

Health risk assessment and source apportionment of potentially toxic metal(loid)s in windowsill dust of a rapidly growing urban settlement, Iran

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have resulted in environmental pollution and unsustainable development of cities. The concentration of 12 potentially toxic metal(loid)s in windowsill dust samples (n = 50) were investigated from different functional areas of Qom city with the highest level of urbanization in Iran. Spatial analyses (ArcGIS 10.3) and multivariate statistics including Principal Component Analysis and Spearman correlation (using STATISTICA-V.12) were adopted to scrutinize the possible sources of pollution. The windowsill dust was very highly enriched with Sb (50 mg/kg) and Pb (1686 mg/kg). Modified degree of contamination (mCd) and the pollution load indices (PLIzone) indicate that windowsill dust in all functional areas was polluted in the order of industrial > commercial > residential > green space. Arsenic, Cd, Mo, Pb, Sb, Cu, and Zn were sourced from a mixture of traffic and industrial activities, while Mn in the dust mainly stemmed from mining activities. Non-carcinogenic health risk (HI) showed chronic exposure of Pb for children in the industrial zone (HI = 1.73). The estimations suggest the possible carcinogenic risk of As, Pb, and Cr in the dust. The findings of this study reveal poor environmental management of the city. Emergency plans should be developed to minimize the health risks of dust to residents.

DETERMINATION OF THE HAZARD OF RECREATIONAL WATER USE IN THE CITY KHARKIV (UKRAINE)

The use of polluted water bodies for recreation carries the threat of an outbreak of infectious diseases. A new method for determining the integral indicator of the occurrence of infectious diseases due to recreational water use is proposed. The cause of infectious disease can be not only swimming in water bodies, but also poor-quality food or drinking water, as well as soil pollution on the territory of beaches. Therefore, in the study of infectious diseases associated with recreational water use, it is proposed to calculate weighting factors separately for food products (Ff), drinking water of centralized water supply (Fdvc), drinking water of non-centralized water supply (Fdvd), surface water in places of mass recreation of people ( Fwr) and soil in the beach zone (Fsb) on the basis of research carried out by the bodies of the state sanitary and epidemiological service. Based on the data of state statistics by using a new method, an integral indicator of the occurrence of infectious diseases as a result of recreational water use in the city of Kharkiv was determined. The application of the proposed method will make it possible to make a scientifically based decision regarding the management of water resources and the protection of public health. The authors of the article conducted a study of the quality of surface water according to hydrochemical and bacteriological indicators in the summer of 2021 on 6 beaches of the city Kharkiv. On all beaches, there is a significant excess of the values of biogenic and bacteriological indicators, which creates a threat of infectious diseases. The risk values correspond to the 4th and 5th class of danger (high and very high impact on public health). The analysis of the evaluation of the weighting coefficients allows to determine the main causes of the development of infectious diseases in order to make scientifically based decisions on ensuring comfortable living conditions for the population. Identifying all possible sources of pollution, being aware of changes that may negatively affect water quality, and providing adequate information to the population are important preventive measures for public health protection. Keywords: public health, recreational water use, infectious disease, pollution sources, Kharkiv city.

Distribution of trace metals and radionuclides contamination in two sections of sediment cores from the Nyong estuary, Cameroon, southern Atlantic coast

This study investigated the spatial distribution of trace metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, Co, Sc and V) and radionuclides (Th and U) contamination in surface and bottom sediments from the Nyong estuary, Cameroon southern Atlantic coast, to provide informations on the pollution status of these sediments and the possible sources of pollutants. Salinity were measured in situ in interstitial water and dried sediment were analyzed for grain size parameters and geochemical composition. Salinity decreases from downstream to upstream, with 19.88 PSU as the highest value and sand is the main constituent (79.25 %). The concentrations of these elements varied significantly among depth (surface and bottom section), with a preferential contribution from the surface. In this surface section, several elements (Fe, Mn, Co, Sc and V) contributed about 80 % to the distribution of each of them in the estuary. Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) and Contamination Factor (CF) of Nyong estuary surface sediments revealed a moderate pollution, while bottom sediment were unpolluted to moderate polluted. The pollution load index (PLI) show that surface sediments (3.86) and bottom sediments (1.19) are polluted. Pearson correlation and component principal analysis confirmed the natural origin of selected elements (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, Co, Sc, V, Th and U) through the weathering and the erosion of sources rocks. However, Pearson correlation analysis and the high Ni (3.91) and Cr (3.54) EF values in bottom sediments suggest a reception of other contaminants from the same emission sources or similar sources, may be agronomic inputs.

Assessment of groundwater quality from some hostels around Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Groundwater is regarded as a safe source of drinking water because it usually contains low microbial loads often requiring very little or no treatment before drinking. This study investigates water quality, health risks and the major factors controlling the water quality within the study area. From the results, the pH was acidic with a mean value of 5.646 ± 0.389 and an observed range of 5.02 to 6.35. Total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity concentrations were below the permissible limit of the World Health Organization (WHO). The presence of total and faecal coliforms bacteria in some of the boreholes strongly indicates likely microbial contamination and that pathogens may be present. The mean levels of heavy metals were in a decreasing order (mg/L) of Fe (0.323 ± 0.316) > Ni (0.088 ± 0.045) > Pb (0.079 ± 0.034) > Cr (0.06 ± 0.038) > Zn (0.048 ± 0.042) > Cu (0.031 ± 0.022). The levels of Cu, Cr, Fe, Pb and Ni exceeding the WHO limit suggest that groundwater from selected Hostels is unsuitable for drinking. Although most of the analysed heavy metals did not pose any severe health risks via ingestion route, HQdermal of Pb was >1 for children. The estimated hazard index of Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Fe and Zn via dermal and ingestion route were <1. Moreover, Cr surpassed the carcinogenic risk limit of 10−6 to 10−4. Multivariate analysis revealed three components accounting for 83.955% of the total variance in the groundwater samples. Principal component analysis revealed anthropogenic (i.e., agricultural and urban runoff) and geogenic activities as the possible sources of pollution within the study area. This study is significant for formulating the needed remediation plans to enhance water quality within the study area.