Groundwater Quality Assessment Of Naini Industrial Area With Special Emphasis On Human Health Risk Assessment

Abstract

Groundwater is an essential resource worldwide, sustaining billions of people and newlinesupporting critical agricultural, industrial, and domestic needs. Groundwater is the main newlinesource of drinking water globally; however, its quality has been deteriorated due to various newlineanthropogenic activities. In the present study, the groundwater quality were studies in the newlineNaini Industrial Area. A total of 60 representative groundwater samples were collected newlinefrom pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post monsoon season in the year 2023 and analyzed for newlinemajor ions and metals (Fand#8722;, Cland#8722;, HCO3and#8722; , SO42and#8722;, NO3and#8722;, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+; Al, As, Ba, newlineCd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, V and Zn). The collected samples were for the newlineanalysis of major ions and metals using an advanced analytical technique. Major ions were newlineanalysed using Ion Chromatography (IC), Flame photometry and Spectrophotometric newlinemethods. Additionally, volumetric titration techniques were applied for parameters like newlinehardness and bicarbonates, providing complementary insights into the water chemistry. newlineInductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed to analyse the newlineconcentrations of metals. newlineAnalytical findings reveal that the groundwater ranges from slightly acidic to newlineslightly alkaline, with calcium (Ca²and#8314;) and sodium (Naand#8314;) dominating the cationic newlinecomposition, while bicarbonate (HCOand#8323;and#8315;) and chloride (Cland#8315;) prevail among anions. Ionic newlineconcentrations are lowest during the monsoon and highest in the pre-monsoon season, newlineattributed to dilution from increased rainfall during the monsoon season. The newlineconcentrations of the analyzed major ions exhibited notable seasonal variations in the newlinegroundwater of the Naini Industrial Area. Ion concentrations were consistently higher newlineduring the pre-monsoon season across all sampling locations. The concentrations of all ions newlinedecreased during the monsoon season, except for nitrate. Nitrate levels exceeded the newlineacceptable limit during the monsoon season in agricultural regions due to the extensive use of nitrogen-based fertilizers.