Mohammad Salman Faisal, Muhammad Awais, Rohina Bashir, Muhammad Bilal Shakoor, Rizwan Aziz, Muhammad Rizwan, Affaq Ali, Simal Akhtar, Noor Fatima
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Water pollution is a major threat to both human health and the environment. Untreated industrial wastewater is one of the main sources of water contamination. The current study aims to assess the extent of heavy metal contamination in tannery wastewater and its mobility, the associated impacts on groundwater quality and human health in Kasur, Pakistan. A total of 120 samples, including 60 wastewater samples and 60 groundwater samples, were collected and analyzed for heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Pb, Cd, and Cr) as well as physicochemical and biological parameters. Results showed exceptionally high concentrations of heavy metals in tannery wastewater, particularly Cr (154.55 mg L−1). Groundwater exhibited moderate to very high contamination levels due to heavy metals, with the Pollution Load Index (PLI) indicating high pollution in the area. The risk assessment indicated potential carcinogenic risks associated with the consumption of metal-contaminated groundwater, particularly Cr (2.05 × 10–03) and Pb (1.9 × 10–04). Additionally, Hazard Quotient (HQ) values exceeding 1 for Pb, Cd, and Cr indicate a non-carcinogenic risk from groundwater consumption. The study emphasizes that remediation techniques are required to make groundwater safe to drink. It also suggests filtering drinking water and treating wastewater before disposal to mitigate health risks and protect public health.
期刊介绍：
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution is an international, interdisciplinary journal on all aspects of pollution and solutions to pollution in the biosphere. This includes chemical, physical and biological processes affecting flora, fauna, water, air and soil in relation to environmental pollution. Because of its scope, the subject areas are diverse and include all aspects of pollution sources, transport, deposition, accumulation, acid precipitation, atmospheric pollution, metals, aquatic pollution including marine pollution and ground water, waste water, pesticides, soil pollution, sewage, sediment pollution, forestry pollution, effects of pollutants on humans, vegetation, fish, aquatic species, micro-organisms, and animals, environmental and molecular toxicology applied to pollution research, biosensors, global and climate change, ecological implications of pollution and pollution models. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution also publishes manuscripts on novel methods used in the study of environmental pollutants, environmental toxicology, environmental biology, novel environmental engineering related to pollution, biodiversity as influenced by pollution, novel environmental biotechnology as applied to pollution (e.g. bioremediation), environmental modelling and biorestoration of polluted environments.
Articles should not be submitted that are of local interest only and do not advance international knowledge in environmental pollution and solutions to pollution. Articles that simply replicate known knowledge or techniques while researching a local pollution problem will normally be rejected without review. Submitted articles must have up-to-date references, employ the correct experimental replication and statistical analysis, where needed and contain a significant contribution to new knowledge. The publishing and editorial team sincerely appreciate your cooperation.
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution publishes research papers; review articles; mini-reviews; and book reviews.
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