Appraisal of groundwater chemistry, its suitability for crop productivity in Sonipat district and human health risk evaluation

Abstract

Abstract The present study was taken with a primary objective to estimate the groundwater quality and its suitability toward sustainable crop productivity in an agriculturally dominant semi-urban area. Elevated levels of nitrate have severe health impacts and affect the human health. Hence, health risks associated with the consumption of nitrate contaminated water were estimated for adults and children in Sonipat district, Haryana. In general, the groundwater was found to be slightly alkaline and moderately hard. The anionic abundance was verified as F– < NO3 – < HCO3 – < SO4 2– < Cl–, whereas, the cationic abundance was verified as Ca2+ < Mg2+ < K+ < Na+. Concentration of nitrate varied from 1.34 mg/L to 565 mg/L, with an average value of 47.6 mg/L, and 46% of the groundwater samples had nitrate concentration of more than 45 mg/L. As per the results of Wilcox plot, only 34% of samples were suitable for crop productivity, whereas 23% of the samples fell in category-II of the permeability index. The non-carcinogenic health risk assessment further suggested that hazard quotient values for nitrate reached as high as 18.35 (children), and 13.57 (adult male), suggesting that health risk degree of children has greater health risk than adults in the study region. Overall results suggest an urgent need for intervention to adopt suitable health risk measures to reduce exposure toward nitrate contaminated drinking water. Moreover, agricultural practices must be improved to increase the crop productivity in the affected areas.