Risk assessment of metal contamination in wastewater drains of River Ghaggar in Punjab (India)

Heavy metal contamination in surface water is a worldwide concern. Being the primary source of river pollution, the wastewater drains bring agricultural and domestic waste into the rivers. The present study was carried out to evaluate levels of heavy metals from wastewater drains of River Ghaggar in Punjab (India). The water samples were collected in five different seasons to carry out this work. The concentration of five metals (lead, cadmium, iron, aluminium, and nickel) was determined through Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (MP-AES) technique. The data were interpreted through various environmental and human health risk assessments. The results of the current study revealed that lead, iron, and aluminium exceeded the permissible limit of the Central Pollution Control Board (India). Pollution indices such as the heavy metal pollution index (HPI), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), water pollution index (WPI), and degree of contamination (C_d), suggested enormous heavy metal contamination in the study area. Human health risk assessment also revealed that people dwelling near these drains are highly prone to cancer disease and hazard quotients were observed above the threshold limit that poses high non-carcinogenic risks. Based on the current study, recommendations are made for water quality improvement in the wastewater drains of Punjab. These drains are further responsible for enhancing pollution in the main rivers in the State of Punjab and heavy metal pollution also poses several environmental and health risks. The compiled data during the present study provides a baseline model that can be helpful in resource management for government authorities of Punjab state.