Assessment of groundwater quality and trace elements toxicity in southern Brahmaputra floodplains: A health risk study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63697/jeshs.2026.10089Keywords:
Heavy metals, Groundwater chemistry, Health risk assessment, Principal component analysis, Brahmaputra floodplainAbstract
Groundwater, which is a freshwater reserve, is becoming a global concern due to its high extraction and contamination. This study investigated the contamination of heavy metals in groundwater, the potential health hazards it causes, and the essential role of monitoring and mitigating environmentally induced influences on water resources in southern Brahmaputra floodplains, India. The parameters: pH, TDS (total dissolved solids), EC (electrical conductivity), Hardness, HCO3–, SO42–, Na+, Ca2+, Cl–, Mg2+, F–, K+, NO3– including heavy metals such as As (arsenic), Cu (copper), Pb (lead), Mn (manganese), Fe (iron), Zn (zinc) and Cd (cadmium) were analyzed. In Sivasagar district, the groundwater and surface water are slightly alkaline, with hardness, EC and TDS all within permissible limits. Na⁺ followed by Ca²⁺ are the cations predominant in the region, with HCO3– being the dominant anion. A high level of NO3– in some samples indicates contamination from anthropogenic sources like agricultural runoff and domestic waste. Silicate weathering and rock-water interaction influence the groundwater quality. Groundwater composition changes through natural processes, as well as industrial and agricultural activities, are further highlighted by principal component analysis (PCA). Heavy metal analysis revealed that Fe (88%), Pb (92%), and As (14%) exceeded permissible limits, with notably high Fe and Pb concentrations due to both anthropogenic and natural processes. Concentrations of Mn (92%) and Cd (12%) were also found to exceed the permissible limits. Heavy metal contamination indices indicate a high level of pollution, particularly for Cd. Carcinogenic risk (CR) is shown for children, females, and males due to exposure to As, Cd, and Pb, despite the major ions being within the permissible limit.
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