Effect of high nitrate contamination of groundwater on human health and water quality index in semi-arid region, South India

Abstract

The specific objective of the present is to evaluate the human health issue due to the continuous consumption of nitrate-contaminated groundwater among the various age groups of people. In the study, 40 groundwater samples were collected during the post-monsoon season, and the major ions were analysed in a laboratory. Chadha plot revealed that weathering of parent rocks, ion exchange process and leaching of salts from the rocks are primary sources of groundwater contamination. Nitrate concentration varied from 24 to 78 mg/L with a mean of 46.45 mg/L. Nitrogen pollution index (NPI) value divulged that 40% and 17.5% of sample locations are moderately and significantly polluted due to elevated nitrate concentration in groundwater. The human health risk assessment model revealed that health issues are among the various age groups which are infants > kids > children > aged peoples > adults. The nitrate’s identified sources are leaching of salts from the rocks, using synthetic fertilizers, uncovered septic tanks and improper disposal of household waste from the residential area. Therefore, periodic inspection of water supply, health check-up and inspection of underground pipelines are the remedial measures that should be taken to reduce the severe effects of nitrate-contaminated drinking water in the study area.

Statistical Analysis of Urban Non-Point Source Pollution and Nitrate Contamination in the Groundwater at Thuckalay, Kanyakumari District, South India

“…In a similar vein to our research, Lake Urmia, formerly thought to be among the biggest hypersaline lakes on Earth, has seen significant environmental deterioration in the last two decades (Schmidt et al, 2021). According to (Ramalingam et al, 2022), NPI is a reliable method for assessing the extent to which groundwater is contaminated with nitrates. 10) as a result of the Swatch Bharat Abhiyan's mandate that all homes install closed septic tanks, or The government of India launched the Clean India Mission in 2014 as a nationwide initiative to enhance solid and liquid waste management and eradicate open defecation (http://www.swachhbharat.mygov.in).…”

Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Relation to Organic versus Mineral Fertilization

“…To identify the potential nitrate groundwater contamination, the nitrate pollution index was calculated [16], according to the formula:…”

“…Due to this reality, nitrogen groundwater pollution became one of the most challenging environmental concerns [12][13][14]. Infiltration from landfills, mining activities, and wastewater discharges lead to pollution with other inorganic substances, toxic substances, and compounds that can be associated with water salinity due to high concentrations of Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , Cl − , and F − [7,15,16]. Thanks to the soil-water symbiosis, both nutrients and toxic substances are absorbed at the plant level.…”

Pollution Source Identification and Suitability Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Drinking Purposes in Semi-Arid Regions of the Southern Part of India

“…The sum of inorganic salts and other organic salt in groundwater is called total dissolved solids [31]. The major salts, namely cations, are calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium; the major anions include carbonate/bicarbonate, sulphate, chloride and nitrate.…”