Anthropogenic Nitrate Pollution in Groundwater and Its Health Risks in The View of Background Concentration in a Semi-Arid Area of Rajasthan

Abstract

An increased nitrate (NO3-) concentration in groundwater has been a rising issue on a global scale in recent years. Through different consumption mechanisms, it clearly illustrates the adverse effects on human health. The goal of this present study is to assess the natural and anthropogenic NO3- concentration in groundwater and its related risks to human health in the different groups of ages such as children, males, and females. Groundwater samples (n=101) were obtained and analysed for their physicochemical components, along with the nitrate concentration in a semi-arid area of Rajasthan. The results show that most of the samples were influenced by anthropogenic activities. The background and anthropogenic levels had been estimated and marked as 7.2 mg/L and 13.3 mg/L for the background and anthropogenic concentrations, respectively. About 83% of nitrate samples were exceeded the background limit, while 28% of the samples were beyond the permissible limit of 45 mg/L as stated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Nitrate health risks were also measured by oral intake and dermal contact sources for the residents in this area. The oral exposure of nitrate was very high as compare to dermal contact. With regards to the non-carcinogenic health risk, the total Heath Index (HITotal) values of groundwater nitrate in the study area varied from 0.045 to 3.153 with an average of 0.964 for males, 0.053 to 3.726 with an average of 1.139 for females, and 0.061 to 4.278 with an average of 1.308 for children. The nitrate health risk assessment shows that about 38%, 46%, and 49% of groundwater samples constitute the non-carcinogenic health risk to males, females, and children, respectively.

Physico-chemical investigation of groundwater of Pisangan region of Ajmer (Rajasthan) with special reference to fluoride and nitrate

“…The groundwater resources of most of region of Rajasthan such as DOI No. : http://doi.org/10.53550/EEC.2022.v28i07s.052 S319 Ajmer, Alwar, Bhilwara, Dausa, Jaipur, Jalore, Nagour, Pali, Jodhpur and Tank districts shows very high concentration of both fluoride and nitrate (Agarwal and Sharma, 2015;Hussain et al, 2001Hussain et al, & 2013Jandu et al, 2021;Jhanwar et al, 2021;Munoth et al, 2015;Rahman et al, 2021;Sharma et al, 2017;Singh et al, 2011;Tailor and Chandel, 2010;Tiwari et al, 2020). The groundwater resources of Rajasthan (India) are highly contaminated and it is unsafe for human consumption and therefore, it is necessary to analyse and categorized the groundwater resources for human necessity.…”