Study of Health & Environmental Risks Associated with Polluted Water Irrigation

Abstract

A study was conducted in Jamber Khurd, a union council of Tehsil Pattoki, district Kasur in Punjab province, Pakistan, in order to determine the effects of using polluted water for irrigation which disturbed the quality of ground water and then its ultimate effects on the environment and health of common man living in the area. Different water quality parameters were studied in ground water samples that includes physico-chemical variables (pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity and total dissolved solids), anions (carbonates, bicarbonates and chlorides), cations (sodium, calcium and magnesium), biological variables like total coliform (faecal coliform and E-coli), heavy metals (manganese, nickel, chromium, lead, copper, cobalt, iron and zinc), sodium absorption ratio and residual sodium carbonate. The results were compared with National Environment Quality Standards. The results of the study show that, the use of polluted water increases the value of conductivity, total dissolved solids, sodium absorption ratio and residual sodium carbonate in ground water and exceeds the acceptable limits of National Environment Quality Standards. The increase in values was statistically significant. After detailed survey by conducting interview, it was concluded that the use of polluted water not only degraded the ground water quality but also have a severe health hazard on the residents of the area. The concentration of heavy metals was also found to be higher than acceptable range. Possible recommendations were given, in order to protect the area from pollution degradation.

Assessment of Ground Water Contamination by Various Pollutants from Sewage Water in Chakera Village, Faisalabad

“…The present study was in relation to Increase in the conductivity of ground water than National Environment Quality Standards was due to injection of polluted water into it [20]. Salinity of water is due to presence of high TDS concentration and its value above 500 mg/l is not suggested for drinking purposes [21].…”

The Challenges of Water Sustainability in Iraq

“…Deterioration of water quality results in a series of problems with negative impacts on human health and environment. The use of contaminated water in irrigation results in the transmission of contaminants to the irrigated plants and consequently to humans, as well as increasing soil salinity, reducing productivity and converting areas of agricultural land into barren land [29]. The deterioration of water quality definitely reduces the uses to which the water can be put, even if it does not render the water completely unusable for human or agricultural consumption.…”

The Potential of Fungal Biomass as Agents for Biosorption of Chromium (VI) Ion from Tannery Effluent

“…Pollution of water and soil by heavy metals is an emerging problem in urban industrialized countries. Since the advent of development through mining and smelting, metallurgical industries, sewage, warfare, and tanning the survival of plants and animals are much affected (Ashraf, 2010).…”