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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/FWSH/31
Arsenic in hair and nails of individuals exposed to arsenic-rich ground waters in Tehsil
Chichawatni, Punjab-Pakistan

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Muhammad Bilal , Muhammad Shahid , Natasha , Sana Khalid
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari- Campus,
61100 Pakistan
Correspondence: muhammadshahid@cuivehari.edu.pk
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is a hazardous and potentially cancer-causing metal(loid). More than 80% of the
population of Pakistan uses untreated groundwater for drinking purposes. Due to the present
threat for human health and the environment, it was of utmost importance to estimate
groundwater quality used for drinking and acquisition of As in biological samples. Therefore,
the research was designed to estimate As contamination of the groundwater aquifers and its
possible buildup in animal milk and human nail and hair samples in the unexplored Tehsil of
South Punjab (Chichawatni). All the water, nail, hair and milk samples were randomly
collected from tehsil Chichawatni. Water samples were analyzed for water quality parameters
such as pH, electric conductivity, total dissolved solids, carbonates, bicarbonates, calcium plus
magnesium and chlorides. Overall, the water was found to be fit for drinking purpose
depending on the WHO guidelines of drinking water. However, As concentration was found
higher in water samples ranging from 1.1 to 29.5 µg/L. The mean As concentration of 13.6
µg/L was much higher than the WHO limit value of 10 µg/L. The risk indices also exhibited
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potential carcinogenic (CR > 10 ) and non-carcinogenic risk (HQ > 1) from the consumption
of As-contaminated water in Tehsil Chichawatni. The As content in biological samples varied
greatly. Arsenic concentration in most of the samples remained below detection limit of the
instrument. The good correlation with the groundwater As concentration, allied with the
relative ease of sampling such tissues, indicate that the As content of hair, nail and milk samples
may be used as an effective biomarker of As intake in this relatively recently exposed
population.

Keywords: Biological samples, Carbonates, bicarbonates, Arsenic, HQ, Cancer causing
metal(oid)

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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