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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/FWSH/33
Arsenic contamination of drinking water and its health implications in district
Khanewal, Punjab-Pakistan

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Najeeb Ullah Khan , Muhammad Shahid , Natasha , Sana Khalid , Ghulam Mustafa Shah ,
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Muhammad Asif Naeem
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari- Campus,
61100 Pakistan
Correspondence: muhammadshahid@cuivehari.edu.pk
Abstract
Groundwater arsenic (As) contamination has affected over 105 countries globally with
approximately 0.23 billion people at risk of As poisoning including 0.18 billion from Asia.
Asia and Europe have reported the highest percentages of groundwater As contamination i.e.,
32% and 31% followed by Africa (20%), North America (11%), South America (9%) and
Australia (4%). In Pakistan, over 20% population in Punjab and 36% Sindh in population is at
risk due to groundwater As concentration of over 10 μg/L. This study was designed to estimate
As contamination of the groundwater aquifers and its health implication in District Khanewal,
Punjab-Pakistan. Drinking water samples (n = 123) were collected from four tehsils of District
Khanewal; Mian Channu, Kabirwala, Jahaniyan, and Khanewal. In addition to As, water
samples were also analyzed for pH, electric conductivity, total dissolved solids, carbonates,
bicarbonates, calcium plus magnesium and chloride. Overall, the water samples were within
the WHO guidelines for drinking water regarding physicochemical variables. The average As
concentration in water samples of District Khanewal was 14.9 µg/L which was higher than the
WHO threshold value (10 µg/L). Among the four Tehsils, the highest mean concentration of
20.9 µg/L was found in Tehsil Mian Channu. Overall, the mean concentration of As (14.9µg/L)
in drinking water of District Khanewal was less than the limit value of As in drinking water
proposed by Pak-EPA (50 µg/L). Based on the findings, it is anticipated that special monitoring
and management of drinking water is necessary in the studied area to overcome the health
issues by using As Polluted water.

Keywords: Contamination, drinking water, non-carcinogenic, Arsenic, Carbonates

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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