Page 51 - C:\Users\am_se\OneDrive - Higher Education Commission\Desktop\FlipBook\

International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/CDMP/17
GIS modelling for health risk assessment due to arsenic in the aquifer along river Ravi,
Lahore

1*
2
2
Syed Umair Shahid , Naeem Akhtar Abbasi , Areej Tahir
1 Centre for Integrated Mountain Research, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
2 College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Correspondence: umair.cimr@pu.edu.pk

Abstract

The exposure variation of Arsenic from different ground and surface water sources has remain
unpredictable which may cause robust health problems in human populations. The current
study is therefore designed to analyze the spatial variability of arsenic contamination in shallow
aquifer and assess the potential health risks. For this purpose, a total of 55 groundwater, 10
drains, 4 river water and 6 sediment samples were collected along zero to 5 km stretch of River
Ravi, Lahore. All water samples were tested for As, pH and total dissolve solids (TDS) whereas
sediments were only tested for As. Health risk models were used to predict cancer and non-
cancer risk in adults and children. Highest median (minimum-maximum) concentrations (µg/L)
of As 53.32 (1.98-1555) was detected in groundwater followed by 53.04 (1.58-351.5) in drain
water, 6.03 (5.56-13.92 mg/kg) in river sediments and 4.80 (2.13-8.67) in river water
respectively. Variation of As was non-significant (P>0.05) among each one Km stretch from
Ravi River. However, maximum median concentrations (µg/L) of 60.18 and 60.08 were
recorded between 2-3 and 0-1 km from River Ravi, respectively, reflecting possible mixing of
river water with shallow groundwater aquifers. Health risk assessment revealed a very high
-4
cancer and non-cancer risk (HI > 1.0 ×10 ) via ingestion and dermal contact of groundwater
As both in children and adults. The current study concluded that prevalence of As above WHO
prescribed limits in shallow aquifer along the urban stretch of River Ravi is posing serious
health risk to the exposed population.
Keywords: Groundwater, sediments, drains, arsenic, spatial variation, urban development

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

18