Health risk assessment of groundwater contamination in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, northern India

Abstract

This research underscores the critical problem of contamination of groundwater and its direct consequences on public health in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, located in the northern India. Groundwater is a vital source of drinking water, with approximately half of the population depending on it. Given its importance, the presence of contaminants in groundwater poses significant risks, necessitating urgent attention and remediation efforts to ensure safe and clean water for communities residing in this region. The main aim of this study is to identify the contaminants in groundwater within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Research has shown that several heavy metals, including iron (Fe), lead (Pb), uranium (U), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), radon (Rn), and non-metal ions like fluoride (F) and nitrate (NO₃), are present in groundwater. While the concentrations of some of these elements remain within permissible limits, others, like F, NO₃, U, Rn, and Fe, exceed these limits, posing significant health risks. Health risk assessments indicate that these elevated concentrations of contaminants can adversely affect both humans and animals. Observations also indicate that children are more vulnerable to these contaminants in comparison to adults. Conditions such as cancer and kidney stones have been reported in connection with these contaminants. If these contaminant concentrations continue to rise, there is a risk that the number of cases could increase correspondingly.