Comprehensive Assessment of Water Quality of a Transboundary River in Nepal Using Hydro-Chemical, Chemometric, Health Risk and Index-Based Approaches

IF 3 4区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Pub Date : 2025-03-10 DOI:10.1007/s11270-025-07844-z

Ramesh Raj Pant, Memet Varol, Mahesh Prasad Awasthi, Rupesh Bohara, Sudip Paudel, Jharana Nepal, Siddha Raj Pant, Tark Raj Joshi, Kiran Bishwakarma, Mansour Almazroui, Muhammad Mubashar Dogar, Rabin Chakrabortty

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Abstract

In this study, advanced hydro-chemical analysis, chemometric techniques, health risk assessment and various indices were used to comprehensively assess the water quality of Mahakali River, which is an essential water resource for Nepal and India. Most parameters measured in the water samples collected from 25 sites in the basin during the pre- and post-monsoon periods were found to be compliance with drinking water standards, except NH₄⁺ and Fe. The Water Quality Index values classified both the main river and its tributary (Chameliya River) as “unsuitable” for drinking. Nutrient pollution was found to be more severe in the tributary, which is much more affected by anthropogenic activities than the main river. Hydro-chemical analysis showed that the dominant water type in the basin is Ca–HCO₃, which is mainly controlled by rock weathering. Apart from the magnesium hazard index, other irrigation indices confirmed that the surface water of the study area is suitable for agriculture. Chemometric methods provided deeper insights into the water chemistry of the basin by revealing pollution sources and relationships between parameters. Health risk assessment revealed minimal adverse health effects for children and adults exposed to NO₃–N, Fe and F⁻. This pioneering study not only provides a holistic evaluation of water quality in a Himalayan glacier-fed river system but also establishes an innovative framework for sustainable water management in climate-sensitive regions worldwide.

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基于水文化学、化学计量学、健康风险和指数方法的尼泊尔跨境河流水质综合评价

本研究采用先进的水化学分析、化学计量学技术、健康风险评估和各种指标对尼泊尔和印度重要水资源马哈卡利河的水质进行了综合评价。在季风前和季风后采集的流域25个地点的水样中，除NH4+和Fe外，大部分参数均符合饮用水标准。水质指数将主要河流及其支流（chamelya河）划分为“不适合”饮用。支流受人为活动的影响比干流大得多，营养物污染更为严重。水化学分析表明，盆地主要水类型为Ca-HCO3，主要受岩石风化控制。除镁危害指数外，其他灌溉指标均证实研究区地表水适宜农业生产。化学计量学方法通过揭示污染源和参数之间的关系，对流域的水化学有了更深入的了解。健康风险评估显示，暴露于NO3-N、Fe和F−的儿童和成人的不良健康影响最小。这项开创性的研究不仅对喜马拉雅冰川河流系统的水质进行了全面评估，而且为全球气候敏感地区的可持续水管理建立了一个创新框架。

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来源期刊

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

6.90%

发文量

448

审稿时长

2.6 months

期刊介绍： Water, Air, & Soil Pollution is an international, interdisciplinary journal on all aspects of pollution and solutions to pollution in the biosphere. This includes chemical, physical and biological processes affecting flora, fauna, water, air and soil in relation to environmental pollution. Because of its scope, the subject areas are diverse and include all aspects of pollution sources, transport, deposition, accumulation, acid precipitation, atmospheric pollution, metals, aquatic pollution including marine pollution and ground water, waste water, pesticides, soil pollution, sewage, sediment pollution, forestry pollution, effects of pollutants on humans, vegetation, fish, aquatic species, micro-organisms, and animals, environmental and molecular toxicology applied to pollution research, biosensors, global and climate change, ecological implications of pollution and pollution models. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution also publishes manuscripts on novel methods used in the study of environmental pollutants, environmental toxicology, environmental biology, novel environmental engineering related to pollution, biodiversity as influenced by pollution, novel environmental biotechnology as applied to pollution (e.g. bioremediation), environmental modelling and biorestoration of polluted environments. Articles should not be submitted that are of local interest only and do not advance international knowledge in environmental pollution and solutions to pollution. Articles that simply replicate known knowledge or techniques while researching a local pollution problem will normally be rejected without review. Submitted articles must have up-to-date references, employ the correct experimental replication and statistical analysis, where needed and contain a significant contribution to new knowledge. The publishing and editorial team sincerely appreciate your cooperation. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution publishes research papers; review articles; mini-reviews; and book reviews.