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https://doi.org/10.3390/w9040234
Title: | Human exposure risk assessment due to heavy metals in groundwater by pollution index and multivariate statistical methods: A case study from South Africa | Authors: | Elumalai V. Brindha K. Lakshmanan E. |
Keywords: | Boron Cadmium Catchments Groundwater Groundwater pollution Heavy metals Location Manganese Multivariant analysis Nickel Pollution Potable water Statistical mechanics Statistical methods Water Water pollution Electrical conductivity Empangeni Fertilizer applications Heavy metal pollution Human exposure risks Multivariate statistical method Richards bay South Africa Risk assessment concentration (composition) dose-response relationship drinking water factor analysis groundwater pollution heavy metal human activity multivariate analysis pollution exposure risk assessment sampling water quality KwaZulu-Natal Richards Bay South Africa |
Issue Date: | 2017 | Citation: | Elumalai V., Brindha K., Lakshmanan E. (2017). Human exposure risk assessment due to heavy metals in groundwater by pollution index and multivariate statistical methods: A case study from South Africa. Water (Switzerland) 9 (4) : 234. ScholarBank@NUS Repository. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9040234 | Abstract: | Heavy metals in surface and groundwater were analysed and their sources were identified using multivariate statistical tools for two towns in South Africa. Human exposure risk through the drinking water pathway was also assessed. Electrical conductivity values showed that groundwater is desirable to permissible for drinking except for six locations. Concentration of aluminium, lead and nickel were above the permissible limit for drinking at all locations. Boron, cadmium, iron and manganese exceeded the limit at few locations. Heavy metal pollution index based on ten heavy metals indicated that 85% of the area had good quality water, but 15% was unsuitable. Human exposure dose through the drinking water pathway indicated no risk due to boron, nickel and zinc, moderate risk due to cadmium and lithium and high risk due to silver, copper, manganese and lead. Hazard quotients were high in all sampling locations for humans of all age groups, indicating that groundwater is unsuitable for drinking purposes. Highly polluted areas were located near the coast, close to industrial operations and at a landfill site representing human-induced pollution. Factor analysis identified the four major pollution sources as: (1) industries; (2) mining and related activities; (3) mixed sources- geogenic and anthropogenic and (4) fertilizer application. © 2017 by the authors. | Source Title: | Water (Switzerland) | URI: | https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/175214 | ISSN: | 20734441 | DOI: | 10.3390/w9040234 |
Appears in Collections: | Elements Staff Publications |
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