Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: 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
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