Industrial impact on groundwater quality with special reference to Cr2+ and Pb2+ in coastal aquifers

The present investigation has been carried out in the Ottapidaram taluk to evaluate the suitability of groundwater for drinking purposes and to assess the non-carcinogenic health risks. Twenty groundwater samples were collected, and the major physicochemical parameters were measured along with the heavy metals lead (Pb 2+ ) and chromium (Cr 2+ ). The analyzed anions and cations follow the average dominance order, Cl − > PO 4 3− > SO 4 2− > NO 3 − > F − , and Mg 2+ > Ca 2+ > Na + > K + , respectively. From the water quality index to know the 45% of the water samples are unsuitable for drinking purposes. The statistical analysis of the data infers that major geochemical process of the region is leaching of salts by contaminated water, followed by industrial pollution and geogenic sources. The spatial representation of the different parameters reveals that the western part of the study area is predominated by geogenic sources and the eastern part is contaminated by industrial effluents. The non-carcinogenic risks of F − , NO 3 − , Cr 2+ , and Pb 2+ were assessed. The findings show 40% of the samples exceeds the chromium hazard quotient, and 50% exceed the lead hazard quotient value of 1 recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The present investigation shows that Cr 2+ and Pb 2+ highly pollute the groundwater due to the industrial impacts. The present study suggests that the groundwater from this taluk is worse, and people from this taluk have health risks due to groundwater drinking.