Health risk assessment of groundwater quality: A case study of Pratapgarh district U.P, India

To investigate the geochemical factors contributing to the presence of fluoride and nitrate in groundwater and their implications for human health, samples from the Sadar Region, Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh, India underwent analysis for diverse chemical parameters. The findings indicate that the groundwater exhibits an alkaline nature, primarily characterized by the presence of Na-K-SO4-Cl and Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl type facies. According to the water pollution index, in pre-monsoon 47.5 %, 50 % monsoon, and 48 % of Post-monsoon, samples were considered "extremely polluted," with a WPI score greater than 1, indicating that the water was unsafe for human consumption. By computing Total Hazard Index (THI) values, it's determined that 12 sample sites show significant contamination, with over 65 % of males, 83 % of females, and 90 % of children exhibiting THI values surpassing 1.0, indicating the highest levels of contamination. Health risk assessments highlight the increased vulnerability of children and females to potential health hazards. The Piper plot illustrates the dominance of Cland some SO42- type waters, indicating a prevalence of strong acid dominance over weak acid waters. Cation composition analysis reveals the preponderance of alkaline earth metals over alkali metals, primarily composed of Ca2+ with some Mg2+ type water. This research underscores the urgency of addressing groundwater contamination and its potential health impacts, emphasizing the need for comprehensive mitigation strategies in the Indo-Gangetic alluvium.