Abstract
Groundwater is the major freshwater resource in urban and rural areas of India that provides potable water. The quality evaluation of existing groundwater resources is vital and it’s quantity for the optimal utilization and maintenance. The bounding coordinates of the selected study area of Tuticorin industrial area is between 8°38’24” and 8°51’0” latitude and between 77°54’36” and 78°12’36” longitude. Groundwater samples were collected as grid form at 40 locations during the pre- and postmonsoon seasons in the year 2017. Fe, Zn, Co, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cr, and Cu metal concentrations were determined using AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer)–Perkin Elmer makes the model AAnalyst 200. Most of the groundwater samples were exceeded by the WHO 2008; USEPA 2009; and BIS 2012 guideline for drinking water standards. Further to assess the groundwater pollution status based on the heavy metal indices such as heavy metal pollution index (HPI), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), degree of contamination (DOC), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI). Statistical analyses to found the appropriateness of groundwater for consumption and factors of contamination. The evaluation results indicate that groundwater is highly deteriorated and unsuitable for drinking in premonsoon period. While evaporation of water which increases the heavy metal concentration in premonsoon and dilution factor was affected in postmonsoon season. The increased concentration of heavy metals in groundwater might have been caused by evaporation, anthropogenic activities, and dissolution of rock formations which poses risk to human health. If this kind of growing contamination in the groundwater is unattended, it may lead to various health issues to the people from this region. Therefore, a consistent and sustainable water management should be carried out in this region in order to improve the groundwater quality.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abou Zakhem B, Hafez R (2015) Heavy metal pollution index for groundwater quality assessment in Damascus Oasis, Syria. Environ Earth Sci 73(10):6591–6600. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3882-5
Amadi A, Olasehinde P, Unuevho C, Obaje N, Goki N, Dan M (2016) Water quality studies in parts of Easter Niger Delta, Nigeria using heavy metal pollution index. Nigerian Min J 14(1):15–26
Backman B, Bodiš D, Lahermo P, Rapant S, Tarvainen T (1998) Application of a groundwater contamination index in Finland and Slovakia. Environ Geol 36(1-2):55–64
Benson NU, Enyong PA, Fred-Ahmadu OH (2016) Trace metal contamination characteristics and health risks assessment of Commelina africana L. and Psammitic Sandflats in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Appl Environ Soil Sci. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8178901
BIS (2012) Bureau of Indian Standards Specification for drinking water IS:10500:91. Revised 2012. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi
Boateng TK, Opoku F, Akoto O (2019) Heavy metal contamination assessment of groundwater quality: a case study of Oti landfill site, Kumasi. Appl Water Sci 9(2):1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-019-0915-y
Brindha K, Jagadeshan G, Kalpana L, Elango L (2016) Fluoride in weathered rock aquifers of southern India: managed aquifer recharge for mitigation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23:8302–8316
Brown RM, McClelland NI, Deininger RA, Tozer RG (1970) A water quality index—do we dare? Water Sew Works 117(10):339–343
Chidambaram S, Senthil KG, Prasanna MV, John PA, Ramanthan AL, Srinivasamoorthy K (2008) A study on the hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry of groundwater from different depths in a coastal aquifer: Annamalai Nagar, Tamilnadu. India. Environ Geol 57:59–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1282-4
Chidambaram S, Anandhan P, Prasanna MV, Srinivasamoorthy K, Vasanthavigar M (2012) Major ion chemistry and identification of hydrogeochemical processes controlling groundwater in and around Neyveli Lignite Mines, Tamil Nadu, South India. Arab J Geosci 6:3451–3467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0589-3
Davis JC (2002) Statistics and data analysis in geology. John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp 526–540
Edet AE, Offiong OE (2002) Evaluation of water quality pollution indices for heavy metal contamination monitoring. A study case from Akpabuyo-Odukpani area, Lower Cross River Basin (southeastern Nigeria). Geochem J 57:295–304
Fan Y, Zhu T, Li M, He J, Huang R (2017) Heavy metal contamination in soil and brown rice and human health risk assessment near three mining areas in Central China. J Healthcare Eng 2017:9–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/4124302
Farnham IM, Johannesson KH, Singh AK, Hodge VF, Stetzenbach KJ (2003) Factor analytical approaches for evaluating groundwater trace element chemistry data. Anal Chim Acta 490:123–138
Gnanachandrasamy G, Ramkumar T, Vasudevan S, Bagyaraj M, Venkatramanan S, Chung SY, Chinnaraja B (2014) Hydrogeochemical characteristics of coastal environment in parts of Vedaranyam block, Tamil Nadu, India – using GIS. Inventi Rapid: Water Environ 1(1):1–5
Gopal V, Krishnakumar S, Simon Peter T, Nethaji S, Suresh Kumar K, Jayaprakash M, Magesh NS (2017) Assessment of trace element accumulation in surface sediments off Chennai coast after a major flood event. Mar Pollut Bull 114(2):1063–1071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.10.019
Hakanson L (1980) An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control. A sedimentological approach. Water Res 14(8):975–1001
Hassaan MA, Nemr AEI, Madkour FF (2016) Environmental assessment of heavy metal pollution and human health risk. Am J Water Sci Eng 2(3):14–19. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20160203.11
Horton RK (1965) An index number system for rating water quality. J Water Pollut Control Fed 37(3):300–306
Hua Z, Yinghui J, Tao Y, Min W, Guangxun S, Mingjun D (2016) Heavy metal concentrations and risk assessment of sediments and surface water of the Gan River, China. Pol J Environ Stud 25(4):1529–1540. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/62100
IBM SPSS (International Business Machines Corporation Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) (2013) IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. IBM Corp, Armonk
ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) (2009) Nutrient requirements and recommended dietary allowances for Indians. A report of the expert group of the ICMR, Hyderabad, India, p 334
IRIS (2005) (Integrated Risk Information System) Zinc and Com- pounds (CASRN 7440-66-6). Available from: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris/iris_documents/documents/toxreviews/0426tr.pdf (Accessed on 23 July 2016)
IRIS (2009) from US EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) Drinking water standards and health advisories table. Available from: https://www3.epa.gov/region9/water/drinking/files/dwshat- v09.pdf (Assessed on 27 June 2016)
IRIS (2011) (Integrated Risk Information System) Available from:http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris/index.cfm?fuseaction=iris.showSubstanceList (Accessed 24 July 2016)
Jayaprakash M, Viswam A, Gopal V, Muthuswamy S, Kalaivanan P, Giridharan L, Jonathan MP (2014) Bioavailable trace metals in micro-tidal Thambraparani estuary, Gulf of Mannar, SE coast of India. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 146:42–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2014.05.009
Jayaprakash M, Sivakumar K, Muthusamy S, Krishnamurthy RR, Edward Patterson JK (2016) Shrinking of Vann Island, Gulf of Mannar, SE coast of India: assessing the impacts. Nat Hazards 84(3):1529–1538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2496-5
Kanungo TD, Gupta A (2011) The hydrochemistry of groundwater in South Assam ( Barak Valley ), India. Assam Univ J Sci Technol 7(1):132–138
Karunanidhi D, Aravinthasamy P, Deepali M, Subramani T, Roy PD (2020) The effects of geochemical processes on groundwater chemistry and the health risks associated with fluoride intake in a semi-arid region of South India. RSC Adv 10(8):4840–4859. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ra10332e
Kwaya MY, Hamidu H, Mohammed AI, Abdulmumini YN, Adamu H, Grema HM, Duada M, Halilu FB, Kana AM (2019) Heavy metals pollution indices and multivariate statistical evaluation of groundwater quality of Maru town and environs. J Mater Environ Sci 10(1):32–44 Retrieved from http://www.jmaterenvironsci.com. Accessed 29 March 2020
Li J, Li F, Liu Q, Zhang Y (2014) Trace metal in surface water and groundwater and its transfer in a Yellow River alluvial fan: Evidence from isotopes and hydrochemistry. Science of the Total Environment 472:979–988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.120
Li X, Liu L, Wang Y, Luo G, Chen X, Yang X, Hall MHP, Guo R, Wang H, Cui J, He X (2013) Heavy metal contamination of urban soil in an old industrial city (Shenyang) in Northeast China. Geoderma 192(1):50–58
Lu Y, Zang X, Yao H, Zhang S, Sun S, Liu F (2018) Assessment of trace metal contamination in groundwater in a highly urbanizing area of Shenfu New District, Northeast China. Front Earth Sci 12(3):569–582. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-018-0677-0
Magesh NS, Chandrasekar N, Elango L (2017) Trace element concentrations in the groundwater of the Tamiraparani river basin, South India: insights from human health risk and multivariate statistical techniques. Chemosphere 185:468–479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.07.044
Muthusamy S, Shanmugasundharam A, Jayaprakash M (2018) Shallow sediment physiognomies of Manakudy estuary southwest coast of India. International Journal of Global Environmental Issues 17(1):64–79. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJGENVI.2018.090648
Panda B, Chidambaram S, Thilagavathi R, Ganesh N, Prasanna MV, Vasudevan U (2020) Source governed trace metal anomalies in groundwater of foothill aquifer and its health effect. Appl Water Sci 10(7):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-020-01253-9
Planning Commission (2011) Report of the working group on rural domestic water and sanitation, Twelfth five year plan—2012–2017, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Govern- ment of India, p 220
Pophare AM, Kamble KA, Langde AS, Pusadkar PN, RamtekeBalpande CP, Lamsoge BR, Balpande US (2014) Hydrochemistry of groundwater from Katol and Kondhali villages, Nagpur District, Maharashtra. Gondwana Geol Mag 14(January):135–148
Prabakaran K, Sivakumar K, Aruna C (2020) Use of GIS-AHP tools for potable groundwater potential zone investigations—a case study in Vairavanpatti rural area, Tamil Nadu, India. Arab J Geosci 13(17). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05794-w
Prasanna MV, Chidambaram S, Pethaperumal S, Srinivasamoorthy K, John Peter A, Anandhan P, Vasanthavigar M (2008) Integrated geophysical and chemical study in the lower subbasin of Gadilam River, Tamil Nadu, India. Environ Geosci 15(4):145–152
Prasanna MV, Chidambaram S, Hameed AS, Srinivasamoorthy K (2011) Hydrogeochemical analysis and evaluation of groundwater quality in the Gadilam river basin, Tamil Nadu, India. J Earth Syst Sci 120(1):85–98
QGIS Development Team (2014) QGIS geographic information system. Open Source Geospatial Founda- tion Project. http://qgis.osgeo.org. Accessed 29 March 2020
Qingjie G, Jun D, Yunchuan X, Qingfei W, Liqiang Y (2008) Calculating pollution indices by heavy metals in ecological geochemistry assessment and a case study in parks of Beijing. J China Univ Geosci 19(3):230–241
Ramachandran M, Sabarathinam C, Ulaganthan K, Paluchamy A, Sivaji M, Hameed S (2010) Mapping of fluoride ions in groundwater of Dindigul district, Tamilnadu, India—using GIS technique. Arab J Geosci 5:433–439. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-010-0216-0
Ramachandran A, Sivakumar K, Shanmugasundharam A, Sangunathan U, Krishnamurthy RR (2020) Evaluation of potable groundwater zones identification based on WQI and GIS techniques in Adyar River basin, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. Acta Ecol Sin. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chnaes.2020.02.006
Sakthivel A, Sridhar SGD, Balasubramanian M, Pradnya Katkar S (2016) Trace elements concentration in groundwater of South Chennai , Tamil Nadu , India. Indian J Appl Res 6(2):301–305
Selvam S, Venkatramanan S, Singaraja C (2015) A GIS-based assessment of water quality pollution indices for heavy metal contamination in Tuticorin Corporation, Tamilnadu, India. Arab J Geosci 8(12):10611–10623. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-1968-3
Singaraja C, Chidambaram S, Anandhan P, Prasanna MV, Thivya C, Thilagavathi R (2013) Statistical analysis of the hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in hard rock coastal aquifers of Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu, India. Environ Earth Sci 71:451–464. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2453-5
Singaraja C, Chidambaram S, Anandhan P, Prasanna MV, Thivya C, Thilagavathi R, Sarathidasan J (2014) Geochemical evaluation of fluoride contamination of groundwater in the Thoothukudi District of Tamilnadu, India. Appl Water Sci 4(3):241–250. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-014-0157-y
Sirajudeen J, Manivel V, Manikandan S (2015) Assessment of physic-chemical parameters and water quality index of Viralimalai area near Koraiyar river Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu, India. Der Chem Sin 6(1):13–24
Sivakumar K, Priya J, Muthusamy S, Saravanan P, Jayaprakash M (2016) Spatial diversity of major ionic absorptions in groundwater : recent study from the industrial region of Tuticorin, Tamil, Nadu, India. EnviroGeoChem Acta 3(1):138–147
Sridhar SGD, Ragunathan R, Kanagaraj G, Thirusekaran C (2014) Nature of groundwater around Municipal waste treatment plant, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India: a study of trace element concentration. Gond Geol Magz 14:85–93
Sridhar SGD, Sakthivel AM, Sangunathan U, Balasubramanian M, Jenefer S, Mohamed Rafik M, Kanagaraj G (2017) Heavy metal concentration in groundwater from Besant Nagar to Sathankuppam, South Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Appl Water Sci 7(8):4651–4662. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-017-0628-z
UNDESA (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs) (2013) World Population Prospects. Population Division Database. Detailed indicators 2012 Revision
US EPA (1989) Risk assessment guidance for superfund, volume 1: human health evaluation manual (part A) (EPA/540/1-89/002: interim final). Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Washington DC
USEPA (2018) National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, United States Environmental Protection Agency, EPA816-F-09-004.
USEPA (2009) National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, United States Environmental Protection Agency, EPA816-F-09-004. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/
Venkatramanan S, Chung SY, Ramkumar T, Gnanachandrasamy G, Vasudevan S (2013) A multivariate statistical approaches on physicochemical characteristics of ground water in and around Nagapattinam district, Cauvery deltaic region of Tamil Nadu, India. Earth Sci Res J 17(2):97–103
Venkatramanan S, Chung SY, Kim TH, Prasanna MV, Hamm SY (2015) Assessment and distribution of metals contamination in groundwater: a case study of Busan City, Korea. Water Qual Expo Health 7(2):219–225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-014-0142-6
Vetrimurugan E, Brindha K, Elango L (2016) 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). https://doi.org/10.3390/w9040234
Vetrimurugan E, Brindha K, Elango L, Ndwandwe OM (2017) Human exposure risk to heavy metals through groundwater used for drinking in an intensively irrigated river delta. Appl Water Sci 7(6):3267–3280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-016-0472-6
Viridor Waste Ltd (2009). Viridor New England energy from waste project: technical data for HHRA generic assessment criteria (402-0036-00350). Available from: http://www.devon.gov.uk/plandoc259_4975.pdf (Accessed 1 July 2016)
WHO (2008) Guidelines for drinking-water quality third edition incorporating the first and second addenda incorporating 1st and 2nd addenda, Vol.1, Recommendations
Acknowledgments
The authors are thankful to the Department of Applied Geology, University of Madras, for the support and infrastructures provided for this study.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Funding
This article has been written with the financial support of RUSA, Phase 2.0 grant sanctioned vide letter No. 24-51/2014-U, Policy (TNMulti-Gen), Department of Education, Government of India, dated September 10, 2018.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Sivakumar Karthikeyan: methodology; writing—original draft preparation
Shanmugasundaram Arumugam: methodology; formal analysis and investigation
Jayaprakash Muthumanickam: conceptualization; methodology; supervision
Prabakaran Kulandaisamy: writing—review and editing
Muthusamy Subramanian: formal analysis and investigation
Ramachandran Annadurai: formal analysis and investigation
Venkatramanan Senapathi: methodology; writing—review and editing
Selvam Sekar: writing—review and editing
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Karthikeyan1, S., Arumugam, S., Muthumanickam, J. et al. Causes of heavy metal contamination in groundwater of Tuticorin industrial block, Tamil Nadu, India. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 18651–18666 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11704-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11704-0