ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Health Risk Surveillance of Arsenic in Wastewater,
Groundwater, and Agricultural Land
along Hudaira Drain, Pakistan Using
GIS Techniques
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1
Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan
2
College of Earth and Environmental Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Submission date: 2017-06-03
Final revision date: 2017-11-23
Acceptance date: 2017-12-07
Online publication date: 2018-10-08
Publication date: 2018-12-20
Corresponding author
Ambreena Javaid
College of Earth and Environmental Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan., QUAID-I-AZAM CAMPUS, LAHORE, PAKISTAN, 54590 LAHORE, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(2):681-692
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ABSTRACT
The present study focuses on the health risk assessment and spatial distribution of arsenic
in Hudaira Drain and its adjoining areas using GIS techniques. For this purpose, surface water,
groundwater, and soil samples were collected from the nine transects across the drain. The results
of the present study indicated that two of the examined transects were situated in a high arsenic
concentration zone and this area was dominated by industrial activities. A strong correlation at 95%
confidence level exists among drain water, ground water, and soil. Furthermore, Hazard quotient (HQ)
was calculated and results indicated that about 75% of children and 50% of adults may be affected by
arsenic through drinking of groundwater. The presence of arsenic in groundwater, which is a major
source of drinking water in this area, may cause excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR)> 10-4 in 44.4%
of the resident human population. There is an urgent need to focus on the arsenic contamination issue
in this area in order to protect the groundwater, surface water, and soil resources from arsenic
contamination for better human health.