Potentially toxic elements in river water and associated health risks in Ropar Wetland, India and its vicinity

In the present study, quality of surface water from five different locations on the banks of river Sutlej in Ropar wetland was determined by estimation of physico-chemical parameters; water quality indices; contents of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, lead and zinc; determination of genotoxic potential of water samples using Allium cepa root chromosomal aberration assay and plasmid pBR322 DNA nicking assay; and assessment of associated possible human health risks for adults and children. River water was slightly alkaline, moderate to very hard, non-saline, genotoxic and unsuitable for both drinking and irrigation. Among 20 surface water samples analysed, contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb in 11, 7, 3, 15, 14 and 13 samples exceeded the safe limits (mg/L) of 0.003, 0.05, 0.05, 0.30, 0.10 and 0.01, respectively. Ingestion of surface posed higher health risk than dermal contact, where Co was major contributor to mean hazard index (3.26-10.72 for adults and 4.22-13.87 for children). Hazard index for dermal contact in both age groups was < 1.00. Cr was found to be primarily responsible for high total cancer risk posed by both routes of exposure, i.e. ingestion (6.83E-04 to 2.03E-03 for adults and 7.58E-05 to 2.25E-04 for children) and dermal contact (5.15E-05 to 2.02E-04 for adults and 6.23E-06 to 2.44E-05 for children). Prolonged exposure to contaminated surface water may elevate the human health risk in the study area; therefore, pre-treatment of river water is necessary before its utilization by human population of the study area.