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Ali J, Guangyi S, Jatoi WB, Jakhrani MA. Comparative study of the sequential extraction methodologies for fractionation analysis of mercury in coal of Thar coalfield. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:56463-56472. [PMID: 39271615 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34894-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the bound fractions of mercury (Hg), physicochemical parameters, and mineral composition of coal. Coal samples were collected from various depths within Block-VII of the Thar coalfield in Pakistan. The Hg associated with different chemical fractions of coal was extracted using a sequential extraction scheme as per the community bureau of reference (BCR) protocol. This study utilized both the BCR-sequential extraction method (BCR-SEM) and a single-step sequential extraction based on an ultrasonic-assisted method (SSE-UAM) for the fractionation analysis of Hg in coal. The extraction methodologies, BCR-SEM and SSE-UAM, were specifically designed for analyzing Hg fractionation in coal samples. The SSE-UAM offers an operational advantage, requiring only 2 h compared to the 51 h needed for BCR-SEM. The analyses were validated using standard reference material (SRM-1635a) and the spiking addition method, achieving a recovery percentage of 97.1% for total Hg concentrations using the pseudo-extraction method in SRM-1635A. Total Hg content in the coal samples ranged from 0.60 to 2.34 µg g-1 across four different coal seams from Block-VII of the Thar coalfield. Additionally, Hg concentration was observed to decrease with increasing depth, attributed to changes in mineralogical composition. The highest concentration of Hg was detected at a depth of 200-203 m, while the lowest concentration was at a depth of 152-154 m. The concentration of Hg in various fractions was 32-60% in the acid-soluble fraction, 1.72-4.92% in the reducible fraction, and 9.58-50.8% in the oxidizable fractions. The coal sample characteristics were analyzed using an elemental analyzer and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) was used to measure the extracted fractional concentration of Hg in coal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamshed Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China.
- Institute of Chemistry, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur Mir's, 66020, Sindh, Pakistan.
| | - Sun Guangyi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Wahid Bux Jatoi
- Institute of Chemistry, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur Mir's, 66020, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Mushtaque Ali Jakhrani
- Institute of Chemistry, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur Mir's, 66020, Sindh, Pakistan
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Shokoohi R, Khazaei M, Karami M, Seid-Mohammadi A, Khazaei S, Torkshavand Z. Application of fingernail samples as a biomarker for human exposure to arsenic-contaminated drinking waters. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4733. [PMID: 35304571 PMCID: PMC8933471 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08845-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the relationship between arsenic uptake via drinking water ingestion and arsenic concentration in fingernails as a biomarker for human exposure. For this purpose, we collected fingernail samples from 40 healthy participants of arsenic-affected rural regions of Kaboudrahang County, the west of Iran. A total of 49 fingernail samples were also collected from individuals who lived in areas where contamination of drinking water sources with arsenic had not been reported. It was found that the fingernails arsenic contents in 50 and 4.08% of the samples collected from arsenic-contaminated and reference villages were higher than the normal arsenic values of nails (0.43-1.08 µg/g), respectively. Based on the results of adjusted multiple linear regression, a significant association was found between groundwater and fingernails arsenic concentration (p < 0.001). Moreover, a statistically significant association was shown between arsenic in the fingernail samples and gender (p = 0.037). Fingernails arsenic contents were not significantly affected by other variables including age, smoking habits, and BMI (p > 0.05). In light of the results of this study, the use of biological indicators such as fingernail tissues due to easier sampling and less risk of external contamination is suitable for assessing exposure to heavy metals in contaminated areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Shokoohi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Khazaei
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Manoochehr Karami
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdolmotaleb Seid-Mohammadi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Salman Khazaei
- Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Zahra Torkshavand
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
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Shah AH, Shahid M, Khalid S, Shabbir Z, Bakhat HF, Murtaza B, Farooq A, Akram M, Shah GM, Nasim W, Niazi NK. Assessment of arsenic exposure by drinking well water and associated carcinogenic risk in peri-urban areas of Vehari, Pakistan. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2020; 42:121-133. [PMID: 31054072 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-019-00306-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is a highly toxic and carcinogenic element. It has received considerable consideration worldwide in recent years due to its highest toxicity to human, and currently, high concentrations observed in the groundwater. Some recent media and research reports also highlighted possible As contamination of groundwater systems in Pakistan. However, there is a scarcity of data about As contents in groundwater in different areas/regions of the country. Consequently, the current study estimated the As concentration in the groundwater used for drinking purpose in 15 peri-urban sites of district Vehari, Pakistan. In total, 127 groundwater samples were collected and examined for As contents in addition to physicochemical characteristics such as temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, total soluble salts, chloride, carbonates, bicarbonates, sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium and barium. Results indicated that the groundwater samples were not fully fit for drinking purposes with several parameters, especially the alarming levels of As (mean As: 46.9 µg/L). It was found that 83% groundwater samples of peri-urban sites in district Vehari have As concentration greater than WHO lower permissible limit (10 µg/L). The risk assessment parameters (mean hazard quotient: 3.9 and mean cancer risk: 0.0018) also showed possible carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks associated with ingestion of As-contaminated groundwater at peri-urban sites. Based on the findings, it is anticipated that special monitoring and management of groundwater is necessary in the studied area in order to curtail the health risks associated with the use of As-contaminated drinking water. Moreover, appropriate remediation and removal of As from groundwater is also imperative for the study area before being used for drinking purpose to avoid As exposure and related risks to the local community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Haidar Shah
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Islamabad, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shahid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Islamabad, 61100, Pakistan.
| | - Sana Khalid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Islamabad, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Zunaira Shabbir
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Islamabad, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Hafiz Faiq Bakhat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Islamabad, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Behzad Murtaza
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Islamabad, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Amjad Farooq
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Islamabad, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Akram
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Islamabad, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Ghulam Mustafa Shah
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Islamabad, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Wajid Nasim
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Islamabad, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Nabeel Khan Niazi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan
- School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350, Australia
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Rabbani U, Fatmi Z. Arsenic Contamination of Drinking Water and Mitigation in Pakistan: A Case of Indus River Basin. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-21258-2_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
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Shahid M, Niazi NK, Dumat C, Naidu R, Khalid S, Rahman MM, Bibi I. A meta-analysis of the distribution, sources and health risks of arsenic-contaminated groundwater in Pakistan. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 242:307-319. [PMID: 29990938 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.06.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Revised: 06/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Globally, millions of people who rely on groundwater for potable purposes and agriculture have been inadvertently exposed to toxic arsenic (As) because of its natural occurrence in groundwater in several countries of Asia, Europe and America. While the presence of As in groundwater and its impacts on human health have been documented in many countries, there is little information on As contamination in Pakistan. This review highlights, for the first time, the extent and severity of As-induced problems in Pakistan based on relevant published papers; discusses possible sources of As contamination of aquifers; and estimates As-induced potential health hazards in the country in relation to global data. Data from 43 studies (>9882 groundwater samples) were used to describe As variability in groundwater of Pakistan and for comparison with global data. The mean groundwater As content reported in these studies was 120 μg/L (range: 0.1-2090 μg/L; SD: ±307). About 73% of the values for mean As contents in the 43 studies were higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit (10 μg/L) for drinking water, while 41% were higher than the permissible limit of As in Pakistan (50 μg/L). It was observed that groundwater samples in some areas of Punjab and Sindh provinces contained high As concentrations which were almost equal to concentrations reported in the most contaminated areas of the world. We predicted that the mean values of ADD, HQ and CR were 4.4 μg kg-1day-1 (range: 0-77 μg kg-1day-1), 14.7 (range: 0-256) and 0.0029 (range: 0-0.0512), respectively, based on mean As concentrations reported in Pakistan. In addition, this article proposes some integrated sustainable solutions and future perspectives keeping in view the regional and global context, as well as the on-ground reality of the population drinking As-contaminated water, planning issues, awareness among civil society and role of the government bodies. Based on available data, it is predicted that almost 47 million people in Pakistan are residing in areas where more than 50% of groundwater wells contain As concentrations above the WHO recommended limit of As in drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Shahid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, 61100, Vehari, Pakistan.
| | - Nabeel Khan Niazi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan; MARUM and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen D, 28359, Germany; Southern Cross GeoScience, Southern Cross University, Lismore 2480, NSW, Australia.
| | - Camille Dumat
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Travail Organisation Pouvoir (CERTOP), UMR5044, Université J. Jaurès - Toulouse II, 5 allée Antonio Machado, 31058 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Sana Khalid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, 61100, Vehari, Pakistan
| | - Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Irshad Bibi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan; MARUM and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen D, 28359, Germany
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Mushtaq N, Younas A, Mashiatullah A, Javed T, Ahmad A, Farooqi A. Hydrogeochemical and isotopic evaluation of groundwater with elevated arsenic in alkaline aquifers in Eastern Punjab, Pakistan. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 200:576-586. [PMID: 29505930 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.02.154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Geochemical investigation was carried out for delineating factors responsible for the mobilization of arsenic (As) from aquifer material into the groundwater. Four sites along Ravi River, (Samada, Sarai Chimba, Kot Maiga and Chah Fatehwala), were selected based on the blanket survey. Groundwater-rock interaction and evaporation were the key phenomena controlling groundwater chemistry, as shown by the hydrogeochemical data. Groundwater was predominantly Na-Cl type, with other principle facies being Na-HCO3, Na-Ca-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-Cl. The groundwater As concentration ranged between below detection level (2 μg/L) to 548 μg/L with 59% samples exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for As in drinking water (10 μg/L) and 31% having higher concentrations than the National Environmental Quality Standard (NEQS, 50 μg/L). Moderate to high concentrations of SO4-2 averaged at 244 mg/L and moderate NO3- concentrations averaged at 8 mg/L, together with alkaline pH (7.3-8.8) and high Eh values (113-402 mV) suggest partial oxidizing nature of the aquifers. The values for δ 18O and δ 2H in groundwater varied between -9.14 and -5.51‰, and -56.57 to -39.5‰ respectively, and suggests meteoric origin of the groundwater with some evaporative loss. This effect could be partly responsible for elevated levels of pH and salinity in groundwater. Based on geochemical and isotopic composition of groundwater, desorption of As from metal surfaces under alkaline environment might be the factor causing As enrichment in study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisbah Mushtaq
- Environmental Geochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Younas
- Environmental Geochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Azhar Mashiatullah
- Isotope Application Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Tariq Javed
- Isotope Application Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Arslan Ahmad
- KWR Water Cycle Research Institute, 3433 PE Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Abida Farooqi
- Environmental Geochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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Willingness to Pay for Improved Water Services in Mining Regions of Developing Economies: Case Study of a Coal Mining Project in Thar Coalfield, Pakistan. WATER 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/w10040481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Ali J, Kazi TG, Tuzen M, Ullah N. Evaluation of mercury and physicochemical parameters in different depths of aquifer water of Thar coalfield, Pakistan. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:17731-17740. [PMID: 28601999 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-9291-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In the current study, mercury (Hg) and physicochemical parameters have been evaluated in aquifer water at different depths of Thar coal field. The water samples were collected from first aquifer (AQ1), second aquifer (AQ2), and third aquifer (AQ3) at three depths, 50-60, 100-120, and 200-250 m, respectively. The results of aquifer water of three depths were interpreted by using different multivariate statistical techniques. Validation of desired method was checked by spiking standard addition method in studied aquifer water samples. The content of Hg in aquifer water samples was measured by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometer (CV-AAS). These determined values illustrate that the levels of Hg were higher than WHO recommended values for drinking water. All physicochemical parameters were higher than WHO permissible limits for drinking water except pH and SO42- in aquifer water. The positive correlation of Hg with other metals in aquifer water samples of AQ1, AQ2, and AQ3 of Thar coalfield except HCO3- was observed which might be caused by geochemical minerals. The interpretation of determined values by the cluster technique point out the variations within the water quality parameter as well as sampling location of studied field. The aquifer water AQ2 was more contaminated with Hg as compared to AQ1 and AQ3; it may be due to leaching of Hg from coal zone. The concentration of Hg in aquifer water obtained from different depths was found in the following decreasing order: AQ2 < AQ1 < AQ3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamshed Ali
- Faculty of Science and Arts, Chemistry Department, Gaziosmanpaşa University, 60250, Tokat, Turkey
- National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan
| | - Tasneem G Kazi
- National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan
| | - Mustafa Tuzen
- Faculty of Science and Arts, Chemistry Department, Gaziosmanpaşa University, 60250, Tokat, Turkey.
| | - Naeem Ullah
- Faculty of Science and Arts, Chemistry Department, Gaziosmanpaşa University, 60250, Tokat, Turkey
- National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan
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