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Aftab A, Aziz R, Ghaffar A, Rafiq MT, Feng Y, Saqib Z, Rafiq MK, Awan MA. Occurrence, source identification and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in water and sediments of Uchalli lake - Ramsar site, Pakistan. Environ Pollut 2023; 334:122117. [PMID: 37399935 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Uchalli Lake is an internationally significant Ramsar site that needs protection for supporting migratory birds. The current study aimed to assess wetland health by examining water and sediments utilizing total and labile heavy metals concentration, pollution indices, ecological risk assessment, water recharge and pollution induction sources through isotope tracer techniques. Al concentration in water was of serious concern as it was 440 times higher than the maximum acceptable concentration of Environmental Quality Standard of the UK for aquatic life in saline waters. Labile concentration predicted very severe enrichment of Cd, Pb, and moderate enrichment of Cu. Modified ecological risk index predicted very high ecological risk in sediments. The δ 18O, δ2H and D-excess values indicate that the lake was mainly recharged by local meteoric water. Enriched values of δ 18O and δ2H suggest a high evaporation of lake water, making lake sediments more enriched with metals. Isotopic and D-excess values of groundwater suggest a quick rainwater recharge to groundwater around the Uchalli Lake. Nitrates isotopes indicate that the rainwater runoff is main source of induction of fertilizers, pesticides and soil bonded metals in the lake system. The lake is recharged by rainwater runoff, from catchment areas, that erode the soil particles and agricultural residual waste dumped in the lake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha Aftab
- Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Rukhsanda Aziz
- Environmental Science Program, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan.
| | - Abdul Ghaffar
- Isotope Application Division, PINSTECH, Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Tariq Rafiq
- Environmental Science Program, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan.
| | - Ying Feng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zafeer Saqib
- Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Khalid Rafiq
- Rangeland Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Akbar Awan
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
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