Risk Assessment of Arsenic and Cadmium in Groundwater of Talukas Ghorabari and Mirpur Sakro, Sindh, Pakistan
Abstract
The current study was carried out for quantitative and risk assessment of cadmium (Cd) and
arsenic (As) from Talukas Ghora Bari and Mirpur Sakro. The concentration of Cd was determined
using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy instrument. The As concentration was measured with the
help of the Arsenic Kit Method. For analysis of Cd, samples were prepared by the Microwave
digestion method, whereas for As analysis, water samples were analyzed directly. The range of
Cd content was observed from the studied areas as 1 – 10 μg/L and 1.2 – 11.2 μg/L, respectively.
The groundwater water of Talukas Ghorabari and Mirpur Sakro showed the mean Cd content of 5
μg/L and 6.1 μg/L, respectively. The Cd contamination of 56% and 80% was found in Ghorabari
and Mirpur Sakro, respectively. The range of As content of 0.00 – 50 μg/L and 10 – 80 μg/L was
determined from Ghorabari and Mirpur Sakro, respectively. Hazard Quotient for Cd > 1 was
found in 40% of both children and infants in the groundwater of the study area, which may cause
non-carcinogenic risk. About 48% of water samples declared HQ values > 1 for adults in the water
of Ghorabari. Since 84% of samples showed the HQ values > 1 for children and infants. The HQ
values of As for Adults of the Mirpur Sakro were observed in 63.3% samples, whereas for
children and infants, HQ values were found in 100% samples. It is therefore strongly
recommended that groundwater must be treated before consumption by the people of the area
under study.
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