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Arsenic (As) contamination is a severe problem in drinking-water sources. This study designed and investigated a novel combined electrocoagulation–filtration (ECF) system to investigate As treatment and filtration in drinking water in collaboration with HANDS-Pakistan and Medico International, Germany. Two separate pilot-scale ECF systems were designed and developed with an electrocoagulation (EC) unit and a commercially available PAUL® filter configured with vertical flat-sheet ultra-low-pressure membranes of 0.04 µm pore size for the combined treatment and filtration of different As concentrations. Real drinking water at different As concentrations, i.e., 100, 200, and 300 μg/L were tested on one ECF system with EC electrodes of iron (Fe) and another system with aluminum (Al), at different treatment times (0, 5, 10, 20, 45, 60, 120, 180 min), at a fixed current density (12 mA/cm2) and water flow rate of 1 L/min. The initial results showed 99% As removal within 5 min with the combined ECF treatment for both electrodes of Fe and Al. In addition, the effect of ECF on different water-quality parameters and the ionic interference on ECF performance and As filtration were analyzed. The results showed the promising potential of combined ECF treatment and filtration for treating and purifying As. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study found that ~80 million people in India, ~60 million people in Pakistan, ~70 million people in Bangladesh, and ~3 million people in Nepal are exposed to arsenic groundwater contamination above 10 µg/L, while Sri Lanka remains moderately affected. In the case of fluoride contamination, >120 million in India, .2 million in Pakistan, and ~0.5 million in Sri Lanka are exposed to the risk of fluoride above 1.5 mg/L, while Bangladesh and Nepal are mildly affected. The hazard quotient (HQ) for arsenic varied from 0 to 822 in India, 0 to 33 in Pakistan, 0 to 1,051 in Bangladesh, 0 to 582 in Nepal, and 0 to 89 in Sri Lanka. The cancer risk of arsenic varied from 0 to 1.64× 1-1 in India, 0 to 1.07 × 10-1 in Pakistan, 0 to 2.10 × 10-1 in Bangladesh, 0 to 1.16 × 10-1 in Nepal, and 0 to 1.78 × 10-2 in Sri Lanka. In the case of fluoride, the HQ ranged from 0 to 21 in India, 0 to 33 in Pakistan, 0 to 18 in Bangladesh, 0 to 10 in Nepal, and 0 to 10 in Sri Lanka. Arsenic and fluoride have adverse effects on animals, resulting in chemical poisoning and skeletal fluorosis. Adsorption and membrane filtration have demonstrated outstanding treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study reports the groundwater quality assessment of taluka Matiari for irrigation and human consumption. A total 37 water samples collected from various union councils of taluka Matiari were analyzed for physicochemical parameters, anions, essential metals, trace metals, and toxic elementsfluoride and arsenic. The results indicated that arsenic in 35% and fluoride in 27% of samples were higher than the WHO limits. GIS maps of toxic elements were drawn and showed that most samples were not appropriate for human consumption. Samples were also identified for water quality index (WQI), cluster analysis, Chadha diagram, correlation matrix, Piper diagram, Gibbs diagram, and principal component analysis (PCA) using graphical approaches and statistical methods. The groundwater quality of taluka Matiari based on WQI values indicated that 21 (56.76%) samples were considered "poor" for human consumption. Piper diagram indicated that most water samples were rich in mixed Ca2+-Mg2+-Cl- and Ca2+-Na+-HCO-3-type water. In PCA, four components were extracted for data set that accounted for 80.41% of cumulative variance. Gibbs diagram indicated that anions and cations in water samples were in rock domination as compared to precipitation and evaporation. Chadha diagram indicated the properties and dominance of weak acids and alkaline earth than strong acids and alkali metals. The calculated parameters for irrigation indicated that most of the samples of Matiari were suitable for agricultural purposes. Still, the presence of arsenic in groundwater may result in the transfer of arsenic into the food chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries, like Pakistan, the pursuit of urbanization and economic development disrupts the delicate ecosystem, resulting in additional biogeochemical emissions of heavy metals into the human habitat and posing significant health risks. The levels of these trace elements in humans remain unknown in areas at higher risk of pollution in Pakistan. In this investigation, selected trace metals including Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb) Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), and Arsenic (As) were examined in human hair, urine, and nail samples of different age groups from three major cities (Muzaffargarh, Multan, and Vehari) in Punjab province, Pakistan. The results revealed that the mean concentrations (ppm) of Cr (1.1) and Cu (9.1) in hair was highest in Muzaffargarh. In urine samples, the mean concentrations (μg/L) of Co (93), As (79), Cu (69), Cr (56), Ni (49), Cd (45), and Pb (35) were highest in the Multan region, while As (34) and Cr (26) were highest in Vehari. The mean concentrations (ppm) of Ni (9.2), Cr (5.6), and Pb (2.8), in nail samples were highest in Vehari; however, Multan had the highest Cu (28) concentration (ppm). In urine samples, the concentrations of all the studied metals were within permissible limits except for As (34 µg/L) and Cr (26 µg/L) in Vehari. However, in nail samples, the concentrations of Ni in Multan (8.1 ppm), Muzaffargarh (9 ppm), Vehari (9.2 ppm), and Cd (3.69 ppm) in Muzaffargarh exceeded permissible limits. Overall, the concentrations of metals in urine, nail, and hair samples were higher in adults (39–45 age group). Cr, Cu, and Ni revealed significantly higher concentrations of metals in hair and water in Multan, whereas As in water was significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with urinary As in Multan, indicating that the exposure source was region-specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As), contamination in drinking groundwater resources is commonly environmental problem in many developing countries including Pakistan, with significant human health risk reports. In order to examine the groundwater quality concerning As contamination, its geochemical behavior along with physicochemical parameters, 42 samples were collected from community tube wells from District Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. The results showed the concentration of elevated As, its source of mobilization, and associated public health risk. The As concentration detected in groundwater samples varied from 0.12 to 104 µg/L with an average value of 34.7 µg/L. Among 42 groundwater samples, 27 samples were beyond the permitted limit of 10 µg/L recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), for drinking purposes. Statistical analysis result show that the groundwater cations values are in decreasing order such as: Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+, while anions were HCO3– > SO42– > Cl– > NO3–. Hydrochemical facies result depict that the groundwater samples of the study area, 14 samples belong to CaHCO3 type, 5 samples belong to NaCl type, 20 samples belong to Mixed CaMgCl type, and 3 samples belong to CaCl2 type. It can be accredited due to weathering and recharge mechanism, evaporation processes, and reverse ion exchange. Gibbs diagram shows that rock water interaction controls the hydrochemistry of groundwater resources of the study area. Saturation Index (SI) result indicated the saturation of calcite, dolomite, gypsum, geothite, and hematite mineral due their positive SI values. The principal component analysis (PCA) results possess a total variability of 80.69% signifying the anthropogenic and geogenic source of contamination. The results of the exposure-health-risk-assessment method for measuring As reveal significant potential non-carcinogenic risk (HQ), exceeding the threshold level of (> 1) for children in the study area. Water quality assessment results shows that 24 samples were not suitable for drinking purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study area is a part of the Salt Range, where water quality is being deteriorated by natural and anthropogenic sources. This research integrates water quality assessment, arsenic enrichment, hydrogeochemical processes, groundwater recharge and carbon sources in aquifer. Total dissolved solid (TDS) contents in springs water, lake water and groundwater are in range of 681–847 mg/L, 2460–5051 mg/L and 513–7491 mg/L, respectively. The higher concentrations of magnesium and calcium in water bodies next to sodium are because of carbonates, sulfates, halite and silicates dissolution. The average concentrations of ions in groundwater are in order of HCO3− > SO42− > Cl− > Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+ > NO3−, virtually analogous to springs water, but different from lake water, categorized as poor quality and unfit for drinking purposes. Based on major ions hydrochemistry, NaCl and mixed Ca–Mg–Cl type hydrochemical facies are associated with concentration of arsenic (4.2–39.5 µg/L) in groundwater. Groundwater samples (70%) having arsenic concentration (11 ≤ As ≤ 39.5 µg/L) exceeded from World Health Organization (WHO) guideline (As ≤ 10 µg/L) in near neutral to slightly alkaline (6.7 ≤ pH ≤ 8.3), positive Eh(6 ≤ Eh ≤ 204 mV), signifying its oxic condition. Eh–pH diagrams for arsenic and iron indicate that 80% of groundwater for arsenic and iron were in compartments of HAsO42− and Fe(OH)3, unveil oxic environment. Arsenic is moderately positive correlated with TDS, sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, nitrate, sulfate and weak negative with δ13CDIC in surface and groundwater, forecasting multiple sources of arsenic to aquifer. Stable isotopes of waters show recharge of groundwater from local rain and lake water. The lower δ13CDIC values of groundwater are modified by influx of CO2 produced during biological oxidation of soil natural organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to papulation increase in Pakistan the demand of drinking water increased day by day. After the industrial grooming the wastewater producing harmful effect on the surrounding area of industries and drinking water contamination increased. Pakistan is on 82 amongst the 125 countries of the word having drinking water problem. Different parameter set by World Health Organization (WHO) and Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak‐EPA) of hazard dimension index (HD) and Lifetime Cancerogenic risk Calculation (LFCR) of Potentially toxic metals that are As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb (PTMs) are higher, and the school age children are under high risk of cancer. All the drinking constraints set by regulating authority is fully neglected by inopportune human process by solid waste dumping and houses and industrial disposal with any proper treatment. This study discusses all the HD and LFCR parameter in three age group children, male and female through drinking water around the Hattar Industrial Estate (HIE) in Pakistan. In children and women more HD and LFCR thread than the adult man. The overall result shows that the HD risk is higher than the LFCR due to the PTMs in drinking water only HD is exceed from the limit of WHO and Pak‐EPA. If there is no proper arrangement take place for the removal of As and PTMs from the industrial wastewater and drinking water than within few years all the population around the study area effected with different type of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic exposure through drinking water is a serious public health concern in the southern province of Pakistan. Little information on As exposure to children at school settings is available in Pakistan. The current study aimed to assess arsenic contamination through drinking water sources and estimate its health risk to the children, the potentially malnourished Pakistan population. We used risk assessment models to estimate the hazard quotient index and lifetime cancer risk. Spatial data analysis methods were used to investigate the spatial pattern of As contamination and its relationship with the area's hydrogeology. Across the 423 sampled schools, the drinking water exceeded the WHO permissible limits (19.6% for arsenic and 15% for iron). The arsenic's average incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) exceeded the USEPA permissible limit. The arsenic hotspots were mainly located in the central districts. The present study's findings elaborate that the reduction is the controlling phenomenon in the lower Indus basin in the active flood plains, which is the primary source of fresh groundwater in Sindh and pH-induced dissolution is the second phenomenon observed only in the irrigated area, especially at the boundary of the hotspots. These findings are helpful to inform policymakers on measures to ensure prior treatment of As in the drinking water for the schools in areas adjacent to the riverbank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experimental study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant activities of Moringa oleifera leaf extract against Arsenic (As) induced toxicity in Cirrhinus mrigala in Tawakkal Fish Hatchery at Muzaffargarh, Punjab, Pakistan. 288 fingerlings were collected from fish pond and kept in circular tank for acclimatization. 12 fish about 100-day old having similar size were selected randomly and kept in separate glass aquaria for each treatment groups T1, T2, T3 and control group T4. Fish in treatments groups T1, T2 and T3 were exposed with water born sublethal concentration of 1/10th LC50 of arsenic (As) for 7days (240 hours). On 8th and 16th days of the experiment three fish were collected from each aquarium, humanly dissected targeted organ was taken out and used for liver, muscle, and gills antioxidant enzyme activities and histopathological alteration. The findings indicate that in treatment group T2 which feed with 2% and 4% Moringa oleifera supplemented diet reduced significantly (P<0.05) arsenic induced oxidative stress in fish, enhance the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities but treatment group T2 is 2% Moringa oleifera supplemented diet is more effective near to control group T4 as compared to treatment group T3 with 4% Moringa oleifera supplemented. After 16 days exposure of 1/10th concentration of arsenic with 0% Moringa oleifera various degenerative alteration were seen in gills. In 2% and 4% Moringa oleifera with 1/10th arsenic, spiked secondary lamellae and lamellar epithelium lifting (EL) and rupture of epithelial layer (↑↑) and fusion of lamellae were observed at several points. Moringa oleifera is medicinal herb, which has various tremendous benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comparison among different-bottled drinking water commercially available in Lahore Pakistan. For that, five locally produced drinking water brands and four national brands were selected. Different physical, chemical and microbiological parameters like EC, pH, salinity, TDS, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, F−, Fe3+, SO42-, NO3-, PO43-, Arsenic (As), total coliforms and faecal coliforms/Escherichia coli were analysed. Results showed that there was a remarkable difference in the quality. Analysed data exposed that EC range was 141–298.3 μS/cm, pH 7.35–7.95, Salinity 0.1 ± 0.02 ppt, turbidity 2.13–2.45 NTU, TDS 85–182 mg/L, sodium 12–71.2 mg/L, potassium 0.1–2.4 mg/L, calcium 16–40 mg/L, mag- 30 magnesium 2.5–35 mg/L, chloride 35–95 mg/L, fluoride 0.29–0.94 mg/L,Iron below detectable limits to 0.17 mg/L, sulphate s 22–120 mg/L, phosphates 0.023–0.17 mg/L, nitrates 0.9–3.6 mg/L and arsenic were 0.0005–0.01 mg/L in these brands of drinking water. The analysed data was compared with the PSQCA, US–EPA and WHO standards. In only one brand of water, the concentration of sodium (71.2 mg/L) and arsenic (0.01 mg/L) was higher than permissible limits. For microbiological contamination brand E (80 colonies/100 mL sample), C (25 colonies/100 mL sample), S (100 colonies/100 mL sample) and K (15 colonies/100 mL sample) were.Some of these water brands examined were deficient in essential minerals like S brand in which Magnesium was only 2.5 mg/L and K and G brands in which calcium was 16 mg/L and 20 mg/L, respectively It was observed that treatment plants having raw water of low TDS 60 or those whose process based on 50% mineral dosing and 50% blending were cost-effective. Data presented in this study are important because it can be considered as baseline data for future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous monitoring of drinking water quality is essential in terms of the levels of heavy metals and toxic substances, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate groundwater quality in residential areas of the Rajanpur District, Pakistan. Groundwater samples (n = 200) were collected from various sites in the study area and analyzed by in situ tests (pH, EC, TDS, temperature, and turbidity), and the concentration of 32 dissolved elements and ions was also analyzed. The results showed that higher concentrations of dissolved elements are the primary reason for poor drinking water quality. A few measured parameters (TDS~992 mg L−1 and EC~1921.15 µS/cm) exceeded the permissible limits of the World Health Organization (WHO, Geneva, Switzerland) in most of the samples. Elements that had higher values than the allowable limits in most of the samples were calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), bicarbonates (HCO3), sulfate (SO4), chlorides (Cl), manganese (Mn), and strontium (Sr), with average values of 113 mg L−1, 223 mg L−1, 282 mg L−1, 367 mg L−1, 175 mg L−1, 69 mg L−1, and 1291 mg L−1, respectively. The measured parameters that had no significant issues in terms of drinking water quality were aluminum (Al), nitrite (NO2), phosphate (PO4), pH, and turbidity. The levels of potentially toxic elements such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu) (average ~2.179 mg L−1, 1.659 mg L−1, 0.092 mg L−1, and 1.032 mg L−1, respectively) were found to be lower than the drinking water guideline values of the WHO. The statistical analysis revealed weak correlations possibly due to multiple sources and localized variations. The physicochemical analysis-based WQI values for all groundwater samples were much lower at the residential sampling locations and in industrial settings, indicating poor water quality. The elevation model indicated that as water moves in the aquifer in the general direction of west to southeast, it gets concentrated by mineral dissolution, with geogenic sources having a major impact on the hydrochemistry. Hence, regular monitoring of water quality is required through advanced technology to overcome groundwater deterioration issues. The quality of water is poor for drinking purposes and the health of the residents of the Rajanpur District may be at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As), and fluoride (F−) are potent contaminants with established carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic impacts on the exposed populations globally. Despite elevated groundwater As and F− levels being reported from various regions of Pakistan no biomonitoring study has been reported yet to address the co-exposure impact of As and F− among school children. We aimed to investigate the effects of these two contaminants on dental fluorosis and intelligence quotient (IQ) along with the induction of oxidative stress in rural children under co-exposed conditions. A total of 148 children (5 to 16 years old) from the exposed and control group were recruited in the current study from endemic rural areas of Lahore and Kasur districts, Pakistan having elevated As and F− levels in drinking water than permissible limits. We monitored malondialdehyde and its probable association with antioxidants activity (SOD, CAT, and GR) as a biomarker of oxidative stress. GSTM1/T1 polymorphisms were measured to find the impact of As on health parameters. Mean urinary concentrations of As (2.70 vs. 0.016 µg/L, P < 0.000) and F− (3.27 vs. 0.24 mg/L, P < 0.000) as well as the frequency of dental fluorosis were found elevated among the exposed group. The cases of children with lower IQ were observed high in the exposed group. Additionally, lower concentrations of antioxidants (SOD, CAT, and GR) were found suggesting high susceptibility to F− toxicity. The findings suggest that F− accounted for high variations in health parameters of children under the co-exposure conditions with As. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution is a worldwide issue this time. Increased industrialization is causing the emission of many harmful elements in the ecosystem. Fish show huge biodiversity, possessing an assortment of living spaces and are significant marks of water quality. In this study, the accumulation of harmful elements was measured and studied in Cirrhinus mrigala. A total of 50fish samples were collected from the Indus River at Ghazi Ghat, South Punjab, Pakistan. The accumulation of harmful elements was studied by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The five elements were studied which include Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As) and Mercury (Hg). The detectable range of the elements was Zn>As>Pb>Cu>Hg. Mercury was below the detectable limit. These accumulations were calculated in Cirrhinus mrigala to assess the human health risk. The present study revealed that the presence of these elements is significantly fluctuated in the fish samples. This study revealed that high levels of harmful elements are creating the serious hazardous situation and it lead to food chain contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Arsenic is present both naturally and from manmade sources like factory effluents. Contamination by arsenic of the groundwater is a major source of health detriment in south-east Asian countries. The aim of this study was to identify levels of arsenic in drinking water sources and factory effluents and to analyse arsenic levels in hair samples from factory workers and their families, along with morphological changes in hair in industrial workers in Peshawar. METHODOLOGY: Water and hair samples were collected by random sampling from a labor colony of 81 factory and nonfactory household members living and working in the same industrial estate and analyzed for arsenic. Hair morphology was carried out in histomorphology laboratory at Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. The results obtained from both groups were compared with normal hair histomorphology. The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: The arsenic level in drinking water, colony tube wells and households was not within the permissible level of WHO (10 μg/L). The arsenic level in factory effluent was 68 μg/l (Pakistan Government's acceptable level is 50 μg/L). The difference was statistically significant p≤0.001 between the two groups, the factory workers had a relatively higher level of arsenic, ~34ppb, in their scalp hair. Hair arsenic level also came out to be <1.00µg/g. There was a wide variation in the histomorphology of the hair samples in both groups. CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of arsenic in factory effluent demonstrate improper decontamination. The arsenic levels were within permissible levels, long term effects cannot be ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to high level of arsenic (As) through the ingestion of contaminated soil, dust and food plants can pose health risk to humans. This study investigates the total arsenic (As), arsenobetaine (AsB), monomethylarsenate (MMA), dimethylarsenate (DMA), arsenite (As3+) and arsenate (As5+) concentrations in poultry feed, manure, agricultural soils and food plants collected from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. The total mean As concentrations in the edible parts of food plants ranged from 0.096 mg kg−1 to 1.25 mg kg−1 with percentile (P) values (P25-0.039, P50-0.0765, P75-0.165 1 mg kg−1 to P25-0.95, P50-1.23, P75-1.6 1 mg kg−1) and exceeded the food safety limit (0.1 mg kg−1) of Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) in all plant species except Pisum sativum (pea) and Mentha arvensis (mint). The risk to human health was assessed through the average daily intake (ADI), hazards quotient (HQ), health risk index (HRI) and lifetime cancer risk (LTCR). The highest average daily intake of As via the ingestion of Malva neglecta (mallow, a leafy plant) was observed for adults and children. The ADI for adults and children (2.36 × 10−4 mg kg−1 day−1 and 6.33 × 10−4 mg kg−1 day−1) was about 13% and 5%, respectively, of the Bench Mark Dose Limit (BMDL0.5) of 3.00 × 10−3 mg kg−1 day−1 set by WHO. The HRI was 3 times more in the children (2.1) than the adults (0.79), posing non-cancer health risks (health risk index > 1) for children. The LTCR values were slightly higher (1.53 × 10−4) relative to USEPA and WHO limits (1 × 10−6 to 1 × 10−4) for children whereas a minimal cancer risk was observed for adults via consumption of selected food plants. The results showed that poultry manure can contaminate food plants that may lead to cancer and non-cancer risks in agricultural areas, Pakistan. Thus, it is important to minimize As concentration in poultry feed to safeguard human health and environment from adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution of the aquatic ecosystem due to different trace elements has become a global concern which has raised health-related issues for both aquatic and human life. Industrial and agricultural water run-off drained into the rivers and deposit trace elements in water, sediments and planktons. This study was designed to calculate the burden of trace elements such as aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), and lead (Pb) in the river water of Punjnad Headworks, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. Samples were collected from surface water, bed sediments and planktons during autumn, winter and spring seasons (September 2018 to May 2019). The results showed that the concentration of Pb was highest in surface water (453.87 mg L−1), while that of Al was highest in sediments (370.24 µg g−1) and plankton (315.05 µg g−1). A significant difference was found in metal concentrations among surface water, bed sediments and plankton at different sampling stations during various seasons. Importantly, the Exping (0.71, 1.23−3, 0.34, 0.02 for Pb, As, Al, and Ba, respectively) and Expderm (7.09−8, 1.2310, 3.42−8, and 2.48−9 for Pb, As, Al, and Ba, respectively) for trace elements were below 1.0 suggesting non-significant adverse effects of trace elements on human health. This study provided better understanding of various pollutants and their concentrations in water sources at the studied location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work was conducted in research area, Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Pakistan during 2018-2019. The performance of research work was conducted to check the effect of heavy metal Chromium (Cr) and Arsenic (As) on two varieties (Faisalabad, Aas) of wheat and is the foliar application of Zinc oxide nanoparticles helpful to remove the stress effect of heavy metals. Heavy metal (Cr and Ar 10 ppm) were added to plants through the rooting medium. There were 10, 20, 30 levels of ZnO (Zinc oxide) nanoparticles for each heavy metal as applied foliarly after 14 days of germination. Experiments were set up in completely randomized design with four replicates. Heavy metal accumulation in soils is steadily growing, resulting in increased toxicity of this ingredient in a variety of crop plants. While Zn is an important nutrient for plants, some soils are deficient in Zn or have poor Zinc bioavailability. The viability of the project is the subject of this article. Soil amendments containing ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) to increase the amount of Zn in the plant. Results indicated that with the application of ZnO NPs, metal concentrations (As and Cr) declined in morphological, biochemical and gaseous attributes with soil and water properties. This reduction was more prominent in the Faisalabad 2008 variety as compared to Aas 2011. Based on the result we concluded that the foliar application of ZnO nano particles were suitable to boost up the biochemical and morphological characteristics, as well as gas exchange of the studied wheat varieties under heavy metal stress, including soil and water properties. As a result, our findings support the importance of ZnO–NPs in reducing heavy metals toxicity in wheat plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As), a class-A human carcinogen, is ubiquitously present in the earth's crust and soil and may enter the air, water, and surface environments through different natural and anthropogenic sources. In this experiment, soil, irrigation water, and rice grains were sampled from conventional rice-growing areas of Punjab, Pakistan. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 15 cm surface soil of rice growing fields, and rice grains were collected from the same field at crop maturity. Irrigation water samples were collected from the source used to irrigate the respective rice fields. Coordinates of sampling locations were noted using a global positioning system, and a locations map was made using ArcGIS. Soil samples were digested in a microwave digester using aqua regia, and plant samples were block digested using nitric acid. Arsenic concentration was determined using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer coupled with an auto-sampler and integrated samples introduction system. The mean concentration of As in rice grains, soil, and water samples was found within the safe limit set by WHO except for a sample from Narowal (148.54 µg l−1) that exceeded the irrigation water standard limit, i.e., 100 µg l−1 for irrigation water. Principal component analysis was performed to reduce the multidimensional space of variables and samples. Through the calculations of estimated daily intake, it has been revealed that the As levels measured in this study would only contribute a small amount (less than 5%) of the total recommended daily intake allowance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal contamination of the cosmetic products poses potential harm for consumers' health. We aimed to determine the concentration of Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), and Cadmium (Cd) in locally available colored cosmetics such as lipsticks, foundation cream, facial powder, and eye shadows. We determined concentration of As, Pb, and Cd in 40 samples of colored cosmetics by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and determined significant differences in As and Cd concentrations across the colored cosmetics. We detected a high concentration of Pb and As in lipstick and eye shadow samples. Concentration of Pb and Cd in the samples of foundation creams was at safe level. Most of the cosmetic samples contained heavy metals above safe levels posing a threat to the health of female consumers who use them for long periods. Regulatory bodies in Pakistan must adopt and enforce international standards for colored cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In majority cities of Pakistan, ground water is the main source of drinking water supply in the taps. Studies from different areas of Pakistan reported the presence of arsenic (As3/5+) and fluoride (F−) in drinking water supplies and can be envisaged as a deep-rooted cause of daily exposure of these in humans. The present study was planned with three way approach, i.e., to assess drinking water quality in Multan city, a highly populated and industrial activity area; synthesis of nano-adsorbent for simultaneous, effective and low-cost removal of fluoride and arsenic and manage waste by utilization of kitchen waste for synthesis of the nano-adsorbent. Out of 30 samples collected, 80% and 73% samples were found exceeding maximum residual limits (MRL) for F− and As3/5+, respectively, while 53% samples had both As3/5+ and F− concentrations greater than MRL. All these water samples were then treated with prepared nano-adsorbent, i.e., iron nanoparticles doped kitchen waste charcoal after evaluating the optimized experimental parameters and application of adsorption, kinetics and thermodynamic models. The nano-adsorbent showed high removal efficacy 81–100% for F− and 13–100% for As3+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding groundwater quality and hydrogeochemical behavior is important because consumption of the potentially toxic elements (PTEs)-contaminated drinking water may induce several health problems for humans and animals. In the current study, we examined the potential groundwater contamination with various PTEs (arsenic, As; cadmium, Cd; copper, Cu; manganese; Mn) and the PTEs-induced health risk. Groundwater (n = 111) was characterized for total As, Cd, Cu, and Mn concentrations and other water quality attributes along the River Sutlej floodplain of Punjab, Pakistan. Results revealed that groundwater, which is used for drinking purpose, contained high concentrations of As and Cd (mean As: 33 µg/L, mean Cd: 3 µg/L), exceeding 100% and 32% than the World Health Organization's safe limits (10 and 3 µg/L, respectively) in drinking water. The other water quality attributes (i.e., EC, HCO3, Cl and SO4) were also found above their safe limits in most of the wells. Hydrogeochemical data showed that groundwater was dominated with Na–SO4, Na–Cl, Ca/Mg–CO3 type saline water. The hazard quotient and cancer risk indices values calculated for As and Cd indicated potential threat (carcinogenic risk > 0.0001 and non-carcinogenic risk > 1.0) of drinking groundwater in the study area. This study shows that the groundwater along River Sutlej floodplain poses a health threat to the communities relying on it for drinking and irrigation due to high concentrations of As and Cd in water. Moreover, it is important to monitor groundwater quality in the adjacent areas along River Sutlej floodplain and initiate suitable mitigation and remediation programs for the safety of people's health in Punjab, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several types of cancer have mutations in the tumor suppressor gene p53. Environmental mutagens such as heavy metals play an undeniable role in p53 mutations and leave the mutational fingerprint on the TP53 gene. Therefore, the study of p53 mutation spectra can reflect the past heavy metals exposure. Results: The current study was found interesting results by reviewing the previous data published in the databases. These results were obtained by comparing the common mutational profile between Iran, India, and Pakistan, and the association of these mutations with metals. The mutations in codons 146 (TGG→ TGA, Trp→ Stop), 214 (CAT→CGT, His→ Arg), and 249 (AGG→AGT, Arg→ Ser) were common in both India and Iran, due to the contamination by zinc and arsenic; arsenic and copper; cadmium, arsenic, nickel, and copper poisoning, respectively. Moreover, the mutations in codons 248 (CGG→ CAG, Arg→ Gln), 220 (TAT→ TGT, Tyr→ Cys), 248 (CGG→ TGG, Arg→ Trr), and 273 (CGT→ CAT, Arg→ His) were common among these three countries that could be related to poisoning with arsenic and zinc; arsenic; copper and arsenic; zinc and arsenic, respectively. These results can give a possible explanation for the cause of mutational similarities in these three areas, which can help identify the cause of high rates of p53 mutation and cancer control in these areas. Conclusion: However, concerning the effects of other environmental factors, we definitely cannot explain the cause of these mutations among the heavy metals mentioned, since it requires more detailed studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a valuable compound for plants, animals, and humans. Various contaminating agents pollute it, with arsenic being one of them. Measurements of arsenic in potable water in Upper Sindh were conducted during this study. The samples were prepared by microwave-assisted digestion and analyzed by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. A total of 240 potable water samples were collected from 8 Talukas of Upper Sindh. DMS coordinates were also recorded with the help of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The highest arsenic content of 50.g/L was observed in Garhi Khairo Taluka. The average arsenic content in water samples of all of the Talukas, except Miro Khan, was found higher than the WHO permissible limit. The 69.2% of samples were found to be contaminated by arsenic. Therefore, the water of the studied area is concluded to be in poor condition for cooking and drinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to develop a numerical simulation to predict the chemistry change of groundwater heavy metals pollution (mainly arsenic pollution) in the Southern region of the Punjab Province of Pakistan. This work is the first attempt in modelling the transport of groundwater heavy metals pollution in the area using a 1D reactive transport model. PHREEQC was employed to perform the numerical simulation. The conceptual model represented the 1D numerical transport model with the homogenous mineral composition having uniform transport of the municipal wastewater. A 100 m column—20 cell transport model was used with a time step of 5000 years, making a simulated timescale of 100,000 years. The simulation was carried out using quartz, illite, and calcite kinetics. Arsenic sorption kinetics were also incorporated in the simulation. The results revealed that the concentrations of four out of ten heavy metals and three out of eight inorganic ions were above the drinking water quality standards at the end of the simulation making the groundwater unsafe for drinking purposes. The arsenic concentration was found out to be 3.79 mg/l against 100,000 year which is 379 times the international drinking water standard and about 76 times the national drinking water standard for arsenic. It is concluded that the groundwater, regardless of the natural soil treatment, will be highly contaminated after 100,000 years, particularly with heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead, and nickel. The groundwater quality can be enhanced by appreciating the preventive measures recommended in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As) is a global public health and environmental problem because of its non-degradable and toxic nature. This study was carried out to assess the As contamination and potential health risk through water intake in rural and urban areas. Water samples were collected from urban and rural areas of Kahror Pacca, Punjab, Pakistan, and then, analyzed for As concentration. The concentrations of As in water samples were 1.62 − 35.28 and 3.23 − 45.62 μg/L for the rural and urban areas, respectively. The spatial distribution of As-rich shallow groundwater specifies their direct contamination through anthropogenic influence and agricultural practices. The chronic risk exposure was evaluated based on the determined As through hazard quotient, average daily dose, and cancer risk. Results disclosed that hazard quotient values were > 1 in studied drinking water samples. The cancer risk due to As consumption surpassed the threshold limits defined by the United States environmental protection agency (1.0E-04 to 1.0E06). Statistical analyses, including principal component analyses and Pearson correlation, suggested that As contamination in drinking water was imputed to both geogenic and anthropogenic reasons. It is revealed that intake of As contaminated water might result in various cancer problems to the community in the future. Arsenic concentration surpassed WHO drinking water guidelines Arsenic has hazard quotient values > 1 through electric pump water consumption Statistical analysis revealed geogenic and anthropogenic activities contributed to water contamination [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium carbide (CaC2)is still commonly used as artificial fruit ripening agent for mangoes in many developing countries like Pakistan despite of the major concern of arsenic (As) and other metals contaminations. We used Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) for the detection of arsenic traces in commercially availableCaC2 and artificially ripened mangoes (ARM). Presence of harmful arsenic residues in calcium carbide (CaC2) treated fruits provided evidences that arsenic traces were transferred from calcium carbide (CaC2) which is used for ripening. Mature green mangoes were treated with CaC2 in three different ways (T1- T3) and were compared to fully ripened mangoes bought from local markets (T4) and non-treated mangoes (T0). Pulverized mango samples were irradiated by 3MeV collimated protons from 5MV tandem accelerator at National Institute of Physics, Pakistan and emitted X-ray spectrum was analyzed using GUPIXWIN to detect significant amount of As traces with differential presence of several other elements. Arsenic presence was further validated and endorsed in mango fruits using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS) and Inductivity Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Absence of As traces in non-treated control mangoes has provided evidence of As contamination in artificially ripened mangoes is associated with CaC2 used for ripening. Arsenic residues in CaC2 treated mangoes can easily added up to already available arsenic exposure towards the limits shown for several cancerous diseases. Present study will not only provide a direct method of arsenic detection in fruits, but also suggest the need of strict implementations and improvements in the existing food safety rules and regulations to completely ban this carcinogenic chemical for its future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geogenic contamination of Arsenic (As) poses major health threat to people living in Indus Plain of Pakistan particularly in Punjab. In this paper, we described in detail the hydrogeochemistry of As contaminated groundwaters in selected sites from Lahore, Kasur and Okara districts and its associated potential health risks. Sampling was done in 2019 and 141 groundwater samples were collected. High variability in As concentrations was observed varying between below detection level (<0.1 µg/L) and 655 µg/L. More than 85% of these samples exceeded WHO limit of 10 µg/L while 30% exceeded national limit of 50 µg/L. The results of statistical analysis and agglomerative hierarchical cluster (HCA) analyses indicate mainly pH-dependent desorption of As from mineral oxide surfaces under alkaline conditions to be responsible for As pollution with some minor controls from NO3− and Fe-reduction in groundwaters was also seen. Furthermore, higher potential health risks were found to be associated with elevated As levels in terms of estimated average daily dosage (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ) and carcinogenic risk assessment (CR). The average values for HQ for adults, teenagers and children were found to be 9.06, 13.6 and 13.07, respectively. Meanwhile average CR values were found to be 0.004, 0.01, 0.006 mg/Kg/day in adults, teenagers and children respectively. These results suggest an increased risk of adverse health impacts in current study sites and require effective remedial measures at urgent basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work focuses on the removal of Arsenic-III (As(III)) from water sample by an indigenous iron ore from Balochistan by adsorption method. Three iron ore samples were analyzed by X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) and a sample from Shikarap containing iron 36.2% was selected because it contained the highest amount of hematite. The batch study was conducted to examine the adsorption by iron ore and maximum adsorption was observed at pH 6, 1/2 g dose per 50 mL solution, contact time 2 hr and shaking speed 150 rpm. At the optimized conditions, the removal was 89% when monitored at 50 μg L-1 initial concentration of arsenic. The arsenic removal was monitored by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) using hydride generation. Dubinin - Radushkevich (D-R), Freundlich and Langmuir's isotherms were examined. The highest adsorption capacity of iron ore for As(III) removal was observed 13.67 μg g-1 by Langmuir model and Freundlich isotherm indicated good adsorption intensity with value n = 1.512. Thermodynamic parameters revealed that adsorption was exothermic and physisorption. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) techniques were applied to scan the surface morphology and the percentage elemental composition of samples respectively. SEM results demonstrated that Shikarap mineral grains are an oval shape and these were changed after the uptake of As(III). The EDX spectra of Shikarap mineral confirm the As(III) adsorption on particles as As 4.19%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater contamination with arsenic (As) is a significant concern in Pakistan's Punjab Province. This study analyzed 69 groundwater samples from Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, and Multan to understand hydrogeochemistry, health impacts, contamination sources, and drinking suitability. Results revealed varying as concentrations across districts, with distinctive cation and anion orders. Faisalabad exhibited Na +  > Mg 2+  > Ca 2+  > K +  > Fe 2+ for cations and SO 4 2-  > Cl -  > HCO 3 -  > NO 3 -  > F - for anions. Gujranwala showed Na +  > Ca 2+  > Mg 2+  > K + for cations and HCO 3 -  > SO 4 2-  > Cl -  > NO 3 -  > F - for anions. In Lahore, demonstrated: Na +  > Ca 2+  > Mg 2+  > Fe > K + for cations and HCO 3 -  > SO 4 2 -  > Cl -  > NO 3 -  > F - for anions. Multan indicated K +  > Ca 2 +  > Mg 2 +  > Na +  > Fe for cations and HCO 3 -  > SO 4 2-  > Cl -  > F -  > NO 3 - ) for anions. Hydrochemical facies were identified as CaHCO 3 and CaMgCl types. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), highlighted the influence of natural processes and human activities on groundwater pollution. Water Quality Index (WQI) result reveal that most samples met water quality standards. The carcinogenic risk values for children exceeded permissible limits in all districts, emphasizing a significant cancer risk. The study highlights the need for rigorous monitoring to mitigate (As) contamination and protect public health from associated hazards., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

A groundwater investigation was carried out to assess geochemical factors that influence arsenic concentrations in the Bhakkar area, which is located along the Indus River in Punjab Province of Pakistan. The investigations indicated that concentrations of major ions in most of the analyzed samples were generally within the allowed limit proposed by WHO. A Piper plot indicated that the groundwater chemistry was dominated by bicarbonate, calcium and magnesium ions which are the main contributors to the total dissolved solids content of groundwater in the study area. A Gibbs plot showed that the dominant factor that influences the groundwater's chemical composition is rock weathering. This study indicates that the concentration of arsenic is high in the groundwater samples of the study area, thus rendering groundwater not fit for drinking purposes. Arsenic concentrations range from 2 to 55 μg/L and about 73% of groundwater samples exceeded the arsenic limit proposed by WHO (10 μg/L). Arsenic concentration in upstream areas is less than downstream areas. Correlation coefficient matrix and principal component analysis were applied to find out the possible correlation of arsenic with different examined parameters of groundwater. Arsenic shows a strong negative correlation with iron (− 0.7) and potassium (− 0.65). Also, cancer risk and health assessment due to the presence of arsenic contamination were calculated based upon average daily dose, carcinogenic risk (CR) and hazard quotient (HQ). The risk assessment parameters indicated the potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic hazards related to the consumption of arsenic-contaminated water. The values of CR and HQ of As were up to 0.0023 and 5.13, respectively. Therefore, it is concluded that special monitoring of groundwater is needed in the Bhakkar area to protect the population from different diseases related to drinking As-rich contaminated groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, a large number of school-aged children is suffering from water-borne diseases, particularly in low-income countries. Arsenic (As) is a hazardous and potentially carcinogenic metal(loid) in drinking water. Nowadays, alarming levels of As have been reported in the groundwater of Vehari District, Punjab Pakistan. In this study, drinking water supplies for high and higher secondary schools were examined in Vehari District. A total of 164 water samples were collected from schools and subjected to heavy metal(loid) analysis (As) and basic water physicochemical parameters. The results were analyzed with respect to sampling area, school type, school education level, sources of sample collection, and the depth of the source. The results revealed that As concentration of water samples in boys' and girls' schools was 12.8 μg/L and 9.2 μg/L, respectively. However, when the As concentration in drinking water was evaluated at the school education level, a notable higher concentration of As was observed in the higher secondary schools than the high schools with an average of 19.5 and 9.7 μg/L, respectively. The risk assessment indices were calculated based on education level and different age groups of the children (primary, elementary, high, and higher secondary). High carcinogenic (cancer risk = 0.001) and non-carcinogenic (hazard quotient = 2.0) risks were noted for the children in higher secondary school. The current findings anticipated that the drinking water of schools in Vehari District did not meet the requirement of the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water quality guidelines. Safe drinking water is crucial for the development and growth of children. Therefore, it is important for educational authorities to take steps for provision of As free safe drinking water to students and local inhabitants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Irrigating rice with groundwater can lead to As accumulation in soil and rice grains. Matched sets of irrigation water, paddy soil, and rice grains were collected to assess the scale of the problem in the Punjab plains of Pakistan. Methods: From a total of 60 sites, irrigation water and rice grains as well as 103 soil samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory. Irrigation water and 660 soil samples were also analyzed in the field using a field kit. Results: Concentrations of As in irrigation water (65 + 32 μg/L) are higher in the floodplain of the Ravi River compared to the Chenab (13 + 9 μg/L) and Jhelum (4 + 5 μg/L) rivers, as well as the intervening Rechna (6 + 6 μg/L) and Chaj doabs (0.8 + 0.2 μg/L). Area-weighted mean soil As concentrations are 12 + 3 mg/kg along the Ravi, 8.9 + 2 and 8.1 + 2 mg/kg along the Chenab and Jhelum, respectively, and 6.2 + 0.2 mg/kg and 6.1 + 0.1 mg/kg, respectively, within the Rechana and Chaj doabs. The As content of polished grains export-quality basmati rice of 0.09 + 0.05 mg/kg, however, is low across the entire area. Conclusions: Groundwater irrigation leads to elevated As concentrations in paddy soil of some rice-growing regions of Punjab but does not result in increased uptake of As in basmati rice grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated metal- and metalloid-induced oxidative stress response in two aquatic (cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) (n = 10), pond heron (Ardeola grayii) (n = 10)), as well as two terrestrial (spotted owlet (Athene brama) (n = 6) and bank myna (Acridotheres ginginianus) (n = 16)) bird species collected from the outskirts of Lahore city, Pakistan. For this purpose, glutathione (tGSH) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS)) levels and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD); catalase (CAT)) were analyzed as biomarkers of oxidative stress against metal (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn) and metalloid (As) concentrations in kidney liver and blood of birds. Our results depicted significant correlation for Pb, Cd, and As with oxidative stress biomarkers in birds. The levels of heavy metals and As and their corresponding effects on oxidative stress biomarkers were comparably higher in aquatic species (p ≤ 0.01) except for Pb and Zn. In comparison of species, SOD and tGSH activities were higher in bank myna and cattle egret, while CAT activity and TBARS concentrations were higher in pond heron and cattle egret, respectively. We deduced that tissues with higher accumulation of metal(loid)s such as liver and kidney were under a great risk to oxidative damage. The overall order of metal accumulation and subsequent oxidative damage among families followed the pattern as Strigidae ≥Ardieda ≥ Sturnidae with their respective trophic levels. Globally, metal- and As-induced oxidative stress is least emphasized in multiple tissues of birds that is needed to be addressed with focus on case-control studies using dose-response approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to assess the magnitude and health impacts of As in drinking water. Drinking water samples (n = 60) were collected from twenty different sites of Shiekhupura District (Pakistan). Health risk assessment through average daily dose (ADD), hazard indices (HI), hazard quotient (HQ), carcinogenic risk (CR), and cancer indices (CI) for dermal and oral exposure were determined. Results revealed that As concentration ranged from 2 to 900 µg L−1 in water samples, which was significantly greater than the safe limit of As (10 µg L−1) in water. Health risk assessment of As showed that ADD (1.07E−02–9.85E−04), HQ (1.06E+01–9.85E+00), and CR (1.60E−02–9.85E−04) for oral exposure and ADD (1.03E−05–9.69E−06), HQ (1.19E−02–7.96E−03), and CR (1.11E−05–8.98E−05) for dermal exposure which were exceeded the toxic risk index value. Comparison of the two exposure pathways indicated that the oral exposure is much higher risk than the dermal contact. Both values of HI and CI were greater than WHO limit. It is concluded that residents of study area are at higher risk of As induced diseases and carcinogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to abide the regulations put forth by World Health Organization (WHO), it is imperative to employ innovative technique that can eliminate arsenic from ground drinking water. The effective sorbents are desperately needed to remove arsenic from the water. In this work, rutile TiO 2 surfaces were tuned with nominal ratios of palladium and rubidium oxide cocatalysts via co-precipitation method. Firstly, As (III) contents were converted to As (V) by photooxidation reaction (POR) and then As (V) contents were removed by adsorption over Pd/Rb 2 O@TiO 2 surfaces. The morphology, optical characteristics and structural features were obtained by XRD, Raman, UV-Vis/DRS, SEM, PL and TGA analysis. The surface characteristics and chemical compositions of Pd/Rb 2 O@TiO 2 were obtained using TEM and XPS analysis. Arsenic contaminated water samples were collected from Hasilpur Tehsil (Punjab/Pakistan). The mechanism of As (III) to As (V) conversion, adsorption kinetic for pseudo-second-order (R2꞊0.99919), and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm kinetic model (R2꞊0.98906) provided the significant clarification. Spontaneous arsenic adsorption has been determined (ΔG=−12.52 KJ/mol), which addressed the substantial columbic interactions between adsorbate and substrate. Due to non-toxic nature, dual feautres (photocatalysis and adsorption), easy accesability and low cost, the utilization of titania based sorbents appear to be viable options for arsenic removal technologies. The results of this study depict that, Pd/Rb 2 O@TiO 2 can effectively remove 99% arsenic from contaminated water. [Display omitted] • Modified rutile TiO 2 surfaces with nominal ratios of Pd/Rb 2 O cocatalysts via co-precipitation technique. • Influence of Pd/Rb 2 O loading over TiO 2 surfaces were characterized by XRD, Raman, UV-Vis/DRS, SEM,TEM, XPS, and TGA. • As (III) contents were converted to As (V) by photooxidation reaction. • Adsorption of As (V) was examined by adsorption-isotherm models. • Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.98906) and pseudo-second-order (R2꞊0.99919) provided significant clarifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic contamination in the groundwater occurs in various parts of the world due to anthropogenic and natural sources, adversely affecting human health and ecosystems. The current study intends to examine the groundwater hydrogeochemistry containing elevated arsenic (As), predict As levels in groundwater, and determine the aptness of groundwater for drinking in the Vehari district, Pakistan. Four hundred groundwater samples from the study region were collected for physiochemical analysis. As levels in groundwater samples ranged from 0.1 to 52 μg/L, with an average of 11.64 μg/L, (43.5%), groundwater samples exceeded the WHO 2022 recommended limit of 10 μg/L for drinking purposes. Ion-exchange processes and the adsorption of ions significantly impacted the concentration of As. The HCO 3 - and Na + , mixed CaMgCl, and CaCl, demonstrating that rock-water contact significantly impacts hydrochemical behavior. The geochemical modeling indicated negative saturation indices with calcium carbonate and other salt minerals, encompassing aragonite, calcite, dolomite, and halite. The dissolution mechanism suggested that these minerals might have implications for the mobilization of As in groundwater. A combination of human-induced and natural sources of contamination was unveiled through principal component analysis (PCA). Artificial neural networks (ANN), random forest (RF), and logistic regression (LR) were used to predict As in the groundwater. The data have been divided into two parts for statistical analysis: 20% for testing and 80% for training. The most significant input variables for As prediction was determined using Chi-squared analysis. The receiver operating characteristic area under the curve and confusion matrix were used to evaluate the models; the RF, ANN, and LR accuracies were 0.89, 0.85, and 0.76. The permutation feature and mean decrease in impurity determine ten parameters that influence groundwater arsenic in the study region, including F 3 , mixed CaMgCl, and CaCl, demonstrating that rock-water contact significantly impacts hydrochemical behavior. The geochemical modeling indicated negative saturation indices with calcium carbonate and other salt minerals, encompassing aragonite, calcite, dolomite, and halite. The dissolution mechanism suggested that these minerals might have implications for the mobilization of As in groundwater. A combination of human-induced and natural sources of contamination was unveiled through principal component analysis (PCA). Artificial neural networks (ANN), random forest (RF), and logistic regression (LR) were used to predict As in the groundwater. The data have been divided into two parts for statistical analysis: 20% for testing and 80% for training. The most significant input variables for As prediction was determined using Chi-squared analysis. The receiver operating characteristic area under the curve and confusion matrix were used to evaluate the models; the RF, ANN, and LR accuracies were 0.89, 0.85, and 0.76. The permutation feature and mean decrease in impurity determine ten parameters that influence groundwater arsenic in the study region, including F - , Fe 2+ , K + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cl - , SO 4 2- , NO 3 - , HCO 3 - , and Na + . The present study shows RF is the best model for predicting groundwater As contamination in the research area. The water quality index showed that 161 samples represent poor water, and 121 samples are unsuitable for drinking. Establishing effective strategies and regulatory measures is imperative in Vehari to ensure the sustainability of groundwater resources., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Groundwater is the most valuable natural source in our earth's planet, being contaminated in various regions worldwide. Despite considerable research, there are scarce data regarding arsenic (As) levels in groundwater and its build-up in biological samples in Pakistan. The current investigation analyzed As contamination in four tehsils of District Khanewal (Kabirwala tehsil, Jahaniyan tehsil, Mian Channu tehsil, and Khanewal tehsil). For that, 123 groundwater samples, 19 animal milk samples, 20 human nails, and 20 human hair samples were collected from the study area. Arsenic concentration in groundwater was up to 51.8 µg/L with an average value of 7.2 µg/L. About 28 water samples (23%) had As contents > WHO limit and 38 samples (31%) > DEP-NJ limit. Low levels of As were detected in biological samples. Average As levels were 23 µg/L in the milk samples and 298 µg/kg in human hair. Arsenic contents were not detected in nail samples, except in one sample from Kabirwala tehsil. The maximum values of hazard quotient and cancer risk in District Khanewal were 4.9 and 0.0022, respectively. It is anticipated that long-term use of As-containing water may led to poisoning of humans in the study area, especially in Kabirwala. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor As contamination in the groundwater of Kabirwala tehsil to reduce the potential health hazards., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Arsenic (As) contamination in drinking water is a global public health risk. The present study highlighted the geological and anthropogenic causes of As contamination in groundwater (GW) and surface water (SW) and assessment of their potential health risks in Sindh province of Pakistan. Upon analyzing 720 GW and SW samples from 18 different sites, the estimates of As in groundwater and surface water was observed in the range of 0 to 125 and 0 to 35 μg/L with mean values of 46.8 and 15.43 μg/L respectively. Majority of the samples exceeded WHO permissible limit of As (10 μg/L) with higher concentration detected in groundwater samples compared to surface water. Moreover, both of these sample sources were found not potable based on physicochemical characteristics. The results of statistical analysis (correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchy cluster analysis (HCA)) indicate that natural mobilization of As in groundwater is believed to be enhanced by the pH-based reductive dissolution of iron hydroxide (FeOH) and competitive sorption of bicarbonate minerals in the presence of microorganisms along with evaporative enrichment while water logging, coal mining, and excessive use of pesticides are believed to be the anthropogenic causes of As enrichment. Furthermore, enormous health risk was associated with As in terms of chronic daily intake (CRI), hazard quotient (HQ), and cancer risk probability (CR) in GW and SW. Mean HQ values in GW were 4.47 mg/kg/day in adults and 3.89 mg/kg/day in children (standard HQ ≤ 1) and was 1.43 and 1.28 mg/kg/day in SW. Mean CR value in both GW and SW was found higher than the safe limit (10−6) having a mean of 2 × 10−3 in GW and 7 × 10−4 (mg/kg/day) in SW. These findings suggest that majority of the sampling sites carry serious public health risk due to high As values and hence demands exigent remedial and management measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study focuses on the understanding of contamination status, distribution, source apportionment and health perspectives of arsenic (As), uranium (U) and other co-occurring trace metals in the groundwater samples collected along the major rivers in Sindh and Punjab provinces, Pakistan. ICP-MS analysis revealed that the concentrations of As in the groundwater in Sindh and Punjab ranged from 0.2 to 81.1 µg/L (n = 38) and 1.1 to 501.1 µg/L (n = 110), respectively. Importantly, this study is the first evidence of U contamination in the groundwater samples in Pakistan, which revealed the concentrations of U at from 0.8 to 59.0 and 0.1 to 556.0 µg/L respectively, in Sindh and Punjab. Moreover, the concentrations of Sr and Mn exceeded the WHO limits in the current study area. Anthropogenic activities such as urbanization, direct dispose of industrial, agricultural waste into waterways and extensive use of pesticides and fertilizers might be the main sources of elevated levels of total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity, which increased the mobilization of As, U and Sr in the groundwater samples. Human health risk assessment parameters such as average daily dose, hazard quotient (HQ) and cancer risk indicated severe risks of As and U in the study area. The HQ values of As and U in Punjab were observed at 69.6 and 7.7, respectively, implying the severity of the health risks associated with consumption of contaminated groundwater for drinking purposes. In a nutshell, proactive control and rehabilitation measures are recommended to eradicate trace metals associated groundwater contamination in the targeted areas to avoid future worst scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic is an environmental pollutant that has received significant attention in recent years due to its adverse effects in animals. It is a contaminant of concern because it is found in both water and fodder due to natural and anthropogenic sources (e.g. pesticide use coal burning industry). Over the past decade, arsenic levels have been increasing in the water in certain regions of Pakistan. The excess amount of arsenic in water and fodder results in the accumulation of the metalloid in animal tissues, including livestock that inhabit these regions. The objective of this article is to review current data on arsenic accumulation, as well as arsenic-induced hematobiochemical and histopathological changes, in small and large ruminants in order to synthesize the current state of the science. In ruminants, reports on the toxic effects of arsenic have included reductions in body weight and changes in hematocrit parameters. Arsenic exposure has led to major abnormalities in the blood and tissues of animals prior to the excretion in the urine and feces. The analysis of hematologic and biochemical parameters following arsenic exposure has revealed that arsenic alters the homeostasis of these endpoints in livestock due to poisoning. Increased activities of liver enzymes, for example aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in arsenic-exposed animals are indicative of liver damage. The absorbed arsenic is metabolized in the liver and eliminated in the bile and urine through the process of biomethylation. Histopathological studies of liver in ruminants have revealed that chronic oral exposure to arsenic causes severe damage to the liver. Moreover, the kidneys of arsenic-exposed animals show profuse hemorrhaging in the medulla, and indications of glomerular damage. Acute tubular necrosis indicated by pyknotic nuclei in proximal convoluted tubules is also observed with arsenic toxicity. The epithelial cells around the renal blood vessels can become necrotized, as indicated by the presence of fibrosis tissue that replaces the damaged areas. Arsenic accumulation and subsequent damage in animal tissues, as well as its excretion in the environment through urine and feces, is a concern for both animal and human health. This is especially true for human consumption of contaminated meat or milk from livestock which can result in exposure to high levels of arsenic exposure. This review is anticipated to act as an important source of information for the current status of arsenic toxicity in ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the quality of groundwater in the deltaic region of the Indus River in district Thatta, Pakistan. In the region, the groundwater is widely used for drinking purposes. Due to excessive abstraction rates of groundwater, a significant amount of seawater intrudes into the aquifers. The situation is, furthermore aggravated by dwindling flows of freshwater from the river Indus. Thus, groundwater samples (100) were analyzed for different physicochemical parameters. A number of water quality parameters crossed the WHO guidelines. The WQI model revealed that 8%, 57%, 20%, and 15% of the samples were good, poor, very poor and unsuitable for drinking purposes, respectively. Likewise, the SPI model indicated that 10%, 55%, 19%, and 16% were slightly polluted, moderately polluted, highly polluted and unsuitable for drinking. Though the model's input is different, the proportionate of ranking revealed a significant correlation (R2 = 0.78) between the outcomes of both models. The geospatial mapping of physicochemical parameters, WQI, and SPI model outcomes indicated that most of the groundwater resource in the study area is contaminated, thus not suitable for drinking purposes. The methodology developed in this study is extendable to other similar environments in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, several news channels and research publications have highlighted the dilemma of arsenic (As)-contaminated groundwater in Pakistan. However, there is lack of data regarding groundwater As content of various areas in Pakistan. The present study evaluated As contamination and associated health risks in previously unexplored groundwater of Hasilpur-Pakistan. Total of 61 groundwater samples were collected from different areas (rural and urban), sources (electric pump, hand pump, and tubewell) and depths (35–430 ft or 11–131 m). The water samples were analyzed for As level and other parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, cations, and anions. It was found that 41% (25 out of 61) water samples contained As (≥ 5 μg/L). Out of 25 As-contaminated water samples, 13 water samples exceeded the permissible level of WHO (10 μg/L). High As contents have been found in tubewell samples and at high sampling depths (> 300 ft). The major As-contaminated groundwater in Hasilpur is found in urban areas. Furthermore, health risk and cancer risk due to As contamination were also assessed with respect to average daily dose (ADD), hazard quotient (HQ), and carcinogenic risk (CR). The values of HQ and CR of As in Hasilpur were up to 58 and 0.00231, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed a positive correlation between groundwater As contents, pH, and depth in Hasilpur. The current study proposed the proper monitoring and management of well water in Hasilpur to minimize the As-associated health hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was conducted to evaluate the arsenic (As) and fluoride (F−) concentrations in growing media (stored rainwater and soil), of district Tharparkar, Pakistan. The bioaccumulation/transportation of As and F from growing media to different types of vegetables (wild cucumis, Indian squish and cluster bean) was evaluated. Total concentrations of As and F− in stored rainwater samples were observed up to 585 μg/L and 32.4 mg/L, respectively, exceeding many folds higher than WHO provisional guideline values. The As and F− contents in soil samples of nine agricultural sites were found in the range of 121–254 mg/kg and 115–478 mg/kg, respectively. The highest contents of As and F− were observed in wild cucumis as compared to Indian squish and cluster bean (p < 0.05), grown in the same agricultural field. The bioaccumulation factors of As and F− were to be > 4.00, indicating the high rate of transportation of As and F− from growing media to vegetables. A significant positive correlation of As and F− in vegetables with their concentrations in soil and water was observed (r > 0.60 with p < 0.05). The risk assessment elucidated that the population of different age group consuming local vegetables and drinking water contaminated with As and F− may have adverse health effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic(As)-mediated contamination of groundwater resources in different parts of the world is a consequence of natural or anthropogenic sources, leading to adverse effects on the environment and human health. Millions of people from different countries are unfortunately consuming groundwater contaminated with alarming levels of As. Exposure to the high concentration of As for an extended period of time can cause devastating effects on human health such as skin lesions, cardiac disorders, discolouration and cancer. Until 2018, about 11 districts of Sindh and Punjab provinces in Pakistan had been found with As contamination in groundwater beyond the national defined permissible level, i.e. 50 µg/L. Tharparkar and Hyderabad (in Sindh province) along Indus river and Lahore and Kasur (in Punjab province) are well-known hotspots sites of natural geogenic As contamination in groundwater. Higher levels of Sulfates (SO42−), Chloride (Cl−) and Carbonate (CO32−) along with the elevated values of electrical conductivity and basic pH, as well as augmented presence of "As V" species, were all an indication of oxidizing condition in groundwater, and these oxidizing conditions are identified as the primary mechanism of As contamination into aquifers of Pakistan via oxidative dissolution. The main aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the current contamination status of As in groundwater water globally with a special focus on Pakistan scenario, isotopic evidence to track sources of groundwater recharge and its effects on As contamination in groundwater with various redox conditions prevailing in Pakistan. In addition, public health consequences of As contamination and mitigation strategies for As removal from water resources have been also highlighted. In this review, the data were extracted from various cutting edge studies published in national and international journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to isolate arsenic-resistant bacteria and to further exploit it for remediation purposes. In the present study, we have isolated arsenic-resistant strain from ground water of Pakistan AT-01. The strain was cultivated at 37 °C in Luria Bertani broth supplemented with different concentrations of arsenate and arsenite. The minimum inhibitory concentration of arsenic against the bacterial isolate was 7 g/L (7000 mg/L) for arsenate and 1.4 g/L (1400 mg/L) for arsenite salt. The bacterial isolate was also characterized both on molecular and biochemical basis. The isolated strain belonged to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The high resistance against arsenic offered by the bacteria was exploited further for bioremediation purposes. The bacterial biomass generated from AT-01 strain was able to efficiently remove arsenic with 98% efficiency. Arsenic contamination of ground water is a widespread worldwide problem. The present study shows the potential of high arsenic-resistant bacteria for efficient arsenic removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Present research work was designed and conducted to verify the safe use of kajal, a popular eye cosmetic, which is widely used to beautify eyes throughout the world especially in South Asia and Middle East region. Material and Method: The toxicological studies were conducted in experimental animals for a period of 90 days to clarify misleading thoughts associated with its long term use including lead toxicity. The study was carried out in Albino rats of Wister strain and New Zealand White rabbits. Hashmi kajal dibya (net weight 4.25g), an eye cosmetic manufactured by M/s A.Q. and company international Pakistan was used as source for study. The ingredients claimed by the manufacturer are zinc oxide, wax, cinnamonum camphora, processed carbon black and clarified butter. Result: The elemental analysis resulted in presence of zinc 9.56%, lead 0.09% and total ash 41.01%, while sulfur, antimony, mercury and arsenic were not detected in the sample. The sub-chronic toxicological studies revealed that no toxicological effects were found in experimental animals. All the animals of test and control groups exhibited normal physiological activities and an increase in body weights. Lead and Zinc levels remained constant throughout the experimental period and no mortality was recorded. Furthermore, liver and kidney function tests were normal, indicating non-toxic effect of the kajal on vital organs. Conclusion: So it can be assumed that this eye cosmetic is non-toxic and can be used safely in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to determine the accumulation levels of arsenic in pasture soil, forage and animals. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine the concentration of metals in the samples of soil, forage and blood plasma of horses. The level of arsenic ranged between 4.26 mg/kg (summer) and 4.66 mg/kg (winter) in soil samples and 2.67 mg/kg (summer) and 2.94 mg/kg (winter) in forage samples. In blood plasma samples, the mean arsenic (As) values varied between 1.38 and 1.52 mg/L. In the blood plasma samples, the mean As values varied between 1.38 and 1.52 mg/L. No statistically significant changes were observed for arsenic concentrations in plasma samples of horses for sampling seasons (p > 0.05). A positive correlation was observed for forage and blood plasma to a certain degree for arsenic but for other media, arsenic correlations were negative and insignificant. It is therefore suggested that regular monitoring of heavy metals in soils/plants/animals is essential to prevent excessive build-up of arsenic., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Supplying safe water to consumers is vital for protection of public health. With population of > 15 million, Karachi is the main economical hub of Pakistan. Lake Keenjhar serves as the main source of fresh water while Hub dam is the secondary water reservoir for Karachi. In this study, bacterial community of the drinking water supply system (DWSS) of Karachi was studied from source to tap using metagenomics approach. For this purpose, we collected 41 water samples from different areas of the city (n = 38) and water reservoirs (n = 3). 16S rDNA metagenomic sequencing of water samples revealed that 88% sequences were associated with Proteobacteria (52%), Planctomycetes (15%), Becteroidetes (12%), and Verrucomicrobia (6%). On the class level, α-proteobacteria (6-56%) were found to be the most abundant followed by β- (8-41%) and γ-proteobacteria (6-52%). On the genus level, substantial diversity was observed among the samples. Bacterial communities in water from Hub dam was found to be distantly related while among the residential towns, Lyari was highly distant from the others. Twenty-four bacterial genera were found to be exclusively present in residential area samples in comparison to the source waters which is suggestive of their resistance against treatment procedures and/or contamination. Metagenomic analysis revealed abundance of Pseudomonas, Legionella, Neisseria, Acinetobacter, Bosea, and Microcystis genera in residential areas water samples. The present metagenomic analysis of DWSS of Karachi has allowed the evaluation of bacterial communities in source water and the water being supplied to the city. Moreover, measurement of heavy metals in water samples from Karachi revealed arsenic concentration according to WHO standards which is in contrast of recent study which reported extensive arsenic contamination in aquifers in the Indus valley plain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first metagenomic study of DWSS of Karachi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]