Assessment of industrial wastewater for potentially toxic elements, human health (dermal) risks, and pollution sources: A case study of Gadoon Amazai industrial estate, Swabi, Pakistan.

In this study, industrial wastewater and groundwater were comparatively investigated for their physicochemical properties, concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), human health risks and pollution source(s). Every month, 34 wastewater samples and 26 groundwater samples were collected, for a duration of one year. The results showed that the physicochemical parameters and concentrations of PTEs in the industrial wastewater exceeded the maximum permissible limits of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (2000). Specifically, it was found that total dissolved solids (5%), total suspended solids (190%), chemical oxygen demand (107%), five-days biochemical oxygen demand (5.7 times), grease/oil (27.1 times), Fe (67%), Zn (29%), Mn (32%), Cu (27%), Ni (16%), Cr (8%), Pb (106%), and Cd (80%) were higher than the permissible limits. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic dermal health risks for wastewater irrigation group were significantly higher than the groundwater irrigation group. The hazard index of irrigation with industrial wastewater was 180 times higher than the groundwater. The principal component analysis indicated that industry was the main polluting source. The cluster analysis results of all PTEs (except Fe) were found in the same clade in the dendrogram, which showed a strong similarity within the monthly data set of the whole year. The study recommends using adjacent groundwater instead of industrial wastewater for irrigation purposes.

Effects of different biochars on physicochemical properties and immobilization of potentially toxic elements in soil - A geostatistical approach.

The impact of different biochars (BCs) on the physicochemical properties and immobilization of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in contaminated soil irrigated with industrial wastewater for the last three decades was studied. Furthermore, the efficacy of applied BCs in reducing geostatistical risks was also evaluated. For this purpose, BCs were prepared from green waste (Cynodon dactylon L.) for the first time at different pyrolysis temperature (400 °C, 600 °C and 800 °C), and amended the contaminated soil in pots with two different ratios of 2% and 5% (w/w) under controlled conditions. The BCs amended soil samples were analyzed after five months (equivalent to the life span of a wheat crop). The physicochemical impacts of applied BCs on the soil showed that the acidic soil was changed to basic. A tremendous increase in water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, dissolved organic carbon, carbon, phosphorus and potassium contents was observed. The PTEs concentrations and geostatistical risks were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased by all the BCs. Among them, BC prepared at 800 °C and applied at a ratio of 5% was showed the best effects by reducing the bioavailable concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn, Fe, As, Co and Zn in 88%, 87%, 78%, 76%, 69%, 65%, 64%, 63%, 46% and 21%, respectively. Similarly, significant (p ≤ 0.05) reductions in geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor, contamination factor, and ecological risk were recorded. Therefore, BC prepared at 800 °C and applied at a ratio of 5% is recommended for soil remediation.

Assessment of Drinking Water Sources for Water Quality, Human Health Risks, and Pollution Sources: A Case Study of the District Bajaur, Pakistan.

The focus of the present study was to assess the quality of different drinking water sources, impacts of poor water quality on human health, and to apportion pollution source(s) of the district Bajaur, Pakistan. Drinking water samples (n = 331) were randomly collected from springs, hand pumps, open wells, and tube wells and analyzed for physicochemical parameters including toxic elements, and bacteriological contamination (i.e., Escherichia coli). Furthermore, a questionnaire survey was conducted to record the cases of waterborne diseases in the study area. The results showed that total suspended solids and bacteriological contamination exceeded the permissible limits of the WHO in all four of the water sources. Among the potentially toxic elements, Cd, Pb, and Mn were above the permissible limits of the WHO in some samples. The hazard index for spring water was found to exceed the toxicity level (i.e., HI > 1) set by US EPA for both adults and children, while the sources from hand pumps, open wells, and tube wells were within the safe limit. The order for the overall safety level for water quality in the study area was tube wells > open wells > hand pumps > springs. The pollution source apportionment statistics revealed that both geogenic and anthropogenic activities are the sources of drinking water contamination. The results of the questionnaire survey indicated that reports of waterborne diseases were highest in respondents who took their drinking water from springs, whereas reports of diseases were moderate in respondents taking their water from open wells and hand pumps and lowest in respondents taking their water from tube wells. Based on the findings of the study, the tube well source of water is recommended for drinking water purposes.

Effect of biochars on bioaccumulation and human health risks of potentially toxic elements in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivated on industrially contaminated soil.

In the present study, biochars (BCs) derived from naturally grown green waste (Cynodon dactylon L.) were investigated regarding their impacts on bioaccumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), agronomic properties and human health risks of wheat crop cultivated on long-term industrially contaminated soil. Typically, three types of BCs were pyrolyzed at different highest temperature of treatment (HTT), i.e. 400 °C, 600 °C and 800 °C, in a horizontal reactor and applied to the contaminated soil with 2% and 5% (w/w) ratio. The characterization results of the BCs showed that significant positive changes in fundamental characteristics such as porosity, surface area, cation exchange capacity, dissolved organic carbon, phosphorus and potassium have occurred with increased HTT. The analytical results of wheat crop indicated that the BCs applications significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced concentration of PTEs in roots (48-95%), shoots (38-91%), leaves (30-91%) and grains (38-93%) of wheat plants. After the BCs application, the agronomic properties were enhanced up to 6-18%, 18-38%, 17-46%, 13-45%, 15-42%, 22-55% and 34-57% for germination rate, shoot length, shoot biomass, spike length, spike biomass, grain biomass and root biomass respectively. The human health risks of PTEs were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased (31-93%) from toxicity level to safe level (except for Mn and Cu), after the BCs application. Based on the current study, the BCs (especially 800BC5) were recommended for reducing bioaccumulation of PTEs in different parts of the wheat plant, increasing growth and yield of wheat crop and decreasing human health risks via consumption of wheat grains.

Pollution and energy reduction strategy in soft drink industries.

The present study was conducted on soft drink industry with the objective to reduce wastewater pollution through end-of-pipe treatment and controlling energy loss through steam pipeline insulation approach. For this purpose, the main operation and manufacturing steps were examined. Wastewater was analyzed for 10 physicochemical parameters. Among these parameters, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were above their permissible level of Pakistan national environmental quality standards (Pak NEQS). For wastewater treatment, sedimentation, flocculation, coagulation and adsorption were tested. The active study reduces the pollution load up to 48%. After treatment, all the parameters were below the Pak NEQS level. To reduce the energy loss and economic benefits, the steam pipeline system was galvanized using glass wool, sheet and paper. Through galvanizing, 91.4% of energy was recovered and reduced an extra cost of 91.5%. The net saving of energy and cost are 312 GJ and114098 Rs/year, respectively. The study recommends end off pipe treatment and insulation of bare pipeline system for soft drink industries.