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Ecological and health risk assessment and quantitative source apportionment of dissolved metals in ponds used for drinking and irrigation purposes

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Abstract

In this study, dissolved metal levels of 10 different ponds used as irrigation and drinking water sources in the north of Saros Bay (Türkiye) were evaluated using multivariate statistical methods, contamination and ecological risk indices, and absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR). The mean levels of metals in the ponds ranged from 0.045 µg/L (Cd) to 127 µg/L (Mn). Pond 7 used for drinking water source had the lowest total metal level. Only Mn levels in two ponds (P1 and P2) slightly exceeded the critical value set by EU Drinking Water Directive. However, the levels of all metals in all ponds were lower than the critical values set for irrigation water and aquatic life. According to the heavy metal pollution index (HPI), five ponds showed low metal pollution in terms of drinking water quality, four ponds showed moderate metal pollution, and one pond (P1) showed moderate to heavy pollution. According to the Nemerow pollution index (NPI) values (0.26–1.82), ponds P1 and P2 showed slight metal pollution, while other ponds showed insignificant metal pollution. Contamination degree (CD) values of ponds varied between 0.95 and 3.33, indicating that all ponds showed low pollution. In terms of irrigation water quality, all ponds showed low or insignificant metal pollution according to the HPI, NPI, and CD values. According to the ecological risk index (ERI) values, metals in all ponds posed low ecological risks for both drinking and irrigation purposes. Factor analysis identified two potential sources: mixed sources and natural sources. The APCS-MLR model results revealed that mixed sources and natural sources contributed 78.99% and 21.01% to dissolved metals in the ponds, respectively. Health risk assessment results indicated that both individual and combined metals in the ponds would not cause non-carcinogenic risks to both adults and children. Similarly, it was found that Cr and As would not cause carcinogenic risks to the residents of the region.

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Data availability

All data analyzed during this study are included in this published article and are not publicly available but may be obtained from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Trakya University (Grant No: 2021/112).

Funding

This work was supported by Trakya University (Grant No: 2021/112).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. İpsala Laboratory Technology Department, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey

    Cem Tokatlı

  2. Department of Aquaculture, Doğanşehir V.K. Vocational School, Malatya Turgut Özal University, Malatya, Turkey

    Memet Varol

  3. Biology Department, Faculty of Arts and Science, Giresun University, Giresun, Turkey

    Fikret Ustaoğlu

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  1. Cem Tokatlı
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Cem Tokatlı: conceptualization, investigation, and writing the original draft of the manuscript. Memet Varol: writing the original draft of the manuscript, reviewing, editing, and corresponding. Fikret Ustaoğlu: writing the original draft of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Memet Varol.

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Tokatlı, C., Varol, M. & Ustaoğlu, F. Ecological and health risk assessment and quantitative source apportionment of dissolved metals in ponds used for drinking and irrigation purposes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 52818–52829 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26078-2

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