INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION:
Water is an essential element for life and is vital for the survival of living organisms and
plants (Alissa & Ferns, 2011). Water is the most widely distributed substance on earth;
life would not have advanced without water on earth (Kocabay et al., 2013). Physically
and apparently uncontaminated pure water is colorless, tasteless and odorless (Lenvik et
al., 1978). The quality of drinking water is of greatest concern worldwide and access to
safe drinking water is a major issue in developing and undeveloped countries. According
to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, about 780 million people worldwide do
not have access to adequate safe water; on consequences every year more than 2.2
million people from developing countries succumb to death from diseases that are mainly
associated with the lack of access to safe drinking water (Jusufi et al., 2017). Access to
safe drinking water is also a major concern in Pakistan (Khan et al., 2016). Only 25.6%
population of the country have access to safe drinking water (Ullah et al., 2017). The
surface water resources of Pakistan mainly consist of flows of the river Indus and its
streams that bring in about 138 million acres feet of water every year.
Sustaining of life without water is altogether impossible. Clean water is the key indicator
for the development of any country. Water quality is a major concern worldwide due to
presence of microbial and toxic pollutants in water sources. Naturally, water has most of
the micronutrients with most balanced levels. But these levels have been highly disturbed
by natural as well as to a greater extent by anthropogenic activities. Deficiency of
resources and lack of awareness are the major causes of water pollution issues in
developing countries including Pakistan (L. A. A. Ahmed, 2010). Most of the population
in our country relies upon freshwater springs of drinking water source. Contamination of
freshwater springs as an important concern for the health of consumers as most of the
springs in villages are unprotected and prone to contamination due to agricultural, animal
farming and solid waste dumping in nearby areas. Physicochemical and microbiological
analysis of water are two important parameters for monitoring of water quality
(Sreekanth et al., 2009). Microbial community plays an important role in the aquatic
environmental conditions as they can cause different diseases as pathogenic bacteria (H.
A. M. Ahmed et al., 2017). The physicochemical parameters such as water, temperature,
pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, total dissolved solids, chlorides and total hardness
were analyzed in water sample. Springs also supply irrigation water to the adjacent
agricultural areas and are subjected to the pollution by a few sources. Different diseases
like cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever and other gastrointestinal tract infections are caused
by poor microbial quality of water.
Rapid urbanization and industrial development during last decade have provoked some
serious concerns for the environment. Being a universal solvent, water dissolves toxic
organic and inorganic compounds that deteriorate its quality and influence consumer
health. Present day water sources, particularly surface water is being polluted cheaply by
domestic, agricultural, commercial, industrial wastes disposals in addition to natural
contamination added due to the dissolution of natural substances and their subsequent
transference in our flowing waters. Heavy metals contamination in river is one of the
major quality issues in many fast growing cities, because maintenance of water quality
and sanitation infrastructure did not increase along with population and urbanization
growth especially for the developing countries (Karbassi, Nouri, et al., 2008).
Water quality index is a tool which tell the standard and level of drinking water.
Contaminated water causes hazardous effects to the health of the organism. Human health is
at greater risk when confront in any form with heavy metals. Trace metal contamination of
water bodies ranks among the major environmental problems globally, with many issues
reported from developing countries in recent times (Yu et al., 2011).
Lead (Pb):
Lead is highly toxic element which is found in earth crust in the form of galena (PBS) widely
used in paint, pesticides, smoking, automobile emissions, mining etc. Lead is a portent
neurotoxin and its occurrence in water is the cause of various adverse health issues in
humans. Acute poisoning of lead results in dis-functioning of kidneys, hypertension, brain,
reproductive system, bones, anemia, cancer, nervous system damage, mental retardation and
blood enzymes changes (Ali et al., 2019).
Chromium (Cr)
Zinc (Zn)
Zinc concentration in tap water can be much higher as consequence of its leaching through
piping and fittings. In humans, higher concentration of zinc may cause demyelinating
disease. Provision of safe drinking water to the public is one of the major concerns in water
sector in Pakistan.
Arsenic (As)
Copper (Cu)
Antimony (Sb)
Antimony is found in the form of antimony trioxide and potassium antimony tartrate.
Antimony is found in water which is not more harmful. It causes heart diseases and lungs
impairment. The individuals are affected with this element by breathing defiled air, drinking
sullied water or by eating sustenance’s.
Cadmium (Cd)
Iron (Fe)
Iron is an essential element for human health. It is the main component of protein, enzymes
and hemoglobin. It acts as catalyst in metabolism and used for transport of gases in and out
of the body. The tolerable upper intake level for adult is 45 mg per day (Trujillo-González et
al., 2016).
Tin (Sn)
Tin is a silvery metal and soft enough to be cut with little force. Tin in concentration higher
than 0.5 mg/L may cause brown and black stains on laundry, plumbing fixtures and sinks. It
may affect the taste of beverages made from the water. High concentration of tin do not
appear to present a health hazard.
Some studies have been conducted so far especially highlighting the deterioration of some
physicochemical properties of water and heavy metal detection in various water bodies of
Pakistan. The present study reports on physicochemical properties and assessment of heavy
metals at outlets of Simly Dam. We conducted an extensive monitoring of heavy metals: Cu,
Cd, Cr, Mn, Pb etc. in water samples taken from different sites. The study provided an
understanding on the extent of contamination of these metals and physicochemical
parameters of water samples.
.5 PROBLEM STATEMENT
The land of Pakistan has been bestowed with natural resources of ground and surface water.
Urbanization, mechanization and enhancing population has great impact on water reserves.
Water is the main solute of the body. It has obvious part in being alive. Due to advancement,
intake water maybe in state of being impure, which are of physical, biological and chemical
nature. The most pivotal impurity is of biological and inorganic nature which is hazardous to
health and eventually death.
Heavy metal contamination is the main concern across the globe. Pakistan is the country
where water scarcity along with the water contamination is the primary issue. Pakistan is
facing high contamination of various heavy metals in water bodies across the Punjab. Many
people are suffering from trace metal related diseases. High contamination of these metals
causes serious health issues. Therefore, there is a need to determine the heavy metal
contamination in water and highlight their hot spots. There is immediate need to take a
protective measure and technological treatment to overcome the contamination.
.7 OBJECTIVES
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