Uncovering deep trouble through multi-indices assessment: Geochemical fingerprints and human health risks of groundwater affected by coal mining

Authors

• Sumit Kumar, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata
• Gourav Mondal, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata
• Vikas Sonkar, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
• Shreya Chakraborty, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata
• Rupsha Nandi, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata

Article Type

Research Article

Publication Title

Process Safety and Environmental Protection

Abstract

This study assessed the influence of coal mining activities on the contamination of groundwater in Giridih Coalfield, India. It harnessed the Self-organising map (SOM), classical hydro-geochemistry, water quality indices, health risk indices, Sobol sensitivity analysis (SSA), and geostatistical methods to identify the dynamics and distribution of water quality, their hydro-geochemical facies, and associated health risks. The physicochemical properties were under the permissible limit, except HNO^3-, TH and TDS of 34.09 %, 63.64 %, and 18.18 % samples respectively exceeded the permissible limit. For heavy metals (HMs) Cu (52.27 %), Cr (50 %), Ni (95.45 %), Fe (83.36 %), Pb (95.45 %), and Mg (84.09 %) in the water sample exceeded the WHO permissible limit. SOM revealed consistent gradient in the distribution of water quality parameters pointing toward similarities in the origin of the contaminants. Hydro-geochemical studies via Piper, Gibbs, and Ficklin-Caboi diagrams suggested the water qualities were influenced by the mineral dissolution, acid mine drainage, and leaching from the coal mine waste dump. The water quality index (WQI) suggest 95.45 % water samples were in poor to unsuitable category. The indices for irrigation use, suggest that no serious concern in using water for irrigation but heavy metal hazard must be mitigated first. The Pb and Cr posed significant non-carcinogenic risk children (HQPb=1.15; HQCr=1.14). Total carcinogenic risk exceeded the 1 × 10⁻⁶ threshold (TCRChild=7.30 ×10⁻³ TCRAdult=4.79 ×10⁻³). SSA identifies concentration of the HMs as the most influential factor for the carcinogenic risks. Overall water quality of the studied area was compromised, direct consumption is not recommended for health and safety reasons.

DOI

10.1016/j.psep.2025.107596

Publication Date

9-1-2025

Recommended Citation

Kumar, Sumit; Mondal, Gourav; Sonkar, Vikas; Chakraborty, Shreya; and Nandi, Rupsha, "Uncovering deep trouble through multi-indices assessment: Geochemical fingerprints and human health risks of groundwater affected by coal mining" (2025). Journal Articles. 5641.
https://digitalcommons.isical.ac.in/journal-articles/5641