A study on the interdependence of heavy metals while contributing to groundwater pollution index

The contribution of heavy metal to the groundwater pollution index (m-HPI) is dependent on other heavy metals present in it. This contribution may be synergistic or anti-synergistic (antagonistic) depending upon the constituent matrix. Both heavy metal type and its concentration are important. m-HPI, a variant of heavy metal pollution index in water, may be calibrated against USEPA hazard index (HI) using a generic multivariate non-linear regression (MVNLR) model. Excellent correlation may be obtained between HI and m-HPI through optimization of normalized weightage factors of constituent metals that contribute to m-HPI. MVNLR model was employed on groundwater samples of ten sites having different heavy metal matrix. The synergistic/antagonistic contribution of heavy metals to m-HPI was well discernible at each site. This study clearly showed that the individual contribution of a particular heavy metal to pollution index might be altered (enhanced or reduced) in the presence of other heavy metals. A calibrated MVNLR model was successfully used for predicting the hazard index (HI) of water samples.