Indexical methods assessing PTEs distribution in Mahan river command area, central India's coal mining zone

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Hydrogeology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Industrial areas face water scarcity, impacting regional water resources.
• Coal mining activities can lead to contamination of local water bodies.
• Potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) pose risks to water quality and human health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) contamination in water sources within the Mahan River command area.
• To analyze the seasonal variations of PTEs in different water sources.
• To assess the impact of coal mining on water quality.

Main Methods:

• Collection and analysis of 96 water samples across two seasons (pre-monsoon and post-monsoon).
• Quantification of PTEs including Mn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd, Al, Cr, Fe, and Ba.
• Application of multiple groundwater pollution indexical methods (HPI, HEI, CI, EHCI, HMI).
• Utilizing Caboi plot to establish the relationship between water pH and dissolved metals.

Main Results:

• Elevated concentrations of PTEs (Mn, Ni, Fe, Al) exceeded permissible limits in both pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.
• A significant percentage of water samples surpassed acceptable thresholds for various PTEs according to multiple pollution indices.
• Caboi plot analysis revealed an "Acid-High Metal" characteristic in mine water, indicating acid mine drainage and mineral dissolution.

Conclusions:

• Coal mining in the Mahan River command area significantly contaminates water resources with PTEs.
• Both anthropogenic inputs and natural geogenic/environmental processes contribute to PTE distribution and seasonal variations.
• Effective water resource management strategies are crucial for mitigating PTE contamination in industrial and mining regions.