Evaluation of Physicochemical Parameters, Microbial Load, Heavy Metals Contamination in Neelum River Wastewater, and...

Water bodies are the primary source of water utilized for a variety of purposes, but contamination with heavy metals and microbiological loads has a major negative impact on water quality and poses hazards to ecosystems and human health worldwide. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine the physicochemical parameters and heavy metal contaminants along with bacterial diversity in Neelum River wastewater. Six wastewater samples (WWNA to WWNF) were collected from the Neelum River. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, temperature, turbidity, transparency, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, and total dissolved solids were analyzed. Heavy metals were detected through atomic absorption spectrometry. The contamination factor (CF), heavy metal pollution index (HPI), chronic dose intake (CDI), hazard quotient (HQ), carcinogenic (CR)/risk index (RI), and noncarcinogenic risks (HI) were also determined. Characterizations of wastewater-associated bacteria were carried out through microbial nutrient growth medium, microscopic studies, biochemical tests, antibiogram analysis, resistogram analysis, and ribotyping. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) was also evaluated. Results revealed that the pH (6.5-8.5) and temperature (14°C-16°C) were recorded under permissible limits of the WHO and PSQCA. Maximum turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and biological oxygen demand were recorded above the permissible limits of the WHO and PSQCA. Chemical oxygen demand was measured within permissible limits. The highest concentrations of cadmium, nickel, lead, chromium, and iron were detected in all wastewater samples above the permissible values. The maximum HPI values were noted as 572.03 for WWNA > 145.72 for WWND > 145.13 for WWNE > 143.34 for WWNC > 141.61 for WWNF > 141.11 for WWNB. The contamination factor showed that Neelum wastewater was highly contaminated. Human health risk assessment results showed that Ni, Cd, Cr, and Pb can cause both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks in both adults and children when exposed either through the gastrointestinal and dermal routes. Bacterial diversity belonging to Enterococcus species, Enterobacter species, and Bacillus species was recorded in Neelum River wastewater. The mean risk of infection per year due to the presence of bacterial species ranged between 1.00 for the annual risk of infection for both adults and children. The current values of all bacterial species exceeded the acceptable risk value (10^-4) for all the studied wastewater, indicating that health risks probably occur upon exposure to the consumption of wastewater. All isolated bacteria showed resistance against the tested antibiotics and all concentrations of heavy metals except copper. The overall findings showed that Neelum wastewater is highly contaminated with heavy metals as well as bacterial load due to anthropogenic activities, indicating a possible health risk when exposed. Therefore, remediation, purification, and water quality monitoring programs should be carried out.