Hydrogeochemical Evaluation, Groundwater Quality Appraisal, and Potential Health Risk Assessment in a Coal Mining Region of Eastern India

The major focus of the research work is on the evaluation of the hydrogeochemical characteristics, water quality index (WQI), and health risk assessment in a coal mining region of eastern India. Fifty-six water samples were collected from tube wells, dug wells, streams, and rivers for the present study. The major hydrogeochemical facies are Ca-Mg-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4, which indicates the dissolution of carbonate phase minerals. Relatively higher levels of Ca2+ and Mg2+ and lower SO42− concentration with alkaline pH conditions could have controlled the dissolution of ions in the coal-bearing aquifer. Rock-water interaction, ion exchange processes, and carbonate phase dissolutions are the major hydrogeochemical processes governing the ionic concentrations in the groundwater. Geochemical modeling shows groundwater samples are in near saturation to equilibrium condition with the carbonate phase minerals such as calcite and dolomite, while undersaturated with sulfate phase minerals such as anhydrite and gypsum. The results of the multivariate analyses reveal the contribution from natural and anthropogenic sources that determines the groundwater composition in the coal mining area. Based on (WQI) model, about 82% of the water samples were excellent to good category. The cumulative health risk assessment based on ingestion of (F− and NO3− concentrations) in groundwater indicates a non-carcinogenic risk of 90% for children and 92% for adults. Therefore, health risk reduction measures and necessary action plans should be adopted to improve the drinking water quality standard and for the protection of water resources in the coal mining regions.