Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Title : | An integrated approach to perchlorate contamination in groundwater and its toxicological impact on human health: suggesting in-situ remediation in Arjunanadi River basin, Tamil Nadu |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences |
Focus area : | Environmental Chemistry, Water Remediation |
Principal Investigator : | Prof. Karunanidhi D, Hindusthan College Of Engineering And Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu |
Timeline Start Year : | 2023 |
Timeline End Year : | 2026 |
Contact info : | karunasamygis@gmail.com |
Details
Executive Summary : | Groundwater being the major source for domestic and drinking purpose especially in the semi-arid regions with hard rock aquifers. The utility of groundwater mainly governed by the concentration of ions. The UN sustainable developmental goal (SDG-6) highlights safe drinking water for mankind. Perchlorate (ClO4−) ion has been reported as key contaminant due to anthropogenic stress. The ion is a chemically stable anion and a powerful oxidizer, and inorganic perchlorate salts are extremely soluble in water. Perchlorate is harmful if its exceeds 0.07 mg/L in the drinking water. High level of perchlorate exposure can interfere with the iodide uptake into the thyroid gland and disrupt thyroid hormones synthesis. The high-water solubility and the poor adsorption of ClO4− to soil minerals and organic carbon make this oxyanion highly mobile in the environment. Its widespread presence in surface water and groundwater makes the aquatic environment a potential source of perchlorate exposure. To address the contamination of perchlorate ion in groundwater, samples from different locations will be collected and analysed for major, minor, trace, stable isotopes and perchlorate ions. The analysed samples will be studied for Spatio temporal variation of perchlorate contaminations in groundwater. The geophysical survey will be conducted to determine the aquifer thickens and adopt the results in Visual MODFLOW. The numerical modeling will used to determine the migration of the polluted plume and predict in different time steps. Groundwater chemistry and the isotopes will be a studied to understand the interrelationship between ions, seasonal changes in perchlorate concentration and their sources. Geochemical process that has taken place from recharge to discharge can be understood by numerical modeling techniques. Health risk assessment for different age group will be estimated considering their input pathways as oral and dermal. Sobol Sensitivity Approach is advance methods to understand which reaction and their process have additional effect on the overall system. Geospatial techniques will be used to derive the spatial and temporal distribution perchlorate. Fuzzy logic technique will be adopted in the overlay analysis to determine the contaminated and vulnerable zones. Further the outcome of the project will serve as a solution for the utilization of the contaminated water resource and to enhance sustainable water management. The benefit of the recharge structure will reduce the concentration of perchlorate in groundwater of aquifer. The artificial recharge will results in the rise of groundwater level and the concentration of perchlorate will also decrease due to dilution. Furthermore, the numerical model was used as a tool to study the effect of groundwater flow by MAR on reduction in the perchlorate concentration. Also, this study emphasizes that long-term monitoring of these factors to develop the proper groundwater sources for people in the areas. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Raneesh K Y, Sri Shakthi Institute Of Engineering And Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu-641062 |
Total Budget (INR): | 26,62,240 |
Organizations involved