Paper Contents
Abstract
Sediments act as a long-term sink for heavy metals (HMs), posing a potential health risk to urban populations through direct and indirect exposure pathways. This study evaluates the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks associated with HM exposure from the sediments of the Gomti River in Lucknow, India. Ten sediment samples were collected from key locations and analyzed for Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb using ICP-MS. The hazard index (HI) for non-carcinogenic risks was calculated for adult exposure via ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation of resuspended particles. Results indicated that As, Pb, and Cd were the primary contributors to non-carcinogenic risk, with HI values significantly exceeding the safe threshold (HI > 1) at all urban sites. The Gomti Barrage (HI4.50) and Daliganj Bridge (HI3.80) were identified as high-risk hotspots. The total carcinogenic risk (TCR) from Cr and As was unacceptable (TCR > 110), with the Gomti Barrage showing an alarming TCR of 1.110. Source apportionment via Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) linked these health risks primarily to industrial discharges (34.2%) and urban runoff (28.7%). The findings reveal a significant public health concern and underscore the urgent need for intervention strategies, including source control and public awareness, to mitigate exposure risks for the population of Lucknow.
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 Abhishek Yadav. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
