Ritu Ritu, Ruby Ruby, Dimple Dimple, Nancy Nancy, Arup Giri*
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-08381-5
ABSTRACT. Nitrate contamination of water resources has emerged as a critical public health issue in India. This study systematically reviews nitrate contamination in groundwater and surface water across 16 Indian states via the PRISMA guidelines. The study integrates data from 90 studies published between 2014 and 2024, offering the first meta-analysis that comprehensively evaluates nitrate distribution and associated health risks across diverse regions in India. The results revealed significant regional variations in nitrate concentrations, with states such as Rajasthan exhibiting high mean nitrate levels (80.43 mg L−1), exceeding the BIS permissible limit of 45 mg L−1. Minimum nitrate contamination was detected in Uttarakhand (2.21 mg L−1). A comprehensive health risk assessment based on the US EPA model revealed that noncarcinogenic risk, calculated by the total hazard quotient (THQ), exceeded the acceptable limit (> 1) for all age groups. The THQ was highest in children, followed by adults and infants, indicating a high noncarcinogenic risk. This study emphasizes oral ingestion as the dominant exposure route, whereas dermal absorption poses minimal risks (DHQ < 1). These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions in high-risk states, including improved agricultural practices, enhanced wastewater management, and community-centric water quality monitoring. This review supports informed policymaking and aligns with sustainable development goals (SDG 3 and SDG 6) by addressing critical knowledge gaps and advocating for clean water and public health protection.
Keywords: Groundwater; Health risk assessment; Nitrate contamination; SDG 3; SDG 6; Surface water
Citation: Ritu Ritu, Ruby Ruby, Dimple Dimple, Nancy, Arup Giri*. 2025. A Systematic Review of Potential Health Risk Assessments for Nitrate Contamination in Different Water Resources in India. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 236, 1-25. ISSN- 1573-2932 [IF-3.0] [Q2] Indexing: Scopus; Published: 26 July 2025; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-08381-5
No responses yet