Geochemical Insights into Heavy Metal Contamination and Health Hazards in Palar River Basin: A Pathway to Sustainable Solutions

• Groundwater in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India, is significantly contaminated with heavy metals such as Cr, Co, Cu, Cd, and Fe. • The Health Risk Assessment Index is alarmingly high at 9028.6. • GIS-based contour maps reveal widespread contamination, rendering groundwater unsafe for human consumption. • The study underscores the urgent need for focused monitoring of water quality in industrially polluted areas to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). The pollution of groundwater by heavy metals is becoming an increasingly urgent problem due to the rapid growth of industrialization and urbanization. A detailed geochemical investigation of physicochemical properties and heavy metal contamination was conducted on 140 groundwater samples in the Vellore district around the Palar River, Tamil Nadu, India, to assess the metal index risk in groundwater. The water quality is significantly contaminated with Cr, Co, Cu, Cd, and Fe, and moderately contaminated with Mn, Ni, and Zn, according to the groundwater assessment using the heavy metal index, contamination factor, and Igeo index. This contamination is associated with various health problems, including mental illness, stomach and skin cancer, liver failure, and kidney damage. Based on contour maps created with GIS, most of the region is heavily contaminated with heavy metals, rendering the groundwater unfit for human consumption. The Health Risk Assessment Index (HRAI) rose to 9028.6, indicating an extremely high health risk. In addition to identifying the extent of contamination, the study also proposes sustainable solutions to mitigate these risks. These include the adoption of advanced water treatment technologies, the promotion of green chemistry practices in local industries, the establishment of stricter regulatory frameworks, and the implementation of community-based water management strategies. These measures are essential to ensuring safe drinking water and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive monitoring and proactive remediation strategies in industrially contaminated regions.