"Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Groundwater Near Industrial Zones in Bangladesh"

Maintaining human health depends on having access to clean, drinkable water. Chronic exposure to heavy metals in drinking water can lead to a 30% increase in the incidence of cancer in industrial areas compared to non-industrial areas. Savar is one of the rapidly industrializing areas near Dhaka, home to a large portion of the ready-made garment industry. This research investigates heavy metal contamination in groundwater near the industrial area of Savar. The concentrations of heavy metals were measured using a variety of analytical techniques, including the dual-range arsenic test strip method, the Ferro Ver method, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Analysis revealed that the iron levels of one sample exceeded the standard value. The Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazardous Index (HI), and carcinogenic risks (CR) revealed significant health exposure to arsenic and nickel in the research area. HQ value for Arsenic was 0.92 for adults and 1.94 for children, while the CR exceeded the limit. The HI 2.116 for children exceeding the risk levels. Arsenic has been demonstrated to cause hepatotoxicity, liver damage, associated with nephrotoxicity, immune system disorders. Nickel exposure effects like epigenetic changes and DNA damage. Notably, HI value for children is almost twice that of adults.