Determination of Heavy Metals in Water Samples from Chhattisgarh, Using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

DOI

https://www.doi.org/10.59256/ijrtmr.20260604034

Published In

Volume 6, Issue 4 (2026)

Published Online

July-August 2026

Pages

297-309

Article Type

Original Article

Check for updates

Heavy metal contamination of drinking water poses a significant environmental and public health challenge in mining-dominated regions. Although arsenic contamination in the Ambagarh Chowki block of Chhattisgarh, India, has previously been investigated, information on the occurrence of other toxic metals remains limited. The present study systematically evaluated the concentrations of iron (Fe), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) in 24 water samples collected from surface water, mine-affected water, and groundwater sources using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (F-AAS). Instrument calibration and analytical quality control were performed using validated standard procedures to ensure reliable quantification. The measured concentrations of all four metals exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) permissible limits in the majority of sampling locations. Iron concentrations ranged from below the detection limit to 20.56 mg/L, while lead reached a maximum concentration of 2.33 mg/L. Nickel exhibited the highest contamination levels, particularly in mine-affected waters, with concentrations up to 1110.62 mg/L, whereas cadmium concentrations ranged from 0.076 to 0.248 mg/L across the sampling sites. Spatial distribution patterns indicated that mine-affected waters contained the highest Fe and Ni concentrations, surface waters exhibited elevated Pb and Cd levels, and groundwater showed persistent contamination by all four metals. The widespread exceedance of drinking water standards highlights the influence of mining activities, geological weathering, and anthropogenic inputs on regional water quality. These findings demonstrate substantial multi-metal contamination in the Ambagarh Chowki region and emphasize the need for continuous environmental monitoring, effective mine waste management, and appropriate water treatment strategies to reduce potential risks to human health.