Environ Geochem Health. 2025 Nov 20;48(1):9. doi: 10.1007/s10653-025-02882-2.
ABSTRACT
Coal-fired thermal power plant operations significantly impact aquatic environments by releasing fly ash leachate, untreated effluents, and airborne pollutants, thereby deteriorating surface water quality. This study assesses the spatial distribution, pollution load, and ecological risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in surface water collected from the surroundings of coal-based thermal power plant (TPP) in Andhra Pradesh, India. Jupudi Reservoir (JR) showed relatively lower pH levels, indicating mildly acidic conditions possibly resulting from ash pond leachate influence, while the other water bodies maintained a more alkaline nature. The mean concentrations of Chromium (406 µg/L) and Arsenic (214 µg/L) were highest at JR and comparatively elevated relative to other water bodies. Furthermore, the total metal load was significantly higher in JR, TPP, and RC across water, sediment, and plant samples, reflecting the significant influence of coal-based thermal power plant activities on these aquatic ecosystems. Geospatial distribution using ArcGIS-IDW interpolation revealed contamination hotspots near coal ash discharge zones, especially at JR and TPP canal sites. Pollution indices highlighted severe pollution and ecological threats at JR and TPP, with ERI values indicating high ecological risk (> 400). Health risk assessments showed that children are particularly at risk, with elevated non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI > 1) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR > 1 × 10⁻4) through both ingestion and dermal pathways. Among the studied sites, JR and TPP canal exhibited the highest PTE concentrations, whereas RC served as the least contaminated reference site. statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), identified coal combustion by-products, atmospheric deposition, and ash leachate as the dominant sources of contamination, with minor contributions from domestic and agricultural runoff. The findings underscore the urgent need for pollution control, regular monitoring, and site-specific remediation strategies to protect both ecological and human health in coal-affected aquatic systems.
PMID:41266830 | DOI:10.1007/s10653-025-02882-2
