对印度旁遮普邦 Majha Belt（包括塔恩塔兰、阿姆利则、古尔达斯布尔和帕坦科特地区）地下水中砷、铀、铁和硝酸盐等潜在有毒元素 (PTE) 的浓度进行了测量，以评估与它的消耗和日常使用。一些地点这些元素的平均浓度超过了世界卫生组织的建议值。阿姆利则地区的砷和铁毒性水平较高，而塔恩塔兰地区的铀毒性更为普遍。微量元素评估指数表明阿姆利则是受有毒元素影响最严重的地区之一。根据美国环境保护署（USEPA）的指导方针，U、Fe、硝酸盐的HQ值均小于1，表明对成人和儿童不存在非致癌健康风险。然而，砷的危险商（HQ）值大于1，表明研究区域砷造成健康风险的可能性较高。 44.10%的样品中砷的总危害指数值大于4，这表明马杰哈带地区的人们由于饮用和生活用水而面临很高的健康风险。 Majha 地带儿童砷的癌症风险评估值 (5.69E  0) 和成人 (4.07E  0) 高于 USEPA 可接受的限值 (10-4 至 10-6)。儿童和成人的平均放射性癌症风险值分别为8.68E-07和9.45E-06，远低于印度DAE原子能监管委员会建议的允许限值1.67 × 10-4。这项研究的结果证实，使用受污染地下水的 Majha Belt 居民面临着接触阿姆利则地区砷和塔恩塔兰地区铀的严重风险。© 2024。作者获得独家许可施普林格自然有限公司

Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) like arsenic, uranium, iron, and nitrate in the groundwater of the Majha Belt (including Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot districts) in Punjab, India were measured to evaluate the health risks associated with its consumption and daily use. The average concentrations of these elements in some locations exceeded the WHO-recommended values. Arsenic and iron toxicity levels were found to be higher in the Amritsar district, while uranium toxicity was more prevalent in Tarn Taran. The Trace Element Evaluation Index suggests that Amritsar is one of the districts most affected by toxic elements. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) guidelines, the HQ values of U, Fe, and nitrate were less than one, indicating that there is no non-carcinogenic health risk for adults and children. However, the hazard quotient (HQ) value for arsenic was greater than one, indicating a higher possibility of health risk due to arsenic in the study area. The total hazard index values of 44.10% of samples were greater than four for arsenic, indicating that people in the Majha Belt are at a very high health risk due to the usage of water for drinking and domestic purposes. The cancer risk assessment values for arsenic in children (5.69E + 0) and adults (4.07E + 0) were higher than the accepted limit of USEPA (10-4 to 10-6) in the Majha Belt. The average radiological cancer risk values of U for children and adults were 8.68E-07 and 9.45E-06, respectively, which are well below the permissible limit of 1.67 × 10-4 suggested by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of DAE, India. The results of this study confirm that the residents of the Majha Belt who use contaminated groundwater are at a serious risk of exposure to arsenic in the Amritsar district and uranium in Tarn Taran district.© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.