Water Quality Pollution Indices for Heavy Metal Contamination Monitoring

The degradation of water quality due to heavy metal (HM) contamination is significant and has significant impacts on both human health and aquatic ecosystems. Anthropogenic activities have contributed significantly to the increase in HM concentrations in aquatic environments and require continuous monitoring and assessment. This study focuses on the assessment of HM pollution indices (HPI, HEI and DC) in the Styr River, before and after a nuclear power plant water discharge. The water samples were collected from two locations and analyzed for HM concentrations using ICP-OES. The data were then statistically processed. The results indicate comparable HM concentrations at both sites, reflecting a homogeneous distribution of contamination. The calculated indices classify the pollution level as low, which suggests a relatively stable environmental condition. Pearson correlation analysis shows strong associations between HM concentrations and pollution indices, highlighting the utility of these indices in identifying pollution trends and the relationships between specific HM and pollution indices. Overall, this study underscores the importance of monitoring and assessing HM pollution using comprehensive indices for effective water quality management.