Bio: Dr. Mazhar Iqbal Zafar is working as an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad, for more than seven years following almost 5-years of experience in working with the department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management (AEW) at the Wageningen University, Netherlands, fulfilling duties beyond his PhD-research work. He was also a member of the Environmental Risk Assessment of Chemicals team (ERA), Alterra Research Centre. He completed his PhD-research from Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands (Holland). He published papers in highly appreciated journals of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and Ecotoxicology and many others etc. These research papers are based on the evaluation of the effects of plant protection products used for agricultural production on aquatic communities and ecosystems. He is supervising MSc, MPhil and PhD students at QAU and Co-supervisor of PhD students from other universities. He is registered as a REVIEWER to review the manuscripts by the Elsevier Editorial System for many renowned and highly prestigious International Journals. He is a prominent member of several professional societies. He participated in more than 30 inter(national) conferences, symposia, and workshops and delivered poster and oral presentations in more than 15 international conferences and symposia. Dr. Mazhar organized different meetings and chaired the sessions at international conferences. He also organized Training Workshop on “Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSAS- 18001)”, Departmental of Environmental Sciences, QAU, Islamabad. Besides this, He is also running HEC projects in the capacity of PI and CO-PI.

Abstract: Continuous monitoring of drinking water quality is essential in terms of toxic substances like heavy metals (HMs) and disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The present study aims to evaluate the HMs pollution and health risk assessment of the co-exposure of HMs and DBPs. Among metals, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn and Pb were studied, while in case of DBPs, chloroform, dibromochloromethane (DBCM), bromoform, dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) and trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) were studied. Results revealed that the concentration of Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn were within the WHO permissible limit of drinking water. However, the levels of As, Pb and Cd were alarming in some water samples making them unfit for drinking purposes. Moreover, heavy metal contamination index revealed that 55% and 33% samples were unfit.