Arsenic health risk assessment and the evaluation of groundwater quality using GWQI and multivariate statistical analysis in rural areas, Hashtroud, Iran

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2021, Vol.28 (3), p.3617-3631
• Main Authors: Sheikhi, Samira, Faraji, Zahra, Aslani, Hassan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age groups; Aquatic Pollution; Arsenic; Arsenic - analysis; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Carcinogens; Child; Children; Cluster analysis; Contamination; Drinking behavior; Drinking water; Drinking Water - analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental protection; Environmental science; Evaluation; Groundwater; Groundwater quality; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Humans; Hygiene; Industrial research; Iran; Multivariate statistical analysis; Polarographic analysis; Principal components analysis; Quotients; Research Article; Risk Assessment; Rural areas; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollution Control; Water quality; Water resources; Water supply
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10710-6

Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid that can cause significant health issues through drinking water. The present study was aimed to evaluate As distribution and the related health risks from drinking groundwater in rural areas of Hashtroud, Iran. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were also applied to better explain relationship pattern between different resources. The samples were taken from 51 locations in 37 villages. Arsenic concentration was determined by a polarograph device, and the corresponding carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks were calculated based on US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guideline. PCA analysis extracted four main components that explained nearly 62% of data variance. Results pointed severe As contamination in the studied area, where As was detected in 78% of the samples ranging from less than 0.001 to 0.250 mg/L. Forty percent of the contaminated places violated guideline value of 10 μg/L suggested by EPA and institute of standards and industrial research of Iran (ISIRI). Based on our findings, 1329 people including 239 children were living in the areas with higher As contamination. Hazard quotient (HQ) in 72%, 59%, and 33% of the samples was higher than one for children, adolescent, and adult age groups, respectively. Excess life time cancer risk (ELCR) in almost 80% of all age groups was significantly higher than EPA recommended guideline (10 −4 or 10 −6 ). In summary, from the view point of arsenic HQ and ELCR, water resources in the studied areas were not appropriate for drinking and hygienic purposes; necessary and urgent management strategies to guarantee water supply and health safety for local residents should be considered.