Contamination of nitrate in groundwater and its potential human health: a case study of lower Mae Klong river basin, Thailand

Nitrate contamination in groundwater is a worldwide problem especially in agricultural countries. Environmental factors, such as land-use pattern, type of aquifer, and soil-drainage capacity, affect the level of contamination. Exposure to high levels of nitrate in groundwater may contribute to adver...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science and pollution research international 2015-08, Vol.22 (15), p.11504-11512
Main Authors: Wongsanit, Jaturong, Teartisup, Piyakarn, Kerdsueb, Prapeut, Tharnpoophasiam, Prapin, Worakhunpiset, Suwalee
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Agriculture
Aquatic Pollution
Aquifers
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Case studies
Contamination
Drainage
Drinking water
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental factors
Environmental Health
Environmental protection
Environmental science
Fertilizers
Floodplains
Groundwater
Groundwater - chemistry
Groundwater discharge
Groundwater pollution
Health
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Human exposure
Humans
Kruskal-Wallis test
Land use
Medicine
Monitoring systems
Nitrates
Nitrates - analysis
Nitrates - chemistry
Nitrogen
Pollution studies
Research Article
Risk
Risk Assessment
River basins
Rivers
Sugarcane
Thailand
Waste Water Technology
Water Management
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water Pollution Control
Water Quality
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Summary:Nitrate contamination in groundwater is a worldwide problem especially in agricultural countries. Environmental factors, such as land-use pattern, type of aquifer, and soil-drainage capacity, affect the level of contamination. Exposure to high levels of nitrate in groundwater may contribute to adverse health effects among residents who use groundwater for consumption. This study aimed to determine the relationship between nitrate levels in groundwater with land-use pattern, type of aquifer, and soil-drainage capacity, in Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province, lower Mae Klong basin, Thailand. Health risk maps were created based on hazard quotient to quantify the potential health risk of the residents using US Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) health risk assessment model. The results showed the influence of land-use patterns, type of aquifer, and soil-drainage capacity on nitrate contamination. It was found that most of the residents in the studied area were not at risk; however, a groundwater nitrate monitoring system should be implemented.
ISSN:0944-1344
1614-7499
DOI:10.1007/s11356-015-4347-4