Groundwater NO3 concentration and its potential health effects in Beni Moussa perimeter (Tadla plain, Morocco)

Abstract

In this research, the concentrations of nitrates were investigated in well water sampled from the irrigated perimeter of Beni Moussa (Tadla plain, Morocco), and human health risks via ingestion and dermal pathways for individuals in different age brackets were assessed using the chronic daily intake, the dermal absorbed dose and hazard index (HI).The results showed that the groundwater NO3 contents were between 4.20 to 80.46 mg L− 1, with an average of 32.11 mg L− 1, indicating anthropogenic inputs caused by the infiltration of nitrates not consumed by plants or surface industrial and domestic wastewater into the shallow aquifer. Compared to the Moroccan standard, 17.78%, 40.00%, 37.78% and 4.44% of sampled wells showed poor, fair, good or excellent quality, respectively. For non-carcinogenic risk, the oral ingestion of nitrate appeared to be the main exposure pathway for local human receptors causing the high non-carcinogenic risk, and the dermal exposure met within the accepted precautionary criterion. Infants in the study area are more likely to experience adverse effects to higher nitrate level in groundwater (3.04E-01 < HI < 1.80E+ 00), followed by female (2.39E-01 < HI < 1.41E+ 00), then male (2.22E-01 < HI < 1.31E+ 00) and finally children (2.08E-01 < HI < 1.23E+ 00). The resulting spatial variation in HI values was greatly influenced by human activities and population density.The results of this study could help to shape effective environmental management measures for enhancing the groundwater quality and ensuring safe drinking water.

Water Pollution from Agriculture and Industry

“…Usage of agrochemicals has been identified as a probable cause of environmental contamination, particularly with reference to water excellence. The one that is harmful is nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) pollution at present getting substantial concentration (Barakat, 2020). About 76 percent of the world's population lives in deprived countries; they apply more nitrogen fertilizer than developed countries.…”

Investigation of heavy metal contamination and ecological and health risks in farmland soils from southeastern phosphate plateaus of Khouribga (Morocco)

“…In the past few decades, as Morocco has experienced rapid economic growth that depends on industry, mineral resources, and especially on agriculture, soil quality degradation, notably by HM pollution, has become a main ecological concern (Barakat et al, 2019a;Nassiri et al, 2021;Oumenskou et al, 2018). Because the HM accumulation in soils might reduce the soil fertility and crop production, and might also be transferred through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption to the human body that could pose risks to the health and safety of persons (Barakat, 2020;Barakat et al, 2019b;Hilali et al, 2020). Many studies investigated the environmental effect of HM contamination of farmland soils in various Moroccan regions and found HM contents were above the local background levels and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) permissible guidelines.…”

“…Because of rapid urbanization, industrialization, and intensive agriculture, some studies examined the HM contamination in Tadla plain (Morocco) on urban soil (Barakat, 2020;Barakat et al, 2019b;Hilali et al, 2020), irrigated agricultural soil, and river sediments using physical, geochemical, and magnetic methods, and reported a significant increase in HM concentrations compared to background values. However, no study of HM enrichment in non-irrigated soil has been conducted.…”