Human Health Risk Assessment of Nitrate and Trace Metals Via Groundwater in Central Bangladesh

Abstract

Groundwater plays a pivotal role as the largest potable water sources in Bangladesh. However, the quality of the groundwater faces challenges due to xenobiotic compounds in it. Excess amount of arsenic (As) has already been found in groundwater in many parts of Bangladesh. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the water quality and associated human health risk in central Bangladesh. A total of 99 groundwater samples from the central part of Bangladesh were analyzed to assess human health risk due to high level of nitrate (NO3-) and other trace elements i.e. arsenic (As), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn). It was found that NO3- concentration (253.17 mg/L) in the groundwater samples exceeds the recommended guideline value by the WHO (50 mg/L). Moreover, this study area also characterized with elevated concentration of As (19.44 µg/L), Fe (811.35 µg/L), and Mn (455.18 µg/L) in the groundwater. Non-carcinogenic human health risk was calculated by justifying HQ (Hazard Quotient) and HI (Hazard Index) and attributed potential conjunctive human health risks due to NO3-, As, Fe and Mn in the study area. Moreover, high carcinogenic risk was found due to As contamination in the groundwater samples in the study area.

Health Risk Assessment of Groundwater Iron and Manganese in Chandrapur District, Central India

“…Scales for chronic and carcinogenic risk assessment is presented in Table 11 (USEPA, 1999a;Bortey-Sam et al, 2015). As reported by Rahman et al, (2019), hazard quotient for children from iron and manganese is relatively very low which is in agreement with results obtained in the study. According to Hafeman et al, (2007) infants exposed to winter manganese levels greater than or equal to WHO 2003 guideline (0.4 mg/L) have an elevated mortality risk during the first year of life compared with unexposed infants.…”

Reproductive Toxicity of Arsenic: What We Know and What We Need to Know?

“…It is further conformed that exposure of chronic arsenic increase the risk of spontaneous abortions and stillbirths [54]. Significant association of arsenic exposure was found during pregnancy causing spontaneous abortions and stillbirth [3,55]. It was reported that the elevated the risk of still birth and neonatal mortality amongst 200 married women in Bengal [55,56].…”

“…Arsenic contamination is serious issue throughout the world and is substantial risk factor in most of countries including China, U.S.A, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mexico and Argentina. Human revelation to arsenic is through oral route involving food and water or through inhalation of agricultural pesticides [3][4][5]. According to World Health Organization fact sheet, arsenic contamination is major public issue requires emergency amendments [6].…”

Replumbing the Bengal Basin: A Shift in Recharge Driven by Groundwater Irrigation Revealed by Stable Water Isotopes

“…there is a growing concern of nitrate pollution in surface and groundwater (81), and local 498 groundwater quality assessments have documented E. coli, major ions, trace elements and organic 499 compounds (82,83,92,(84)(85)(86)(87)(88)(89)(90)(91). 500…”