Quality and Human Health Risk Assessment of Metals and Nitrogen Compounds in Drinking Water from an Urban Area Near a Former Non-Ferrous Ore Smelter

Abstract

The quality and potential health risk of drinking waters in Medias, a town near a former non-ferrous ore smelter in Romania, was assessed using the drinking water quality index (DWQI), hazard quotient (HQ) and total hazard quotient (THQ). A total of 29 water samples collected from 26 wells and 3 springs used as drinking water sources, located in near proximity to agricultural, industrial or household contamination sources, were characterized. The obtained results indicated high NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻, Cd and Mn levels that exceeded the corresponding maximum allowable concentrations. According to the DWQI values, only 10% of water sources have acceptable quality, while 21% are threatened, and 69% have poor- quality. The health risk assessment suggested a high risk for NO₃⁻ for more than 72% of the drinking waters HQ_NO3⁻ > 1.0 but no risk for metals and NO₂⁻ (HQ_metals< 1.0; HQ_NO2⁻< 1.0).

Keywords:

• Drinking water quality index
• health risk assessment
• metals
• nitrogen compounds

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Authority for Scientific Research under Grant PN18-28 02 01 contract nr. 33N/16.03.2018 and Executive Unit for Financing Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation under Grants 22BM/2016 and 91BM/2017.