Water quality and Human Health Risk Assessment: a case study of the Czarna Przemsza River source in Zawiercie, Poland

Abstract

The water quality of the Czarna Przemsza River source in Zawiercie was investigated in four sampling campaigns in years 2016 and 2017. Values of 62 indicators (physico-chemical, inorganic, organic, and biological) were compared with permissible limits for drinking water according to Polish legal acts and EU, WHO, USEPA, and Canadian guidelines. The water quality was determined as below good because of EC values and As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Se, and Zn concentrations. Water was also determined as non-potable due to exceeded concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Fe, K, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Se. The Human Health Risk Assessment for Zawiercie’s inhabitants was carried out, while water from the source is consumed regardless of its quality. The mean estimated daily intake (EDI) values exceeded Minimal Risk Level values forCr, Cd, As, Se, and Cu. The hazard index (HI) values pointed very high total non-carcinogenic risk in residential exposure scenario generated mainly by As, Cr(VI), Tl, Pb, MCPA, Se, and Cd. Water intake scenario based on questionnaire surveys pointed that risk for inhabitants existed (HI >1). The total carcinogenic risk (R_t) values were at the unacceptable level and decreased in the following order: Cr(VI) > As > Pb.

Keywords:

• HHRA
• water quality
• water pollution
• Czarna Przemsza River
• Upper Silesia

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their thanks to anonymous reviewers for their valuable and professional comments that helped to improve the quality of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported within the framework of Statutory Research Grant No. 11.11.140.199 and Dean’s Grant No. 15.11.140.357.