Assessment of environmental risk to population health, related to the drinking water condition use in Voronezh region

Abstract

Research aim is to assess the health risk of Voronezh region population from the contamination of drinking water by chemical substances according to the data of ecological and hydrochemical monitoring in the period from 2017 to 2019. The article presents the results of non-carcinogenic risk calculating from exposure to the body of priority chemicals (iron, manganese, nitrates) contained in the drinking water supply sources of the region, based on the average annual concentrations at 174 monitoring points of distribution network in Voronezh region residential places. As a methodological basis for assessing environmental risks, we used the regulatory document P.2.1.10.1920-04 “Guidelines for assessing the risk to public health when exposed to chemicals that pollute the environment” (2004). It was found that nitrates continue to be the main priority pollutant of drinking water in Voronezh region. According to calculations results in 9 residential places of 7 region districts and Voronezh city, the quantitative value of the non-carcinogenic risk poses an objective threat to both children and adults health living in these territories. In order to reduce the risk to public health from chemical pollutants exposure, it is recommended to take measures aimed at bringing the quality of drinking water to safe hygienic standards.