The concentration of potentially hazardous elements (PHEs) in drinking water and non-carcinogenic risk assessment: A case study in Bandar Abbas, Iran

Abstract

In this study, concentration of potentially hazardous elements (PHEs) including slice (Si), strontium (Sr), aluminum (Al), Fluoride (F), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Barium (Ba), Lead (Pb), Lithium (Li), Vanadium (V), selenium (Se), Chrome (Cr), Arsenic (As) and Uranium (U) in tap drinking water (n = 40) and filtration plant (n = 22) in Bandar Abbas city between March to July 2020 were analyzed. Analysis of PHEs ions was conducted by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Also, concentration of F was measured by SPADNS Method. The non-carcinogenic risk in the exposed population (adult and children) were estimated. Concentration of PHEs between tap drinking water and filtration plant was compared using T statistical test. In addition, association among PHEs in tap drinking water and water filtration plant using Pearson correlation coefficient. The rank order of PHEs in tap drinking water was Si (6356.25 μg/l) > Sr (3980 μg/l) > Al (115.42 μg/l) > Fe (30.00 μg/l) > Zn (14.59 μg/l) > Ba (13.91 μg/l) > Pb (13.01 μg/l) > Li (11.60 μg/l) > V (4.43 μg/l) > Se (4.17 μg/l) > Cr (2.51 μg/l) > As (2.00 μg/l) > U (0.65 μg/l) > F (0.31 μg/l) and also in filtration plant was Si (1825.00 μg/l) > Sr (539.00 μg/l) > Fe (45.00 μg/l) > Al (26.00 μg/l) > Zn (8.08 μg/l) > Ba (2.24 μg/l) > Se (1.36 μg/l)> Pb(1.28 μg/l) > Li (1.26 μg/l) > Cr (1.17 μg/l) > F (0.66 μg/l) > V (0.61 μg/l) > As (LOD < ) ~ U (LOD <). The most of PHEs in tap drinking water was considerable different with filtration plant (p value < 0.05) therefore the chemical quality of tap drinking water should be more attention.The results of non-carcinogenic risk assessment revealed that TTHQ in the adults and children due to drinking tap water content of PHEs was 2.59E-3 and 6.05E-3 and filtration plant was 8.88E-04 and 2.07E-03, respectively. Therefore, TTHQ in adults and children was lower than 1; therefore, consumers are in the safe range due to drinking tap water and water filtration plant content of PHEs.