Health Risk Assessment Indices Research Articles

Sobol sensitivity analysis for non-carcinogenic health risk assessment and water quality index for Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Western Iran

Human activities and climate may have an impact on the water quality of reservoirs. Therefore, the present research aims to use the entropy water quality index assessment technique to analyze the water quality features of the main water supply reservoirs as well as to investigate the effect of water parameters on the water quality of the reservoirs. In this study, the total non-carcinogenic health risks from various exposure paths were estimated for adults and children. The water quality of the major water supply reservoirs in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province was typically poor and unfit for human consumption. Besides, the non-carcinogenic risk was higher in males (0.958–1.497) and children (1.065–1.664) than in females (0.879–1.374) according to health risk assessments. Among the factors under study, magnesium and nitrate had the highest influence on the non-carcinogenic risk. Finally, the sensitivity of each of the parameters affecting the non-carcinogenic risk was assessed using Sobel sensitivity analysis. The results indicated that the nitrate concentration (Cw) and Ingestion Rate (IR) were the most sensitive in the oral state, while Cw and fraction of skin’s surface area (F) were more sensitive in the dermal state.

Human Health Risk Assessment of Harmful Heavy Metals and Uranium Exposure in Shallow Aquifer of Nagaon, the Highest Populated District of Assam, India

Abstract The present investigation attempts to assess the harmful heavy metals and uranium exposure in shallow aquifers of the highest populated district Nagaon in the central Brahmaputra floodplain of Assam, India. Spatial distribution using the inverse distanced weighted interpolation method in Arc GIS, various pollution indices and health risk assessment indices pooled with statistical studies were employed to appraise the pollution scenario and potential health risk. The contamination degree index for the three locations was 14.09, 21.43 and 25.95, signifying a considerable degree of contamination. The excess cancer risk due to the radioactivity of uranium in adults and children of Nagaon district is negligible compared to the prescribed limit of 1.67×10-4 set by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. The average concentration of the analyzed heavy metal follows the order Mn > Fe > Zn > Cu > Ni > U > Pb > Cr > Cd. The notch box plot study reveals that the risk associated with the ingestion of water contaminated with heavy metals is higher than the dermal absorption. The HQIngestion of manganese in children shows a higher range (0.003-6.85) than in adults (0.002-4.12), with a median value of 0.14 compared to 0.08 in adults. Both adults and children are vulnerable to non- carcinogenic risks, and the risk is higher in children than in adults.

PET plastics as a Trojan horse for radionuclides

Mismanaged plastic waste interacts with secondary environmental pollutants, potentially aggravating their impact on ecosystems and human health. Here we characterized the natural and artificial radionuclides in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles collected from the industrial littoral discharge of a phosphate fertilizer plant. The activity concentrations in littered bottles ranged from 0.47 (208Tl) to 12.70 Bq·kg-1 (226Ra), with a mean value of 5.30 Bq·kg-1. All the human health risk assessment indices (annual intake, annual effective dose, and excess lifetime cancer risk) estimated for radionuclides associated with ingestion and inhalation of microplastics were below international safety limits. Our results demonstrated that PET can be loaded with natural and artificial radionuclides, and potentially act as a carrier to transfer radionuclides to humans, posing a new potential health risk. Increased use, mismanagement and fragmentation of plastic waste, and continued interaction of plastic waste with radioelements may lead to enhanced radiation exposure in the future.

Multivariate and health risks analysis of heavy metals in natural water sources around Enugu dumpsite, southeastern Nigeria

The concentrations of heavy metals and health risks associated with the consumption of domestic water sources around a dumpsite in Enugu (southeastern Nigeria) were assessed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and multivariate analysis. The results showed the dumpsite leachate mean pH value of 4.1, Mn+ of 11.4 µg/l, Fe3+ 4.1 µg/l, Cd+ 0.3, As+ 6.03 µg/l, Pb+ 2.47 µg/l, Ni+ 14.13 µg/l, and Cr3+ 1.48. The groundwater and surface water samples had mean heavy metal values as follows: Mn+ 5.23 and 0.75 µg/l, Fe3+ 1.49 and 0.15 µg/l, Cd+ 0.08 and 0.10 µg/l, As+ 1.90 and 0.15 µg/l, Pb+ 1.01 and 0.35 µg/l, Ni+ 0.37 and 0.05 µg/l, and Cr3+ 0.03 and 0.05 µg/l, respectively. Comparison with maximum permissible limits indicated that the mean heavy metal concentrations of the tested samples were lower than the limits for drinking water, except for Mn+, As+, and Pb + , which were marginal above recommended limits. Principal component analysis results showed two principal components with the first principal component having high loadings of Mn+, Fe3+, As+, Pb+, Ni+, and Cr3+, which are statistically correlated. Probable sources of these contaminants include automobile parts and tools, batteries and electrical appliances and electronics heaped at the dumpsite. Analysis of variance results indicates a significant difference in datasets between and within each and both water sources. Human health risk assessment indices indicated that the water sources are moderate to highly polluted and could pose both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic threats when consumed untreated, with children being more exposed than adults.

Determination and human health risk assessment of mercury in fish samples

This work reports the determination of mercury in fish samples purchased at a public market in Belem City, Brazil. The mercury quantification was performed using the DMA method, which allows limits of detection and quantification of 0.004 and 0.012 ng, respectively. Method accuracy was confirmed using a certified reference material of fish protein from (NRCC) National Research Council, Canada. The analyzed species were: Dourada (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii), Filhote (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum), Pescada Branca (Cynoscion leiarchus), Piramutaba (Brachyplatystoma vaillanti). The mercury contents expressed as wet sample weight varied from 0.078 to 0.150 μg g-1. Afterward, the health risk assessment indices Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Maximum Safe Consuming Quantity (MSCQ) were applied to the analytical data, and the results obtained were exhaustively interpreted and discussed. All the indices demonstrated that the daily consumption of 25 g of these fishes does not pose a risk to the human health of the local population. However, these conclusions are preliminary and should not be used in public policy matters.

Construction of the health risk assessment index system for assessing the chronic diseases based on the general health.

This study aimed to construct a standardized health risk assessment index system (HRAIS) under the guidance of general health and facilitate the family doctors to carry out chronic disease management. Available chronic disease surveillance systems and indexes were reviewed to identify potential indexes. The Delphi method was performed to establish the HRAIS, and the analytic hierarchy process was used to calculate the index weight. HRAIS included four first-level indexes and 38 second-level indexes. The authority coefficient was 0.86. The Kendall's W for the two rounds of Delphi consultation were 0.202 and 0.210 (p < 0.001). The weights of the first-level indexes from high to low were physiological health (0.409), psychosocial health (0.290), health-related behaviors (0.205), and environment (0.097). Thus, HRAIS is a multi-dimension and multi-index tool, which can be used as a guideline for family doctors in early screening, early intervention, and classified management of main chronic diseases.

Evaluation of a Household Drinking Water Purification System Performance in terms of Organic – Inorganic Water Pollution Indicators and Ecological – Health Risk Assessment Indices

In this study, the performance of one of the most popular household drinking water purification systems (WPS) of Turkey was evaluated. Tap and purified water samples were taken from İpsala District (Thrace Region). A total of 23 significant water quality assessment parameters including essential and toxic metals (pH, TDS, EC, turbidity, Cl, NO3, SO4, PO4, BOD, COD, B, Al, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Mo, Sb, Ba, Pb) were measured in water samples and how much the WPS improves these parameters were determined. Also Water Quality Index (WQI), Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI), Nutrient Pollution Index (NPI), Cancer Risk (CR), Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) were applied to data in order to assess the qualities of tap and purified water in terms of multiple effects of toxicants and possible risks of human health. As a result of this research, it was determined that the investigated WPS significantly improved the drinking water quality and significantly reduced the scores of applied ecological and health risk assessment indicators.

WITHDRAWN: Medical assurance system under reliability theory and countermeasures to public health risks.

Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.

Investigation of the 2018 Shiraz dust event: Potential sources of metals, rare earth elements, and radionuclides; health assessment

In the middle of May 2018, an unprecedented dust storm occurred in the Shiraz metropolis. After the storm, several samples were collected from dust that settled around the city. These dust samples were analysed for potentially toxic elements (PTEs), rare earth elements (REEs), and radionuclides. This work is the first study that considered rare earth elements (REEs) for source identification and radionuclide contamination of Shiraz dust event. Hysplit model analysis and NASA and NOAA satellite maps illustrated that the air mass affecting Shiraz was moving mainly through the Saudi Arabian deserts. In addition, REE results of the dust that settled in Shiraz showed a trend similar to shale, sandstone, and especially Saudi Arabian soils. Ti/Al (0.01), Fe/Al (0.92), and Mg/Al (0.55) ratios and the values of LaN/SmN (0.91–0.98), GdN/YbN (1.8–2), LaN/YbN (1.7–1.9), HREE/LREE (0.52–0.6), Ce/Ce∗ (1.09–1.13), Eu/Eu∗ (1.03–1.18), Pr/Pr∗ (0.85–0.87), Gd/Gd∗ (1.1–1.15), and MREEs/MREE∗ (4.3–4.5) ratios provided insights into dust sources. These values indicated that Shiraz dust was affected by Asaluyeh and Iraq soils during transport and the main source of the dust that settled in Shiraz on the May 13, 2018 was Saudi Arabian soil. The concentrations of Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, As, Cd, Ti, Al, Sc, and Fe in the settled dust were 0.24, 47.67, 67.33, 244, 70.27, 19.33, 664, 8.39, 0.65, 537.33, 40933.33, 11.54, and 37800 mg/kg, respectively. According to the enrichment factor (EF), coefficient variation, and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model the Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd mainly originated from exhaust emissions and industrial activities. The activity concentrations of the radionuclides 7Be, 4 K, 137Cs, and 235U in the Shiraz-settled dust were 814, 421, 14, and 5.4 Bq kg−1, respectively and the activity concentration of 4 K was higher than the crustal average. Health risk assessment indices for the elements considering all three pathways revealed the following trend: dermal contact (HQderm)< inhalation (HQinh)< ingestion (HQing). The values of HQinh and HQing for children were higher than adults, while the values for the skin adsorption pathway for adults were higher than for children.

Evaluation of heavy metal pollutants in salt and seawater under the influence of the Lyari River and potential health risk assessment

Heavy metals intoxication through edible salt poses serious health hazards. The conducted research assessed the levels of heavy metals, health risks of salt samples, and the pollution index of seawater obtained from saltpans located at Sandpit, Karachi, Pakistan, which receive untreated effluents through the Lyari River. Seawater (n = 27) and salt samples (n = 27) were prepared for the detection of Al, Cd, Pb, Cr, Fe, Cu, Hg, Ni, As and Zn through atomic absorption spectroscopy, mean concentrations ± S.D. (mg/mL) were compared with the National Environmental Quality Standards, Pakistan. The levels of Cr (40.06 ± 0.21) were the highest followed by Fe (39.77 ± 0.08) > As (25.12 ± 0.21) > Ni > Pb > Al > Hg > Zn > Cd > Cu. In sea salt (Mean ± S·D mg/Kg), the Cr (47.79 ± 0.19), Fe (47.5 ± 0.15), As (30.62 ± 0.22), and Ni were redundant elements followed by Al > Pb > Hg > Zn > Cu > Cd. The water comprehensive pollution index was 1000 times greater than the critical values. The single factor pollution index was highest for Hg (1321), followed by Cr (40), Ni (36), Pb (32), Al (31.4), Cd (31.3), and As (25). Health risk assessment indices (from salt samples), including target hazard quotient (THQ) for As, Pb, Al, Hg, and Cr were two to six times higher than the noncarcinogenic THQ reference range. Similarly, the hazardous index indicated that salt was 20 times hazardous (HI = 20.29), and the carcinogenic rate index for the heavy metals i.e., Cd, As, Cr, and Ni was above the reference CR value i.e., 1 × 10−4. In conclusion, the experimental and theoretical approaches recommend that the use of contaminated salt may impart health hazards.

Health risk assessment of toxic metals in surface and groundwater resources of a significant agriculture and industry zone in Turkey

Thrace Region has a great agriculture and industry potential and Ergene River Basin is the prime watershed of this significant region. In the current research, water quality of lotic and lentic surface and groundwater resources of Ergene River Basin were evaluated by using some toxic element and health risk assessment indices. Samples were collected from sixty-six (21 of them lotic, 15 of them lentic and 30 of them groundwater) locations and nickel, chromium, arsenic, zinc, lead, copper and cadmium accumulations were read by using an ICP-MS. Heavy metal pollution index (HPI), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI) and degree of contamination index (Cdeg) were applied to detected data. Also the toxic element concentrations in surface–groundwater were assessed in terms of public health by using some health risk assessment methods including hazard index (HI), hazard quotient (HQ) and cancer risk (CR). According to the results of applied indices, arsenic and chromium were recorded as the most dangerous toxicants among the investigated elements. While the lacustrine ecosystems were recorded as the least contaminated basin components, fluvial ecosystems, especially Corlu Stream and Ergene River, were recorded as the most polluted basin components. It was also recorded that arsenic contents in the drinking water of 50% of the investigated villages were found as a major risk factor for human health in terms of CR.

Appraisal of pollution scenario, sources and public health risk of harmful metals in mine water of Barapukuria coal mine industry in Bangladesh

This study was conducted to assess the accumulation and sources of harmful metals and associated public health risk from the usage of underground mine water of Barapukuria coal mine in Bangladesh, keeping in mind the optimum reuse. Thirty underground mine water samples had been analyzed for assessing temperature, pH, EC, TC, DO, BOD, COD, Ca, K, S, Ti, Mn, V, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, and Pb. Numerous pollution evaluation and health risk assessment indices along with multivariate statistical tools were employed in this study to apprise the pollution scenario, controlling factors, and probable health risk. The chronic or persistent health risk of metals via oral and dermal exposure of adults and children was determined using the hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI). The results showed that the content of physicochemical parameters and potentially harmful elements in water samples was many folds higher than the national and international standards. The results of pollution evaluation indices indicate that coal seam-leached mine water is highly concentrated by potentially harmful metals and not suitable for drinking, agriculture, and aquatic lives. The correlation coefficients and multivariate analysis illustrate both the geological and anthropogenic factors controlling the variability of metals in mine water. Results of HQoral value suggest that V, Co, and Pb are significant health risk for adults and Mn, V, Co, Cu, and Pb are for children. Vanadium is found potential for dermal effects, and HIdermal value directs 33%, and 70% samples exceed the safe limit for adults and children, respectively. The HI value suggests that oral exposure to harmful metals creates more harm than dermal absorption, and children are more vulnerable than adults. It is anticipated that the outcomes of this study would deliver expedient insights to initiate necessary steps to minimize the public health risk by applying appropriate environmental protocols.

Possible human health risk of some heavy metals from consumption of tilapia fish from Lake Mariut, Egypt.

Lake Mariut Main Basin (MB) is not only one of the three basins composing Lake Mariut (LM) but is also the main source of the popular tilapia fish to Alexandrian people. Unfortunately, this basin was consistently for about 50 successive years receiving a continuous discharge of agricultural, sewage, and industrial effluents. This has led to contamination of the flesh of its tilapia fish living there particularly with some toxic heavy metals like Cd and Pb. Lately, in 2010, a rehabilitation program was adopted and carried out to save this vital MB from such intensive pollution. This had been achieved by diverting all those polluting sources. The present work is made after elapsing about 7years from the diversion process date, to assess and evaluate the levels of those two metals (in addition to the other four one's Fe, Cu, Cr, and Zn) in the edible flesh part besides the liver and gills of this fish (Nile tilapia spec., Oreochromis niloticus), and in ambient water of this restored basin to measure the efficiency of the rehabilitation program on quality of endogenous fish. A simultaneous parallel sampling program was also commenced for the other two basins of LM. The obtained results revealed that the concentration level of the studied metals in each of the muscles of the fish and the ambient water of the restored MB becomes now not only almost alike the metal levels of the corresponding compartments of the other two basins of LM, but also they became at concentration levels lay below those of their counterpart permissible limits in fish and water recommended by national and international standards. Health risk assessment indices: bioaccumulation factor (BAF), metal pollution index (MPI), estimated daily intake (EDI), hazardous index (HI), and relative risk (RR) for the present case were estimated, assessed, and subsequently evaluated. All are referring to a fact that MB is currently in good environmental condition and producing safe fish for human consumption.

Risk assessment via oral and dermal pathways from heavy metal polluted water of Kolleru lake - A Ramsar wetland in Andhra Pradesh, India.

The Kolleru Lake, India is a famous wetland of international significance. Analyses of certain potentially toxic heavy metal ions in water indicate that this freshwater lake is characterized by highly heterogeneous distribution of chromium (Cr; 4.5–80 μg/L), copper, iron (Cu, Fe; below detection limit), manganese (Mn; 1–313 μg/L) and zinc (Zn; below detection limit). Non-carcinogenic health risk assessment indices like hazard quotients (HQ) and hazard indices (HI) are estimated following the guidelines recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). These indices are found to be within the acceptable limit (<1), indicating negligible potential health risk via ingestion and dermal routes. However, when the average values of these indices pertaining to the Kolleru lake are normalized with similar estimates from clean and uncontaminated global surface water, both high and low ratios are obtained. While Cr (12.5), Cu (2.3) and Mn (3.7) exhibit high ratios, those of Fe (0.09) and Zn (0.99) show respectively low and comparable values. The significance of such heterogeneous distribution of hazard indices and their ratios are discussed. Further, average carcinogenic risk levels of the adults and children due to Cr ingestion are estimated to be 0.00154 and 0.0022, respectively. Both values are higher than the permissible levels recommended by the USEPA. As a remediation measure, it is recommended that monitoring the levels of heavy metal in water and other items like fish in the lake or rice and vegetables grown in the area is needed to be carried out at regular intervals. This study therefore offers requisite perception to the local government and health officials to evolve their plan of action so that effective management and mitigation of water quality of the Kolleru lake can be administered.

Human health risk assessment of some bottled waters from Romania

The paper presents the quality status of 14 brands of bottled water, with sources of groundwaters from different mountain areas alongside the Carpathian Mountains from Romania. A number of 12 physico-chemical parameters (ammonium, bicarbonate, electrical conductivity, carbonate, chemical oxygen demand, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, pH, sulphate, total hardness, turbidity), 9 metals and metalloids (Li, B, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Sr, Ba) and 17 heavy metals (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Tl, Pb, Bi) were determined and studied. The quality status, the potential contamination and the health risk assessment of bottled waters were assessed, by using the drinking water quality index, the heavy metal pollution index, the heavy metal evaluation index, the degree of contamination and the human health risk indices. Hierarchical cluster analysis was applied, indicating similarities among the studied bottled waters based on their metal content. The Piper diagram reveals that the majority of bottled water samples fall into the Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl−, SO42−, CO32−, HCO3− categories. The quality of bottled waters based on the indices results indicated marginal, poor and very-poor quality status of the studied water samples, while the health risk assessment indices presented potential risks at aluminium, chloride and nitrate for the inhabitants who used those water samples with the purpose of drinking. The pollution indices with respect to metals generally reflected a low pollution status. This study represents the first attempt in assessing the overall quality of some bottled water collected from the mountain area, Romania, likewise assessing the comprehensive human health risk due to several chemical elements determined in water in amounts around and exceeding the maximum allowable concentrations. This research can be useful for development of potential strategies for risk control and management in the field of drinking water.

Spatial variations and abundances of trace metals as linked to landuse pattern: a case study from Gurugram, Haryana, India

Surface soil samples (n = 36) from different land use areas (rural, industrial, commercial and residential) of Gurugram were studied for physicochemical properties and trace metal (Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb, and Zn) abundances to identify their sources and spatial distribution over the region. Based on the results obtained, the soils of Gurugram, in general, are sandy (75–85 wt%), alkaline, and unpolluted with moderate pollution at certain sites. The average pH lies near 7.5 in all the land uses. Electrical conductivity in residential (329 μS/cm) soils is almost thrice the value in rural (87 μS/cm) soils. The primary metal of concern is Zn, which is above the permissible limits, followed by Cu and Pb. Common alumino-silicate minerals observed in the soils are quartz, K-feldspar, muscovite and sodic plagioclases. Based on the calculated average geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values of samples, soils of Gurugram, in general, are uncontaminated and have values < 1. However, a few samples are moderately contaminated. Soils show moderate contamination based on the average contamination factor values. The pollution load index, which gives cumulative pollution of all the metals for a site, suggests perfection, which means no contamination. Enrichment factor indicates minor enrichment for Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn, whereas no enrichment for Co and Ni in all the studied sites. In health risk assessment, hazard quotient and hazard index values are < 1 and show no adverse health effects concerning non-cancer risk. Correlation and principal component analysis suggest Co, Cr, and Ni being geologically controlled while control on Cu, Pb, and Zn is mixed type i.e., both geological and anthropological. The geochemical maps show a similar spatial distribution for Cu, Pb, and Zn, which is consistent with the correlation. These metals are dominated in some commercial and residential sites. In general, soils are found to be uncontaminated based on average concentration; however, certain hotspots are observed for Cu, Pb, and Zn, which show moderate pollution and warrants early management.

Health Risk Assessment Indicators for the Left-Behind Elderly in Rural China: A Delphi Study.

In China, many young and middle-aged rural residents move to urban areas each year. The rural elderly are left behind. The number of the rural left-behind elderly is increasing with urbanization, but it is unclear which indicators can be used to assess their health condition. The health risk assessment index system was developed to improve the health level of the rural left-behind elderly. A two-round web-based Delphi process was used to organize the recommendations from fifteen Chinese experts in geriatrics, health management, social psychology who participated in this study. Meaningfulness, importance, modifiability, and comprehensive value of the health risk assessment indicators in the index system were evaluated. The effective recovery rates of the two-round Delphi were 86.67% and 92.31%, respectively. The judgement coefficient and the authority coefficient were 0.87 and 0.82, respectively. The expert familiarity was 0.76. Ultimately, the health risk assessment index system for the rural left-behind elderly consisted of five first-level indicators, thirteen second-level indicators, and sixty-six third-level indicators. The final indicators can be used to evaluate the health of the rural left-behind elderly and provide the basis for additional health risk interventions.

Heavy Metal Residues in Some Fishes from Manzala Lake, Egypt, and Their Health-Risk Assessment.

A total of 600 freshly caught fish samples (200 each of Nile tilapia, flathead grey mullet, and African catfish) were collected from Manzala Lake, Egypt, and analyzed for determination of heavy metal residues using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Metal concentrations (µg/g wet weight) were detected in all examined samples in quantities of 0.045, 0.0145, and 0.017 µg/g for Hg; 0.511, 0.621, and 0.568 µg/g for As; 0.704, 0.635, and 0.64 µg/g for Pb; and 0.024, 0.006, and 0.020 µg/g for Cd in Nile tilapia, flathead grey mullet, and African catfish, respectively. The mean concentrations of Hg, Pb, and Cd among the three fish species tested followed the order Nile tilapia > African catfish > flathead grey mullet; meanwhile, As concentration followed the order flathead grey mullet > African catfish > Nile tilapia. The contamination levels of Hg and Cd showed significant differences between summer and winter in the three different fish species examined. Both the mullet and catfish tested revealed significant negative correlations between fish size and their residual levels of Hg, Pb, and Cd. Health-risk assessment indices suggesting that consuming such fishes from Manzala Lake could have a potential health hazard to consumers.

Trace Metal Contamination and Risk Assessment of an Urban River in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Ecological and human health risk assessments were undertaken in an urban river, Sand River. Suitability of river water for irrigation was also determined. Samples were taken on a monthly basis from four sites. Site 1 was upstream of a sewage treatment plant, sites 2, 3 and 4 were downstream. The mean concentrations of trace metals in Sand River water after sewage effluent discharge followed the order Fe > Mn > Pb > Cu > Zn ≥ Cd. Trace metal concentrations in the sediment, grass and fish after discharge followed the order Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. The geo-accumulation index showed that the sediment was not contaminated with trace metals. The health risk assessment index showed that consumption of fish from the Sand River was risky because of the high lead levels. Sodium adsorption ratio and soluble sodium percentage were 2.54% and 49.7% respectively. Both these values indicate that Sand River water is suitable for irrigation after effluent discharge.

Chemical modeling of groundwater quality in the aquifer of Seini town – Someș Plain, Northwestern Romania

This paper presented a groundwater quality monitoring in Seini town, North-West of Romania, by assessing 18 physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, COD, turbidity, ht, NH4+, NO2-, NO3-, Cl-, Al, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni and As) from 12 private dug wells and 5 private drilled wells, each with unique characteristics and used as a drinking water source. The pollution, quality status and risk assessment of drinking water sources were assessed, by pollution, quality and risk indices. Statistical methodology and cluster analysis were applied in order to elaborate and improve upon a mathematical model. 2 D and 3 D mathematical models were elaborated to show the functions that better describe the dependence between a set of physicochemical parameters. Heavy metal pollution index (HPI) and heavy metal evaluation index (HEI) results indicated that the studied drinking water sources presented no heavy metal contamination. Human health risk assessment indices showed that the consumption of studied waters presented no non-carcinogenic risk at heavy metals, but potential non-carcinogenic risk at NO3-. The water quality index (WQI) classifies the majority of samples as waters with excellent quality and the minority of samples in waters with poor and very poor quality. By geostatistical techniques, the spatial patterns of the main physicochemical indicators were established for both the surface of the aquifer and its depth. The aim of the water quality study was to establish the toxicity degree of water, its influence on human health and to inform the population regarding the use of individual water sources.