Health Risk Assessment in Southern Carpathians Small Rural Communities Using Karst Springs as a Drinking Water Source

Moldovan, Ana; Török, Anamaria Iulia; Mirea, Ionuţ Cornel; Micle, Valer; Moldovan, Oana Teodora; Levei, Erika Andrea

doi:10.3390/ijerph19010234

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The quality of the shallow groundwater in the Târgovişte Plain is similar to that of other water bodies in Romania [ 77 , 78 ] and is expected to improve over the medium and long term once sewerage networks and treatment plants are put into operation in rural areas. In the meantime, it is difficult to compare the results of our study with previous groundwater quality studies in the area as the latter have a very coarse spatial resolution (i.e., regional values) and treat parameters individually rather than compounding their concentrations into an index.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Shallow Groundwater Quality at Regional Scales Using Adaptive Water Quality Indices

Brețcan

Tanislav

Rădulescu

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Groundwater, which is the main source of water for human consumption in many rural areas, has its quality determined by the complex interaction of environmental factors and anthropogenic activities. The present study evaluated the quality of shallow groundwater (1 to 25 m depth) in the rural area of the Târgovişte Plain, a densely populated area (200 inhabitants/km2) using 80 water samples collected from public wells. In order to explain the spatial distribution of the concentrations of the 19 physicochemical parameters considered (including heavy metals), the evaluation of groundwater quality for human consumption and potential impact on human health was conducted using the Water Quality Index (WQI), Integrated Weight Water Quality Index (IwWQI), Total Hazard Index (THI), and cumulative carcinogenic risk (CCR). For the WQI/IwWQI the comparative analysis of the two indices showed that for the WQI, it is important to select an optimal set of parameters, because use of a large number of physicochemical parameters can eclipse the values that exceed WHO guideline limits. In contrast, the use of entropy in the calculation of the IwWQI did not lead to eclipsing of exceedance, no matter the number of parameters used. Areas with poor and very poor groundwater quality according to the WQI/IwWQI overlapped, with a moderate risk to human health (THI > 1) for noncarcinogenic contaminants and also a risk of developing cancer according to the CCR average value (1.15 × 10−2). The health of 43% of the rural population in the Târgovişte Plain can be affected if they drink contaminated groundwater, and it is estimated that about 600 people can develop cancer during their lifetime. If the risk of developing cancer is reduced only in the rural population that does not have access to a water source from a centralized and verified network, the results suggest that 385 people (1.15%) can develop cancer as a result of consuming groundwater contaminated with heavy metals based on the average value of CCR. This value is lower than the general mortality rate in areas with high CCR and below the average number of cancer patients in Romania (2.65%). The quality of groundwater and the risk of developing diseases and cancer due to water consumption is directly proportional to the intensity of agricultural land use and inversely proportional to the depth of the groundwater layer, the distance from the main hydrographic network and the reservoirs, and the distance from the main city, Târgovişte. The complex and integrated analysis of groundwater quality using quality indices and indicators of health risk for the population, validated by hot-spot analysis and compared to the mortality rate, is an approach with practical applicability. This integrated approach allows public authorities, policymakers, and health services to implement an efficient monitoring program and optimize anthropogenic activities in order to prevent groundwater contamination and finally improve the quality of life for the residents in the area of this study.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Shallow Groundwater Quality at Regional Scales Using Adaptive Water Quality Indices

Brețcan

Tanislav

Rădulescu

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…In the first step, for each of the 13 physicochemical parameters considered (pH, NH 4 + , NO 2 − , NO 3 − , P, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cd, Cr and MBAS), a relative weight ( w i ) on a scale of 1 to 5 is assigned based on their critical health effects. The second step is to calculate the relative weight W i and establish the quality rating q i (Equations (2) and (3)), followed by calculation of the subindex SI i for each indicator (Equations (4)), and computing of the WWQI (Equation (5)) [ 38 , 39 ].

where w i denotes each parameter (3 for pH, NH 4 + and MBAS; 4 for all the other metals; 5 for NO 3 − and NO 2 − ), W i is the relative weight, q i is the rating for each parameter, C i is the measured concentration, S i is the guideline value according to the drinking water quality guidelines established by Romanian Government Decision no.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential Application of Natural Clinoptilolite-Rich Zeolite as Support for Bacterial Community Formation for Wastewater Treatment

et al. 2022

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The aim of this study was to investigate the use of natural zeolite as support for microbial community formation during wastewater treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal decomposition and differential thermogravimetric curves (TGA/DGT) techniques were used for the physicochemical and structural characterization of zeolites. The chemical characterization of wastewater was performed before and after treatment, after 30 days of using stationary zeolite as support. The chemical composition of wastewater was evaluated in terms of the products of nitrification/denitrification processes. The greatest ammonium (NH4+) adsorption was obtained for wastewater contaminated with different concentrations of ammonium, nitrate and nitrite. The wastewater quality index (WWQI) was determined to assess the effluent quality and the efficiency of the treatment plant used, showing a maximum of 71% quality improvement, thus suggesting that the treated wastewater could be discharged into aquatic environments. After 30 days, NH4+ demonstrated a high removal efficiency (higher than 98%), while NO3+ and NO2+ had a removal efficiency of 70% and 54%, respectively. The removal efficiency for metals was observed as follows (%): Mn > Cd > Cr > Zn > Fe > Ni > Co > Cu > Ba > Pb > Sr. Analysis of the microbial diversity in the zeolite samples indicated that the bacteria are formed due to the existence of nutrients in wastewater which favor their formation. In addition, the zeolite was characterized by SEM and the results indicated that the zeolite acts as an adsorbent for the pollutants and, moreover, as a support material for microbial community formation under optimal conditions. Comparing the two studied zeolites, NZ1 (particle size 1–3 mm) was found to be more suitable for wastewater treatment. Overall, the natural zeolite demonstrated high potential for pollutant removal and biomass support for bacteria community growth in wastewater treatment.

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“…Its composition is intricately linked to various factors, including the geological substrate, the duration of residence, initial composition, flow pathways, and the surrounding land use and practices. Karst regions, found globally, are pivotal in supplying drinking water due to their vast water storage capabilities [35].…”

Section: Iii2 the Importance Of Springs Water In Remote Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Management Model for Springs Water in Remote Areas as an Effort to Fulfill Water Needs

Eryani,

Jayantari,

Candrayana

2023

IREA

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The Pesiraman Manik Tirta Spring in Timuhun Village can potentially supply clean water. However, the main challenge lies in the lack of infrastructure to distribute water from the source to residents' homes. As a result, those seeking water must traverse steep terrain to reach the spring. To ensure a consistent water supply for Timuhun Village, a comprehensive management plan for the Pesiraman Manik Tirta spring region is essential. Sustaining the current water potential requires the implementation of an effective management approach. This research comprises a descriptive study that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative analyses. Microsoft Excel was utilized to assess quantitative data. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis was developed to address Timuhun Village's need for sustainable water management. This model has been adopted as the management framework for the village's Pesiraman Manik Tirta Springs model. This model can be successfully implemented by establishing cost-effective infrastructure, such as hydro pumps operating without electricity. Improved accessibility to clean water distribution infrastructure can significantly enhance the quality of life for residents, even in steep and remote areas.

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Health Risk Assessment in Southern Carpathians Small Rural Communities Using Karst Springs as a Drinking Water Source

Cited by 7 publications

References 36 publications

Evaluation of Shallow Groundwater Quality at Regional Scales Using Adaptive Water Quality Indices

Evaluation of Shallow Groundwater Quality at Regional Scales Using Adaptive Water Quality Indices

The Potential Application of Natural Clinoptilolite-Rich Zeolite as Support for Bacterial Community Formation for Wastewater Treatment

Sustainable Management Model for Springs Water in Remote Areas as an Effort to Fulfill Water Needs

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