Quantitative Assessment of the Risk Related to the Ingestion of Metals Due to the Consumption of Well Water (In Cote Divoire)

Abstract

Well water is a source of supply in urban areas when there is a shortage of water from the public water system.This water doses not undergo any treatment, so its consumption could expose consumers to health risks. The aim is to estimate the chemical risk related to the ingestion of heavy metals contained in the well water consumed by the population. To achieve this objective, a socio-demographic survey was carried out among 600 people.Subsequently, 270 well water samples were collected from 7 localities.The risk assessment was carried out according to the Codex Alimentarius method, (2007) using Monte Carlo simulation.This simulation indicates that for every 100,000 inhabitants, about 1650 to 6020 individuals would observe the risk related to the ingestion of lead contained in the well water of San - Pedro, Daloa and Abidjan.The results indicate that the risk related to the ingestion of arsenic to due the consumption of these waters is 1.75% and 4.2% respectively in the cities of San-Pedro and Abidjan.That is to say ,1750 to 4200 individuals who would probably suffer from cancer out of 100,000 people exposed to the consumption of well water from these study areas. In short, the consumption of well water would constitute a health risk for the consumer.