Health Risk Assessment of Nitrate, Nitrite, and Fluoride Ions in Water Reservoirs of Mehriz, Iran in 2023

Ali  Ghasemzadeh; Mohammad  Taghi Ghaneian; Reza Ali  Fallahzadeh; Vahid Jafari  Nodoshan; Hossein  Fallahzadeh; Arash  Dalvand

doi:10.18502/jehsd.v9i3.16581

Ali Ghasemzadeh Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Mohammad Taghi Ghaneian Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Reza Ali Fallahzadeh Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Vahid Jafari Nodoshan Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Hossein Fallahzadeh Center for Healthcare Data Modeling, Departments of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Arash Dalvand Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jehsd.v9i3.16581

Keywords: Drinking Water, Health Risk Assessment, Nitrates, Fluorides, Mehriz City.

Abstract

Introduction: High concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, and fluoride in drinking water can cause adverse health effects. This study aims to investigate concentration and health risks assessment of nitrate, nitrite, and fluoride ions in water reservoirs of Mehriz city and Bahadoran district.

Materials and Methods: Monthly sampling was done from water reservoirs of Mehriz city and Bahadoran district for 6 months. Nitrate, nitrite, and fluoride concentrations were measured in the samples using a spectrophotometer. Then, health risk assessment and sensitivity analysis were performed on the obtained data using Crystal Ball software and Monte Carlo simulation method.

Results: Nitrate, nitrite, and fluoride concentrations were lower than the standard limitation in all of the studied areas. Risk assessment findings indicated that hazard quotient (HQ) values of nitrite in Miankoh-Movahedin, Bidok and Bahadoran water reservoirs were less than 1 for all age groups. HQ values of nitrate were also below 1 for all age groups except children. HQ values of fluoride in Bahadoran water reservoir were below 1 for all age groups except children.

Conclusion: Health risk of consuming water containing nitrates and fluorides is high for children. Based on sensitivity analysis, the concentration of nitrate and fluoride in drinking water is the key factor in raising health risks. Reducing nitrate and fluoride concentrations in drinking water can reduce health risks in the population.