Probabilistic Human Health Risk Assessment of Fe, As and Mn in the Groundwater of Dhamrai Upazila, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

In Bangladesh, groundwater is the most important source of potable water. This study aims to investigate the amount of Fe, Mn and As in groundwater and to assess the health risks through oral ingestion of these trace metals. Groundwater samples were collected from 20 sample sites throughout the Baishakanda union, Dhamrai upazila for source appointment and risk assessment studies. The concentrations of Fe, Mn, and As were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean concentration of trace metal level in respectively descending order as Fe>Mn>As. The study found an average concentration of Fe (1.8 mg/L), Mn (0.74mg/L), and As (0.038 mg/L) in the groundwater sample where the mean value of Fe and Mn exceeds the DoE, WHO, and USEPA standards limit. On the other hand, the mean concentration value of As exceeds the WHO and USEPA standards limit. The non-carcinogenic human health risk was calculated by justifying HQ (Hazard Quotient) and HI (Hazard Index).A child (11.4056) is more vulnerable to non-carcinogenic human health risk than an adult (5.3769). Furthermore, As pollution in groundwater samples was found to pose a high carcinogenic risk, with children (3.84×10-3) being more vulnerable to carcinogenic risk than adults (1.81×10-3).The research area's groundwater was with a significant level of non-carcinogenic as well as cancer-risk (As) susceptibility in the local population.