Nitrate in Groundwater and Health Risk Assessment: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Villages in Tanah Merah District, Kelantan, Malaysia During Paddy Pre-Planting Season

Author(s):  
Muhammad Syafiq N ◽  
◽  
Shaharuddin MS ◽  
Zaenal Abidin ◽  
◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction: Contamination of nitrate is one of the most common groundwater problems worldwide. Around 70% of residents in the state of Kelantan still rely on groundwater as their primary source of water supply. Extensive usage of fertilizer in agricultural areas may cause nitrate leaching into the groundwater. This study aimed to determine the level of nitrate in groundwater and health risk assessment at three villages in Tanah Merah District, Kelantan, Malaysia. Subjects and Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Tanah Merah district, Kelantan, in January 2020. A total of 52 residents was selected by purposive sampling. The inclusion criteria for study subjects were long life residents, age ≥18 years old, and groundwater as a primary source of drinking supply. The study variables were (1) Level of nitrate in groundwater measured according to age (year), depth (meter), and distance (meter) of well from the agricultural area; and (2) Health risk assessment measured by hazard quotient (HQ). A set of questionnaires consisted of four sections to gather information related to socio-demographic, water usage, living environment, and health status. Groundwater samples were collected in duplicates and were analysed using a Hanna Instruments portable pH/ORP/ISE meter with an attached nitrate electrode. The data were reported descriptively. Results: Nitrate levels were found to be under the maximum acceptable value of 10 mg/L, as stated by the Drinking Water Quality Standard of Malaysia. Nitrate level ranged from 0.22 to 8.81 mg/L (Mean= 2.94; SD= 2.27). Spearman rho correlation showed that nitrate level was significantly and negatively correlated the age of wells (r= -0.31; p= 0.025). Nitrate level was not significantly correlated with the depth (r= 0.19; p= 0.183) and distance of wells (r= -0.05; p= 0.751). Hazard quotient (HQ) for all study subjects was <1, which means that exposure to nitrate contained drinking water in study subjects was not detrimental to health. Conclusion: Nitrate levels were below the maximum acceptable value, but continuous monitoring from health authorities is essential since other seasons of paddy planting may contribute higher deposition of nitrate into groundwater. Keywords: nitrate, groundwater, levels, hazard quotient, Tanah Merah Correspondence: Muhammad Syafiq N. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia. UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Email: [email protected]. Mobile: +601140731881. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/the7thicph.01.27

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousef Moghaddasi ◽  
Seyedtaghi Mirmohammadi ◽  
Anees Ahmad ◽  
Syavash Etemadi Nejad ◽  
Jamshid Yazdani

Author(s):  
Reza Aghlmand ◽  
Saeed Rasi Nezami ◽  
Ali Abbasi

In recent years, in addition to water resources’ quantity, their quality has also received much attention. In this study, the quality of the urban water distribution network in northwestern Iran was evaluated using the water quality index (WQI) method. Then, some important trace elements were investigated, and finally, the health risk assessment was evaluated for both carcinogenic elements (Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb, and As) and non-carcinogenic elements (Ca, Mg, Na, K, F, NO3, and Cu) using carcinogenic risk (CR) and hazard quotient (HQ), respectively. In the present study, the WQI was calculated based on both World Health Organization (WHO) and Iranian drinking water standards. Comparing the results of these standards revealed that the WQI based on the Iranian standard was slightly higher. Regarding the calculated WQI for the study region, the status of water quality for drinking consumption is in the good water quality class (25 < WQI < 50). It was observed that Cu and Cd have the highest and lowest concentrations in all sampling points, respectively. Hazard Index (HI) results showed that the non-carcinogenic substances studied had a low risk for both adults and children (<1.0). However, the CR results showed that Ni, Cd, and As were above the desired level for both children and adults. The results of this study can be applied for efficient water management and human health protection programs in the study area.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Akram ◽  
Rukhsar Fatima ◽  
Atta Rasool ◽  
Allah Wasaya

Abstract Water is very important to maintaining life on earth. Fluoride and Arsenic pollution in groundwater is an emerging issue in the world. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to measure total arsenic, while ion chromatography was used to determine fluoride. The present study was conducted for the health risk assessment of fluoride and arsenic in groundwater around brick kilns. 58 samples of groundwater were collected from district Vehari Punjab and were analyzed for arsenic concentration ranges from 0.330 to 11.120 µg/L, higher than the WHO recommended permissible level of arsenic in drinking water (10 µg/L). The mean value of fluoride in the water supply for drinking is 2.599 mg/L as its concentration ranges are 0.680 to 9.690 mg/L respectively. All the values of fluoride in drinking water were higher than the permissible limit according to WHO standard 1.5 mg/L. The spatial distribution of arsenic and fluoride in groundwater indicates their direct contamination with rock weathering, coal burning, and the use of cheap fuel in brick kilns. The estimated average dose (ADD), hazards quotient (HQ), as well as cancer risk (CR), were computed using statistical formulae to determine the health risks of arsenic and fluoride. The hazard quotient (HQ) values of As and F− in this research area were higher protection and safe limits (HQ > 1), having health risks to the people in this region, caused by brick kilns. Statistical parameters correlation and cluster analysis were used to determining possible contaminant sources in the study area.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-80
Author(s):  
Shaharuddin Mohd Sham ◽  
Muhammad Azri Mat Yusof

Nitrate is one of the compounds of nitrogen found in the nitrogen cycle that is which originates from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Most rural areas in Kelantan state still depend on well water as their primary water source. Their main economic activity is agriculture which uses high amountsof nitrate fertilizer to nurture their crops. The increased use of nitrate fertilizers has a possible risk factor associated to health problems such as methemoglobinemia and cancers. Health risk assessment can be conducted to quantify the probability of harmful effects of nitrate to individuals or populations from certain human activities. To determine levels of nitrate in groundwater and to perform health risk assessment among respondents in Keting village, Bachok district, Kelantan state. A total of 47 respondents were chosen for this study and groundwater samples in duplicates were collected from the respondents’ houses. The samples werethen analyzed by using a portable Hanna Instrument multimeter model HI98191 and probe model HI4113. while a set of questionnaireswereusedto collect information for health risk assessment of the exposure. Nitrate levels in groundwater did not exceed the maximum concentration value of Drinking Water Quality Standard (44.3 ppm nitrate – NO3) with a mean ± sd of 5.34 ± 4.94 (ppm). Spearman’s rho correlation analysis shows that only depth of well (meter) is correlated (r = - 0.348) to nitrate levels (p0.05). The Hazard Quotient (HQ)for the study population was less than 1. In terms of nitrate, the groundwater analyzed in the study area was considered safe for drinking and cooking purposes. The result for HQ indicated that the non-carcinogenic risk related to nitrate was not significant to the study population. However, nitrate levels in drinking water should be concerned by the consumers as it will give bad health impact to them in long-term exposures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Agune Ashole Alto ◽  
Wanzahun Godana ◽  
Genet Gedamu

Background. Diarrheal diseases are still one of the major causes of morbidity in under-five children in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, diarrhea is responsible for 9% of all deaths and is the major cause of under-five mortality. Objective. To assess the impact of community-led total sanitation and hygiene on the prevalence of diarrheal disease and factors associated among under-five children in Gamo Gofa Zone. Methods. Community-based comparative cross-sectional study design was used to compare the impact of community-led total sanitation and hygiene intervention on under-five diarrheal disease. Multistage sampling method was employed. The data were collected by using pretested structured questionnaires. Data quality was ensured by daily supervision completeness and consistency. The data were coded, entered, and cleaned by using Epi Info version 7 and were analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were carried out by using binary logistic regression. Significance was declared by using p value of <0.05 and AOR with 95% confidence intervals. Results. The response rate of this study was 93.3%. The overall diarrhea prevalence was 27.5% (CI = (24.06, 30.97)) which was 18.9% (CI = (14.94, 23.2)) in implemented and 36.2%. (CI = (30.41, 41.59)) in nonimplemented woredas. Children whose age was between 12 and 23 months (AOR = 1.6) and greater than 24 months (AOR = 5), availability of handwashing facilities (AOR = 4), disposal of waste in open field (AOR = 9.7), unimproved source of drinking water (AOR = 6.5), using only water for handwashing (AOR = 6), children who started complementary feeding less than 6 months (AOR = 5.6) and greater than 6 months (AOR = 5.2), and utensils used to feed children such as bottle (AOR = 3.9) were the factors positively associated with diarrhea. Conclusion. The overall prevalence of under-five diarrhea was 27.5%. The prevalence was low in CLTSH woredas as compared with non-CLTSH woredas. The study showed that handwashing facility, using only water for handwashing, open refuse disposal, and unimproved source of drinking water among under-five had a statistically significant association with diarrhea occurrence in CLTSH nonimplemented areas. Integrated efforts are needed from the Ministry of Health together with the WASH Project in improving drinking water, handwashing facilities, and solid waste disposal practices.


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