TITLE:
Assessment of Health Risks Associated with Nitrate in Drinking Well Water: Case Study, M’Bahiakro (Central-Eastern Côte d’Ivoire)
AUTHORS:
Hervé Achié N’cho, Ruth Baï, Euclide Kouadio N’Goran, Kouadio Koffı, Lazare Kouakou Kouassı, Innocent Kouassi Kouamé
KEYWORDS:
Nitrate, Well, Health Risks, M’Bahiakro
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Water Resource and Protection,
Vol.17 No.1,
January
20,
2025
ABSTRACT: Nitrate contamination of groundwater is a worldwide problem, particularly in agricultural countries. Exposure to high levels of nitrates in groundwater can have adverse effects on the health of residents who use groundwater for drinking. This study aims to assess the health risk associated with the ingestion of nitrates in well water in the town of M’bahiakro. Health risk maps were created on the basis of hazard quotients (HQ) using the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) health risk assessment model. The results indicate that residents of the Koko, Dougouba and Baoulekro neighbourhoods, whatever their age, are potentially exposed to the toxic effects of
NO
3
−
during their daily intake of nitrate-contaminated well water, with reference to hazard quotients (HQ) greater than 1. Nitrate concentrations in the groundwater should therefore be controlled in order to prevent their harmful effects on the health of the population and guarantee its use in rice-growing activities in M’Bahiakro.