Health risk assessment of groundwater consumption for drinking and domestic purposes in Xuyen Moc District, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, Vietnam

Groundwater in Xuyen Moc district is currently exploited for many purposes such as irrigation, domestic, production and livestock activities. In this study, the health risk assessment (HRA) method was used to determine the risks of public health for local people consuming groundwater for their domestic purposes by using the hazard quotient (HQ). This method calculated HQ of parameters exceeding the allowable limit in drinking water through monitoring data and the survey of households in the study area. Fourteen (14) groundwater samples were collected in the dry and wet seasons in 2017. Eleven (11) water quality parameters (pH, total hardness, TDS, SO42-, Cl-, NO3-, F-, Mn2+, Fe2+, Zn2+ and Pb) were selected for analysis. Results of calculation of HQ showed that fluoride is a parameter affecting the health of children when using groundwater for a long-term (HQ > 1). HQ values ranged from 1.9 to 2.2 through ingestion of water and HQ through the dermal absorption ranged from 4.710(-4) - 8.610(-4).