Health Risk Assessment of Inorganic Arsenic Through Groundwater Drinking Pathway in some Agricultural Districts of Hamedan, West of Iran

Groundwater resources are an important portion of potable water in Hamedan Province, Iran. Therefore, monitoring the pollutants especially heavy metals in these resources are vital to protect the residents’ health. This study aimed to assess the health risks caused by inorganic arsenic pollution through groundwater drinking pathway in four important agricultural areas of Hamedan Province, Iran. In so doing, a total of ۱۸۰ groundwater wells were chosen randomly for sampling during the spring and summer seasons in ۲۰۱۵. The samples were filtered (۰.۴۵ μm), preserved with HNO۳ at a pH level lower than ۲, and stored in acid-washed polyethylene bottles at ۴°C for further analysis. Finally, arsenic content was determined using inductively coupled plasma- optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The results showed that the mean contents of arsenic (mg/L) in groundwater samples taken during the spring were ۰.۰۵۲ for Asadabad plain, ۰.۰۰۷ for Ghahavand plain, ۰.۰۰۶ for Razan plain, and ۰.۰۰۴ for Toyserkan Plain; whereas, the mean content in groundwater samples taken during the summer from Asadabad, Ghahavand, Razan, and Toyserkan plains were ۰.۰۵۸, ۰.۰۰۹, ۰.۰۰۷, and ۰.۰۰۴, respectively. Moreover, based on the computed values of the non-carcinogenic risk of groundwater samples from Asadabad plain, the hazard quotient (HQ) was greater than ۱. Therefore, a non-carcinogenic effect is considered to be possible for the inhabitants of this study area. Accordingly, serious considerations including managing the use of agricultural inputs especially arsenical pesticides or herbicides and treatment of arsenic-contaminated groundwater with some proper methods before water ingestion are recommended.