Risk assessment for exposure to arsenic, fluorides and mercury in drinking water, Colombia, 2019-2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33610/28059611.163Keywords:
risk assessment methodologies, drinking water, arsenic, fluorides; mercuryAbstract
Introduction. Water is essential for life, health, and the socioeconomic development of a population. However, it can also serve as a vehicle for contaminants, either of natural origin due to the hydrogeological and geochemical characteristics of areas near the water source or because of anthropogenic activities. This study aimed to evaluate the risk associated with exposure to arsenic, fluoride, and mercury, as reported for the Surveillance of Water Quality for Human Consumption (SIVICAP) in Colombia from 2019 to 2023. Methodology. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the concentrations of arsenic, fluoride, and mercury reported in SIVICAP for drinking water from 2019 to 2023. The risk of exposure to these contaminants was assessed using the risk assessment methodology for food and water safety, employing Microsoft Excel for analysis. Results. Of the samples analyzed, 99,2 % of those tested for arsenic and 0,22 % of those tested for fluoride from 2019 to 2023 showed exposure levels of public health concern. In contrast, mercury concentrations reported during this period did not pose a public health risk. Conclusions. Based on the assessment, arsenic exposure was determined to be a public health concern in the departments of Atlántico, Antioquia, and Cundinamarca between 2019 and 2023. For other departments, risk assessment was not possible due to data limitations. Chronic oral exposure to fluoride through drinking water in municipalities of Nariño, Casanare, and Huila raises public health concerns, given the potential increase in dental fluorosis and the heightened risk of bone fractures. In contrast, mercury exposure during the study period did not raise health concerns.References
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