Groundwater pollutionana its health impact on kafr Hakim village, Giza governorate, West of Nile valley, Egypt

ABSTRACT

The present work deals with the impact of groundwater quality on human health. The study area was located at one of the highly populated villages, colse to the Egyptian Pyramids. Water demands of 23 thousands population of this village depend on the available groundwater of shallow aquifer [20-60m.depth]. Surface and groundwater samples had been collected, and chemically analyzed for major and trace elements. Evaluation of water quality of drinking water and its health impact are the main objective of the present work. To achieve such goal, GIS technique was used, from GIS maps, it is concluded that Cadmium, Benzene, and Selenium concentrations are over the recommended limits. Fuel station, industrial activities, waste water drainage [house drain] and fertilizers are the main sources of surface and groundwater pollution. Hand pump and governmental drilled wells are situated within almost porous and permeable water bearing formations of Quaternary aquifer. Due to these circumstances, the polluted surface water, canals and drains are directly affecting the shallow groundwater aquifer. Preliminary medical survey indicates that significant population were affected by many diseases, which might be caused by polluted groundwater [particularly Cadmium]. Osteoporosis, renal failure, hepatotoxicity, cancer and diabetes were likely supposed to be due to chronic cadmium toxicity