Health risk assessment of arsenic exposure in rural drinking water in Tongzhou District, Beijing Municipality / 预防医学

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To investigate the level of arsenic exposure in rural drinking water and to assess the health risk caused by exposure to arsenic in Tongzhou District, Beijing Municipality in 2019, so as to provide insights into improving the quality of rural drinking water.@*Methods@#Water samples were collected from self-provided wells in 196 villages of 7 townships in Tongzhou District from April to June, 2019, and the arsenic levels were measured in drinking water according to Standard examination methods for drinking water-Metal parameters (GB/T 5750.6-2006). The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of arsenic were evaluated in drinking water using the environmental risk assessment model recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).@*Results@#Totally 520 water samples were collected, and the median arsenic concentration was 0.001 2-0.050 0 mg/L. There were 67 water samples with arsenic levels exceeding the defined standard level (12.88%), and the proportions of arsenic levels exceeding the defined standard level were 57.69%, 17.24%, 12.20%, 6.52% and 1.31% in Songzhuang, Huoxian, Lucheng, Zhangjiawan and Yongdedian townships, and the arsenic levels did not exceed the defined standard level in Majuqiao or Taihu townships. The carcinogenic risk of arsenic was 3.135 7×10-4/a in drinking water, which exceeded the maximum acceptable risk, and the carcinogenic risk of arsenic all exceeded the maximum acceptable risk, with the highest value seen in Songzhuang Township (9.648 2×10-4/a). A high carcinogenic risk of arsenic was seen in men at ages of 60 to 80 years (3.012 8×10-4/a) and in women at ages of 80 years and older (2.949 0×10-4/a). The non-carcinogenic risk of arsenic was 0.696 8 in drinking water, indicating a low risk, and were 1.009 5 and 2.144 1 in Huoxian and Songzhuang townships, indicating a high risk. In addition, a high non-carcinogenic risk of arsenic was seen in men at ages of 60 to 80 years (0.669 5) and in women at ages of 80 years and older (0.655 3).@*Conclusion@#There was a high proportion of arsenic levels exceeding the defined standard level in rural drinking water in Tongzhou District, 2019, and there was a health risk, notably with the highest carcinogenic risk seen in residents at ages of 60 years and older. Effective interventions are needed to reduce arsenic levels in drinking water.