Heavy metals drinking water contamination and health risk assessment among primary school children of Pakistan
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2021
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to characterize the concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), and Fe (Fe) in drinking water sources in primary schools in Sindh Province, Pakistan and to quantify potential health risks among those school children. We conducted a representative, cross-sectional study among 425 primary schools in Sindh province of Pakistan. We used risk assessment models to estimate the metal index, pollution index, lifetime cancer risk, and hazard quotient index. Across the 425 sampled schools, the levels of heavy metals in the drinking water often exceeded the WHO permissible limits (67% of schools exceeded Pb limit, 17% for Cd, 15% for Fe). The average incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for Pb exceeded tolerable limits in all of the districts under study. The findings, particularly for Pb, are of concern, as Pb may negatively influence children's growth, development, school performance, and long-term health.
Keywords
Health risk, Water quality, Pollution index, Metal index, Heavy metal indices, Malnourished populations
Divisions
Education,fac_med
Funders
USAID under USPCASW [Grant No: Phase-II/07]
Publication Title
Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A
Volume
56
Issue
6
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Publisher Location
530 WALNUT STREET, STE 850, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106 USA