Health Risk Assessment of Groundwater in the Weining Plain
摘要
This chapter focuses on the health risk assessment of groundwater in the Weining Plain, building on the hydrogeochemical characteristics and groundwater quality issues identified in previous chapters. Groundwater is a critical resource for drinking and irrigation in the region, but rapid industrial and agricultural development has led to increasing contamination from pollutants such as nitrates, fluorides, and heavy metals, raising concerns about potential health impacts. To evaluate these risks, this study employs both deterministic and stochastic health risk assessment models, following the USEPA framework, to assess non-carcinogenic risks associated with key contaminants, including fluoride (F–), nitrate (NO3–), nitrite (NO2–), and manganese (Mn). Groundwater samples were analyzed for various physicochemical parameters, and statistical methods were used to identify the exceedances of permissible limits. The deterministic approach quantifies the health risks through oral and dermal exposure pathways, while the stochastic approach, using Monte Carlo simulation, addresses uncertainties in exposure parameters. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the health risks posed by groundwater pollution in the Weining Plain, linking the findings from previous chapters to the potential impacts on human health.