Health risk assessment by trace elements in an aquatic system in midwestern Brazil

Water is an important asset for the maintenance of life and socioeconomic development. Aquatic environments have been anthropized, receiving a large polluting load, mainly from trace elements.This study investigates the occurrence of health risks caused by 15 trace elements in the surface water of Joao Leite stream. Health risk indices were evaluated as average daily dose (ADD), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index and carcinogenic risk. The risk analysis to human health of the stream Joao Leite water, indicated that the ADDingestion for the adults had the highest for Fe 1.86E-00 µg/kg/day and lower value for Be 8.0E-05 µg/kg/day. On the other hand, of ADDdermal the highest value was for Fe 5.02E-02 µg/kg/day and, the smallest for Sb 1.54E-05 µg/kg/day. For children to ADDingestion obtained was obtained the highest Fe value 2.60E-00 µg/kg/day and smaller for Be 1.12E-04 µg/kg/day. For ADDdermal the highest value was for Fe 8.58E-02 µg/kg/day and smaller for Sb 2.64E-05 µg/kg/day. HQ for adults ranged from 1.61E-05 to 2.97E-01 for HQingestion and 7.71E-06 to 1.01E-01 for HQdermal. For children 2.25E-05 to 3.74E-01 for HQingestion and 1.32E-05 to 1.73E-01 for HQdermal. The health risk assessment showed that for children, the trace elements present in water have a potentially adverse effect on non-carcinogenic health. The carcinogenic risks were unacceptable for both children and adults. Thus, it is recommended that the use of these waters be limited and that measures be taken to minimize pollution by trace elements.