Nitrate Content in Groundwater and Assessment of Potential Risks for Health of the Rural Population in Novograd-Volyn Raion Zhytomyr District

Abstract

In general, 57.5% of the selected drinking water samples of the enlarged district were found to exceed the level of nitrates, and their average concentration in the whole district was 67.86 mg/dm³. The largest excess of nitrates in water in 7.9 times was found in a private well in the village of Kamyanka, Barashivka territorial community. It is proved that the risk index due to drinking water consumption for children is 1.8 times higher than for adults. The risk at the maximum content of nitrates for children is set at a high level, and for adults - at an average, and at an average content of nitrates in drinking water, the risk for children is set at a medium level, and for adults - at a low level.

It has been shown that the overall risk of nitrate intake in both routes is approximately equal to the health risk due to drinking water consumption. In the overall risk, the share of non-carcinogenic risk due to drinking water consumption was 99.5%, which is much higher than in contact with the skin. This indicates that nitrates from groundwater enter the human body mainly with drinking water, so it is necessary to constantly monitor their content in drinking water.