The present study was conducted to assess the magnitude and health impacts of As in drinking water. Drinking water samples (n = 60) were collected from twenty different sites of Shiekhupura District (Pakistan). Health risk assessment through average daily dose (ADD), hazard indices (HI), hazard quotient (HQ), carcinogenic risk (CR), and cancer indices (CI) for dermal and oral exposure were determined. Results revealed that As concentration ranged from 2 to 900 µg L⁻¹ in water samples, which was significantly greater than the safe limit of As (10 µg L⁻¹) in water. Health risk assessment of As showed that ADD (1.07E−02–9.85E−04), HQ (1.06E+01–9.85E+00), and CR (1.60E−02–9.85E−04) for oral exposure and ADD (1.03E−05–9.69E−06), HQ (1.19E−02–7.96E−03), and CR (1.11E−05–8.98E−05) for dermal exposure which were exceeded the toxic risk index value. Comparison of the two exposure pathways indicated that the oral exposure is much higher risk than the dermal contact. Both values of HI and CI were greater than WHO limit. It is concluded that residents of study area are at higher risk of As induced diseases and carcinogenicity.

本研究旨在评估砷在饮用水中的含量及其对健康的影响。从巴基斯坦希克屈普拉地区的二十个不同地点收集了饮用水样本（n = 60）。通过皮肤和口服暴露的平均日剂量（ADD），危害指数（HI），危害商（HQ），致癌风险（CR）和癌症指数（CI）来确定健康风险评估。结果显示，水样品中的As浓度范围为2至900 µg L ^-1，大大高于As的安全限值（10 µg L ^-1） 在水里。对As的健康风险评估表明，口服和添加ADD（1.07E-02-9.85E-04），HQ（1.06E + 01-9.85E + 00）和CR（1.60E-02-9.85E-04）皮肤暴露的ADD（1.03E-05–9.69E-06），HQ（1.19E-02–7.96E-03）和CR（1.11E-05–8.98E-05）已超过毒性风险指数值。两种接触途径的比较表明，口服接触的风险要比皮肤接触高得多。HI和CI值均大于WHO限值。结论是研究区居民患As引起的疾病和致癌性的风险较高。