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Assessment of Human Health Risk of Chromium and Nitrate Pollution in Groundwater and Soil of the Matanza-Riachuelo River Basin, Argentina

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Abstract

This study assesses hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] and nitrate (NO3−) in polluted groundwater and soil, and evaluates the impact on the health of the inhabitants of the Matanza-Riachuelo River basin, Argentina. Sixty groundwater samples and 18 soil samples were collected. Statistical analysis and Stiff diagrams were used for the hydrochemical characterization of the groundwater. A method developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for health risk assessment was applied to the Upper and the Puelche aquifers. The non-carcinogenic (NCR) and carcinogenic risks (CR) posed by Cr(VI) and NO3− in groundwater via ingestion and dermal contact were determined in children and adults. The effect of Cr on children through ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation as a result of exposure to soil was also established. The results indicated that the Cr(VI) and NO3− average values were 0.35 mg/L and 76 mg/L, respectively, in the Upper Aquifer, whereas the Cr(VI) average values were 1.41 mg/L and 38 mg/L for NO3− in the Puelche Aquifer. Children and adults exposed to groundwater via ingestion and dermal contact faced acceptable NCR of NO3−, but unacceptable NCR and CR of Cr(VI). Water ingestion was the main exposure route; HQing = 4.15 and 4.07 and CRing = 2.74E−03 and 2.36E−03 in children and adults, respectively, in the Upper Aquifer; HQing = 17 and 14.1 and CRing = 1.04E−02 and 9.81E−03 in children and adults, respectively, in the Puelche Aquifer. As regards the soil exposure pathways, NCR and CR of Cr(VI) are unacceptable, dermal contact being the main route (HQderm = 4.63; CRderm = 9.34E−04).

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by projects PIP 2013-2015 (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET, Argentina) and PICT 2013-2422 (Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, MINCYT, Argentina). Thanks are due to the IHLLA technical staff, Ms. M.F. Altolaguirre and Ms. O. Floriani for their assistance in water sampling. Authors gratefully acknowledge Dr. Jordi Cama i Robert for his generous help. Language assistance by native English speaker George Von Knorring is also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Hidrología de Llanuras “Dr. Eduardo J. Usunoff” (IHLLA), República de Italia 780, Azul, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Elina Ceballos, Sabrina Dubny, Natalia Othax, María E. Zabala & Fabio Peluso

  2. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Rivadavia 1917, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Elina Ceballos, Sabrina Dubny, Natalia Othax & María E. Zabala

  3. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CICPBA), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Fabio Peluso

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  1. Elina Ceballos
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Ceballos, E., Dubny, S., Othax, N. et al. Assessment of Human Health Risk of Chromium and Nitrate Pollution in Groundwater and Soil of the Matanza-Riachuelo River Basin, Argentina. Expo Health 13, 323–336 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-021-00386-9

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