ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION AND HEALTH RISK ASSOCIATED WITH METALS IN DRINKING WATERS FROM COPSA MICA REGION

Abstract

Metal contamination of drinking water sources from Copsa Mica region (Copsa Mica village, Tarnava villages and Medias Town, Sibiu County, Romania) was assessed using the Metal Index, while health risk associated with metals from the drinking water sources was assessed using the Chronic Daily Intake and the Hazard Quotient. The MI values increase in following order S1>S3>S2>S4>S5, indicating a possible metal contamination of three drinking water sources from the studied area. However, according to the Hazard Quotient and the Total Hazard Quotient, the studied drinking waters are safe for human consumption. The calculated Hazard Quotients for studied metals decrease in the order: As>Cd>Mn>Zn≥ Cu>Ni ≥ Pb>Cr for  sample S1, As>Cu ≥ Mn ≥ Pb>Cd ≥ Ni>Zn>Cr> for sample S2, Cd ≥Mn ≥ Pb>Cu ≥Ni>As>Cr ≥Zn for sample S3, Zn>Cd ≥ Cu>Mn ≥ Ni>Cr>Pb for sample S4 and Cd ≥Ni>Cu>Mn>Cr ≥Pb ≥Zn>As for sample S5.