Objective To evaluate the health risks of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury in rural drinking water in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2021.
Methods The data of 5 044 drinking water samples in rural areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2021 were analyzed, and the risk assessment of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury were evaluated using the "four-step method" recommended by the Technical Guide for Environmental Health Risk Assessment of Chemical Exposure.
Results In 2021, chromium has the highest cancer risk(1.38×10-4) for adults through drinking, followed by arsenic(1.18×10-4), cadmium(1.05×10-5) and lead(8.71×10-7) in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Arsenic has the highest non-carcinogenic risk(2.63×10-1), followed by lead(7.32×10-2), cadmium(5.52×10-2), chromium(5.52×10-2) and mercury(2.63×10-2).In 2021, the main exposure route of health risks of rural drinking water to adults and children in Inner Mongolia was oral intake, and the risk level of children was higher than that of adults. Chromium had a higher risk of cancer (adults: 1.38×10-4, children: 1.49×10-4) and arsenic (adult: 1.18×10-4, children: 1.28 × 10-4), exceeding the maximum acceptable risk recommended by the US EPA; The non carcinogenic risk level was less than 1, and the non-carcinogenic risk level was relatively low. The mass concentrations and health risk levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead varied statistically significantly in different areas, ranking as west>centre>east. There were statistically significant differences in the mass concentrations and health risk levels of cadmium and chromium in the wet season and dry season(P < 0.05), and both were higher in the dry season than in the wet season. The mass concentrations and health risk levels of arsenic, cadmium and lead were statistically significant in different water sample types(P < 0.05), with finished water < terminal water.
Conclusion The carcinogenic risk of arsenic and chromium in drinking water in rural areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2021 was higher than the maximum acceptable risk recommended by US EPA. Local water quality monitoring and management should be strengthened.
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