Articles producció científica> Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques

Human health risks associated with the consumption of groundwater in the Gaza Strip

  • Identification data

    Identifier: imarina:9332301
    Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9332301
    Authors:
    Shomar, BRovira, J
    Abstract:
    Groundwater of the Gaza Strip, the main source of drinking water for the Gazans, is highly contaminated by several chemicals of natural and anthropogenic origins. The results of this study confirm the findings of several studies conducted over the past two decades. Over those two decades, the population of Gaza has doubled, resulting in heavy demand for the limited reserves of groundwater. After 20 years since the first comprehensive study, it was found that groundwater salinity increased by 30 %, due to seawater intrusion. On the other hand, nitrate (NO3) decreased by 30 %, due to expansion of the sewer network and decrease in the number and distribution of septic tanks. Salinity, chloride (Cl), NO3 and fluoride (F) distribution maps for the year 2022 are very similar to those of the year 2002. This indicates that sources and loads of such contaminants are still the same. Metals and metalloids are still within the permissible limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Strontium (Sr) only showed concentrations of 12 mg/L across the Gaza Strip, which calls for further investigations. Maximum concentrations of the NO3 and F were 365 and 2.6 mg/L, respectively. The results of probabilistic risk assessment using Monte Carlo simulation showed that NO3 and F consumption through drinking water were above the reference dose for 35 % and 5 % of the trials performed, respectively. Consequently, the hazard quotient (HQ) is larger than 1 for 35 % and 5 % of the exposure scenarios simulated for these ions. For all metals and metalloids analyzed, HQ were below one (HQ1) indicating no risk; however, Sr presented an HQ 95th percentile equal to 0.19. Exposure routes such as dietary intake and soil ingestion, among others, should be further investigated to ensure that cumulative

  • Others:

    Author, as appears in the article.: Shomar, B; Rovira, J
    Department: Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques
    URV's Author/s: Rovira Solano, Joaquim
    Keywords: aquifer gaza groundwater contamination monte carlo simulation palestine salinity Gaza Groundwater contamination Human health risks Monte carlo simulation Seawater intrusion
    Abstract: Groundwater of the Gaza Strip, the main source of drinking water for the Gazans, is highly contaminated by several chemicals of natural and anthropogenic origins. The results of this study confirm the findings of several studies conducted over the past two decades. Over those two decades, the population of Gaza has doubled, resulting in heavy demand for the limited reserves of groundwater. After 20 years since the first comprehensive study, it was found that groundwater salinity increased by 30 %, due to seawater intrusion. On the other hand, nitrate (NO3) decreased by 30 %, due to expansion of the sewer network and decrease in the number and distribution of septic tanks. Salinity, chloride (Cl), NO3 and fluoride (F) distribution maps for the year 2022 are very similar to those of the year 2002. This indicates that sources and loads of such contaminants are still the same. Metals and metalloids are still within the permissible limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Strontium (Sr) only showed concentrations of 12 mg/L across the Gaza Strip, which calls for further investigations. Maximum concentrations of the NO3 and F were 365 and 2.6 mg/L, respectively. The results of probabilistic risk assessment using Monte Carlo simulation showed that NO3 and F consumption through drinking water were above the reference dose for 35 % and 5 % of the trials performed, respectively. Consequently, the hazard quotient (HQ) is larger than 1 for 35 % and 5 % of the exposure scenarios simulated for these ions. For all metals and metalloids analyzed, HQ were below one (HQ1) indicating no risk; however, Sr presented an HQ 95th percentile equal to 0.19. Exposure routes such as dietary intake and soil ingestion, among others, should be further investigated to ensure that cumulative exposure does not surpass the safety limit. Recent advances in desalination technology should put an end to this truly regrettable situation.
    Thematic Areas: Biotecnología Ciências biológicas i Ciências biológicas ii Medicina i Multidisciplinary Multidisciplinary sciences
    licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
    Author's mail: joaquim.rovira@urv.cat
    Author identifier: 0000-0003-4399-6138
    Record's date: 2024-02-24
    Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
    Link to the original source: https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(23)09197-1?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2405844023091971%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
    Papper original source: Heliyon. 9 (11):
    APA: Shomar, B; Rovira, J (2023). Human health risks associated with the consumption of groundwater in the Gaza Strip. Heliyon, 9(11), -. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21989
    Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
    Article's DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21989
    Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
    Journal publication year: 2023
    Publication Type: Journal Publications

  • Keywords:

    Multidisciplinary,Multidisciplinary Sciences
    aquifer
    gaza
    groundwater contamination
    monte carlo simulation
    palestine
    salinity
    Gaza
    Groundwater contamination
    Human health risks
    Monte carlo simulation
    Seawater intrusion
    Biotecnología
    Ciências biológicas i
    Ciências biológicas ii
    Medicina i
    Multidisciplinary
    Multidisciplinary sciences

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