Influence of chemicals contained in drinking water on the formation of the risk of health disorders in the population of an industrial city

Abstract

Introduction. The state of drinking water supplied to consumers through centralized water supply systems is an important factor affecting health. The study aims to assess the risk to the health of the population of an industrial city associated with the content of chemicals in tap water. Materials and methods. Scientists conducted a study in Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo region, which is a major industrial center of Siberia. They analyzed the average annual values of chemical, microbiological and parasitological indicators of surface waters at the intake gates, as well as the results of studies of drinking water samples. The authors also assessed non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to public health associated with contamination of tap water. Results. The surface water supplied to the consumers of Novokuznetsk is taken from the Tom River by the Dragoon and Left-Bank water intakes. The main pollutants of water in the intake gates are suspended solids, iron, common coliform bacteria, thermotolerant coliform bacteria and coliphages. The most dangerous impurities contained in drinking water are silicon, chloroform, bromodichloromethane, boron and formaldehyde. The risk of immediate action associated with contamination of drinking water for the city's population was 0.903, which significantly exceeds the acceptable level (0.05). We identified the risk of chronic intoxication associated with water pollution at the level of 0.0176, which does not exceed the permissible level (0.02). The risk of oncological morbidity associated with the content of carcinogenic substances in drinking water was 1.41×10–5, which is 1.41 times higher than the permissible risk (1×10–5). Limitations. The limitations of the study were to conduct only an assessment of the health risk from the effects of chemicals. Conclusion. The probability of occurrence of environmentally caused diseases persists at concentrations of pollutants in drinking water at a level below the accepted hygienic standards. Ethics. This study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.