Journal of Research in Environmental Health

Journal of Research in Environmental Health

Non-carcinogenic Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water in Hamadan Province

Document Type : Research article

Authors
Fatemeh Sahraei 1
Alireza Rahmani 2
Zahra Aghababaei 3
Samira Khamutian 4
Hamid Reza Soheil Arezoomand 5
1 MSc. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
2 2. Professor, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
3 3. Msc Student, Department of Biostatistic, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
4 Ph.D, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
5 5. Ph.D Student, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
10.22038/jreh.2025.25719
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Contamination of drinking water sources with heavy metals poses significant environmental and public health concerns. This study aimed to assess the non-carcinogenic risk associated with exposure to heavy metals, including chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and zinc (Zn), in the drinking water of Hamadan Province.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted across nine cities in Hamadan Province. Data on heavy metal concentrations in drinking water were obtained from the Vice-Chancellor of Health at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. Non-carcinogenic risk was evaluated for two age groups using risk assessment indicators provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).

Results: The mercury hazard index (HI) exceeded that of other metals. The oral hazard quotient (HQoral) was generally higher than the dermal hazard quotient (HQdermal). Overall, the total risk for children (0.35) was higher than for adults (0.1466).

Conclusion: The total non-carcinogenic risk index for all metals in both age groups remained below 1, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic threat to the exposed population.
 
Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Keywords
Risk Assessment
Drinking Water
Heavy Metals
Hamadan
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