Arsenic and Fluoride in the Drinking Water in Tula City, Mexico: Challenges and Lessons Learned

摘要

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) and fluoride (iF) are the main inorganic pollutants in groundwater. The purpose of this study was to determine the iAs and iF concentrations in water available to the population to estimate the non-carcinogenic risks of iAs and iF exposure and the carcinogenic risk iAs exposure in residents of Tula de Allende municipality, Hidalgo, Mexico. Water iAs concentrations ranged from 8.5 to 331 μg/L, and iF concentrations ranged from 0.86 to 3.2 mg/L. The hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated from the obtained data to determine the non-carcinogenic risk of developing chronic systemic effects in children. The mean HQs were 7.4 and 0.5, respectively, for iAs and iF. The estimated cancer risk of iAs exposure in adults was 0.0052, or 52 chances in 10,000 developing cancers. Tula City residents are at risk of developing chronic systemic effects due to iAs and iF and cancer due to the ingestion of iAs from water at levels above the acceptable lifetime risk. Intervention for governmental authorities for mitigation of iAs and iF exposure is imperative.