Potential health risk assessment related to arsenic pollution and hydrogeochemistry of groundwaters in Akşehir and surroundings (Konya/Turkey)

Abstract

Groundwater is an important water resource used for drinking, domestic and agricultural activities in Akşehir and surroundings. However, intensive agricultural and human activities in the region adversely affect groundwater quality. In this study, 31 water samples were collected from wells. According to the Piper diagram, groundwater in the study area was in the Ca–Mg–HCO3 and Ca–HCO3 water facies. As a result, it is not appropriate to use groundwater as drinking water in the study area in terms of trace elements and pollutant analysis results of water samples compared to limit values determined by WHO and ITHASY drinking water guidelines. The arsenic concentration in groundwater was studied in detail. The origin and concentration of arsenic in groundwater is associated with agricultural activities and pesticides in the region. Accordingly, a health risk assessment was carried out for the use of groundwater in the study area as drinking water. The results for all samples analyzed indicate that the groundwater concerned was not suitable for drinking purposes because of arsenic concentrations which exceeded maximum acceptable levels.

Keywords

• akşehir
• arsenic
• drinking water
• groundwater pollution
• health risk assessment