Research Article Open Access

Health Risk Assessment of Nitrate Exposure in Well Water of Residents in Intensive Agriculture Area

Noraziah Jamaludin1, Shaharuddin Mohd Sham1 and Sharifah Norkhadijah Syed Ismail1
  • 1 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

Nitrate in well water has become a public health concern especially in agriculture areas. Nitrate contamination in drinking water poses health risks to humans. This cross-sectional study was conducted with an aim to determine the health risk of residents in intensive agriculture area of Bachok Kelantan from nitrate exposure in drinking well water. Nitrate in well water was determined with Spectrophotometer while the health risk was determined through calculation of Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) and Hazard Index (HI). Results indicate that nitrate level in this study was below the Maximum Concentration Limit of National Drinking Water Quality Standard of Malaysia (NDWQS) (<10 mg L-1) with the Mean ± SD of 1.66±2.11 mg L-1 and range between 0 to 9.60 mg L-1. The highest Mean ± SD of nitrate was determined in Kampung Aman (3.34±4.07 mg L-1). The mean ± SD for CDI was 0.051±0.086 mg kg day-1 and the HI was <1. This indicate the health risk of residents from nitrate exposure in this area were in acceptable range.

American Journal of Applied Sciences
Volume 10 No. 5, 2013, 442-448

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2013.442.448

Submitted On: 22 November 2012 Published On: 21 May 2013

How to Cite: Jamaludin, N., Sham, S. M. & Ismail, S. N. S. (2013). Health Risk Assessment of Nitrate Exposure in Well Water of Residents in Intensive Agriculture Area. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(5), 442-448. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2013.442.448

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Keywords

  • Nitrate
  • Well Water
  • Intensive Agriculture Area
  • Health Hazard
  • Bachok Kelantan