Water Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah, 21598, Saudi Arabia.
Hydrology Department, Desert Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Oct;29(46):70493-70507. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-20835-5. Epub 2022 May 19.
A systematic study was performed in the arid coastal aquifer to evaluate groundwater quality using drinking water quality indices (DWQI) and health risk assessment models in southern Saudi Arabia. Groundwater samples were collected (n = 80) and analysed for major and minor ions. Results suggest that 85% of wells are unsuitable for drinking due to high salinity and hardness. Likewise, high NO and F are encountered in 51% and 46% of wells, respectively. High salinity, Cl and SO are noticed in the coastal wells, which are derived from saline sources, evaporation and anthropogenic activities. High NO is originated from anthropogenic sources and the nitrification process. Recharge of wastewater with high NO is mixed with high salinity groundwater in this shallow aquifer. DWQI indicates that 66% of samples are poor to unsuitable classes. Wells with poor quality groundwater existed in the coastal belt and water quality is degraded while moving from upstream to downstream. The average values of hazard quotient (HQoral, NO, F) and total hazard index (THI) ensured that highly vulnerable groups are in the order of infants > children > adults. In the study region, the THI are > 1 in 75% (adults), 89% (children) and 94% (infants) of samples, respectively. The spatial distribution of HQoral reveals that groundwater in the coastal and southern regions is not advisable for direct oral ingestion, which causes serious non-carcinogenic health risk to inhabitants. Groundwater in these regions needs proper treatment to remove the contaminants before use.
在沙特阿拉伯南部的干旱沿海含水层中进行了一项系统研究，使用饮用水质量指数 (DWQI) 和健康风险评估模型来评估地下水质量。采集了 80 个地下水样本并对主要和次要离子进行了分析。结果表明，由于高盐度和硬度，85%的水井不适宜饮用。同样，51%和 46%的井中分别存在高浓度的 NO 和 F。沿海井中存在高盐度、Cl 和 SO，这些物质来源于咸水水源、蒸发和人为活动。高浓度的 NO 来源于人为来源和硝化过程。高浓度 NO 的废水与浅层含水层中的高盐度地下水混合。DWQI 表明，66%的样本属于较差到不适宜的类别。在沿海带存在水质较差的水井，水质在从上游到下游的过程中逐渐恶化。危害商（HQoral、NO、F）和总危害指数（THI）的平均值表明，高敏感人群的顺序为婴儿 > 儿童 > 成人。在研究区域中，THI 分别在 75%（成人）、89%（儿童）和 94%（婴儿）的样本中大于 1。HQoral 的空间分布表明，沿海和南部地区的地下水不适合直接口服，这会对居民造成严重的非致癌健康风险。这些地区的地下水在使用前需要进行适当的处理以去除污染物。
