TITLE:
Fuzzy Framework of Health Risk Assessment of Nitrates in Groundwater
AUTHORS:
Samia Chiban, Adel Awad, Ahmad Wazzan, Hanan Sheikh-Youssef
KEYWORDS:
Drinking Water, Methemoglobinemia, Carcinogenic Risk, Fuzzy Logic, Probability, Artesian Wells, Fecal Coliforms, Pollution, Potability
JOURNAL NAME:
Applied Mathematics,
Vol.9 No.6,
June
12,
2018
ABSTRACT:
This study provides a characterization of potential health risk associated with
groundwater Nitrates in Akkar plain in Taturs governorate in Syria. Six villages
were chosen for Nitrates analysis in artesian wells. The results show that
Nitrates concentrations are above the natural level but still below the level of
water potability and measures have to be taken to prevent Nitrates accumulation
in groundwater. Comparing Nitrates dose in young children diet with
reference dose and calculating the hazard index give the noncarcinogenic risk
(Methemoglobinemia). Carcinogenic risk of drinking well waters with Nitrates
is calculated in a probabilistic-fuzzy framework. The role of Bacterial
contamination of water and its association with Nitrates pollution is discussed
and we found that the two pollutants are not correlated in Akkar plain, because
Nitrates come principally from fertilizers in this area while fecal coliforms
come from landfill leachates and untreated wastewaters. Nitrates and
FC play associated roles in gastro-intestinal disturbance and Methemoglobinemia.