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Profile photo of Ronny Berndtsson

Ronny Berndtsson

Professor, Dep Director, MECW Dep Scientific Coordinator

Profile photo of Ronny Berndtsson

Fluoride occurrence and human health risk from groundwater use at the west coast of Urmia Lake, Iran

Author

  • Vahab Amiri
  • Ronny Berndtsson

Summary, in English

We investigated fluoride (F−) concentration and physicochemical features of groundwater in the Urmia coastal aquifer (northwest, Iran). Groundwater samples were collected during both dry (58 wells) and wet seasons (84 wells). Approximately 15 and 23% of the groundwater samples in the dry and wet seasons, respectively, exceeded the recommended F− value by WHO for drinking water (1.5 mg/L). High F− concentration in groundwater is mainly found in shallow wells. The cause of high F− concentration appears to be mainly caused by human activities. Agricultural fertilizers and industrial waste can result in rapid release of F− into the groundwater. Release of F− into the groundwater can, however, also be triggered by the interaction between rock and water. In the experimental area, high F− concentrations were found close to volcanic rocks. Health risks from exposure to F− in groundwater were analyzed for adults and children. Utilizing sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulation, the uncertainties in the risk estimates were calculated. Sensitivity analyses showed that the most pertinent variables are F− concentration in drinking water, averaging time, exposure time, and ingestion rate of water. Children are more susceptible to the noncarcinogenic risk of F− in groundwater.

Department/s

  • Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES)
  • MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World
  • Division of Water Resources Engineering
  • LTH Profile Area: Water

Publishing year

2020

Language

English

Publication/Series

Arabian Journal of Geosciences

Volume

13

Issue

18

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Geotechnical Engineering

Keywords

  • Deterministic and probabilistic approaches
  • Fluoride
  • Human health risk
  • Hydrogeochemistry
  • Monte Carlo simulation
  • Urmia aquifer

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1866-7511