Human Health Risk and Quality Assessment of Spring Water Associated with Nitrates, Potentially Toxic Elements, and Fecal Coliforms: A Case from Southern Mexico

Abstract

Spring water is important for human consumption, domestic use, agricultural activities, and ecotourism in the Buenavista de Cuéllar Aquifer (ABC), southern Mexico. The objective of this research was to assess the health risk from fecal coliforms, as well as the non-carcinogenic risk to human health for different age groups, by studying the oral and dermal routes. The analysis of the cartography of high-priority springs (the result of Multicriteria Evaluation (MCE)), access routes, and knowledge of the areas with high social insecurity risk enabled the selection of 20 springs to be sampled. In situ parameters were measured, major ions, fecal coliforms, and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE). The non-carcinogenic health risk results indicated a higher risk by the oral route in children (average Hazard index (HI) value of 0.6371) and a higher risk by the dermal route in adults (average HI value of 1.2378). The highest dermal risks are in the south-southeast of the study area. On the other hand, the assessment of health risks due to fecal coliforms resulted in a medium risk for the dry season and a high risk for the rainy season. The results of this research will serve as a key reference for the management and protection of springs in order to preserve human health.