Evaluation of potentially toxic metals and human health risk assessment in groundwater and surface water in the vicinity of Djebel Onk mining area (Tébessa, eastern Algeria)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to measure the potentially toxic elements pollution in groundwater, surface waters and spring waters in the vicinity of Djebel Onk mine, Algeria. Concentrations of seven potentially toxic elements (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP- MS). Average of the potentially toxic metals such as Cr (18.26, 5.46 ug/l), Ni (28.53, 38.21 ug/l), Zn (18.96, 23.23 ug/l) and Cd (0.28, 1.75 ug/l) respectively, were found in groundwater and surface water inferior than the WHO limits and Algerian standards for drinking water.
An assessment of potential risk to human health revealed that the hazard index (HI) values of the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were an order of magnitude higher among children compared to adults, which indicates that potentially toxic metals did not pose any significant non-carcinogenic risks in the study area, according to HI <1. On the other hand, lifetime cancer risk (LCR) postured by water contaminants i.e. Cr and Ni in children was higher than their limits, whereas in adults only Ni at G1 and S1 posed higher cancer risk than the limit (1×10−4) through water exposure