Nitrate Pollution of the Izeh Urban Aquifer: Health Risks and Local Management

Mehrabinejad, Ali; Kalantari, Nasrollah; Alijani, Farshad; Mousavi, Seyede Fatemeh; Mohammadi, Hadi

doi:10.22077/jaaq.2025.9299.1111

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

² Professor, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran

³ Department of Mineral and Ground Water Resources, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Consultant Engineers of Kamyab Gostar Jonoub, Ahvaz, Iran

10.22077/jaaq.2025.9299.1111

Abstract

This research was conducted to assess the hydrochemical status and nitrate contamination of the urban aquifer in Izeh. Given the lack of a sewage collection system and the infiltration of urban wastewater through absorption wells, coupled with agricultural activities, the study primarily aimed to determine water quality and health risks associated with nitrate. Water samples were collected from nine operational water wells during six sampling periods (December 2023 to November 2024), analyzing physicochemical parameters including electrical conductivity, major ions, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, COD, BOD, and pH. Hydrochemical controls were evaluated using Durov and Gibbs diagrams and the chloro-alkaline index. The Water Quality Index (CCMEWQI) assessed suitability for various uses, the Health Risk Index (HQ) determined nitrate exposure risks for different age groups (infants, children, adolescents, adults), and the Nitrate Pollution Index (NPI) evaluated contamination severity and spatial distribution. Results revealed that groundwater was predominantly calcium-magnesium bicarbonate type, with reverse sodium-calcium ion exchange. The WQI indicated "good to excellent" quality for drinking and agricultural uses, though reduced quality was observed in southern areas. The mean nitrate concentration (53.35 mg/L) exceeded the permissible limit (50 mg/L), with 39% of samples contaminated (NPI>1.5) and 20% at critical levels (NPI=0.75–1.5). Nitrate plumes were concentrated near the southern karst aquifer and expanded seasonally with rainfall. Health risks (HQ>1) were identified in 54% of samples for infants, 46% for children, and 39% for adults. Mitigation strategies were proposed to reduce groundwater nitrate levels, emphasizing pollutant infiltration prevention as essential for aquifer protection.

Keywords

References

Abascal, E. Gomez-Coma, L. Ortiz, I. and Ortiz, A. (2022). Global diagnosis of nitrate pollution in groundwater and review of removal technologies. Science of The Total Environment, 810, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152233.

Alaei Shahmirzadi,M.A., Hosseini, S.S., Luo, J., Ortiz, I., (2018). Significance, evolution and recent advances in adsorption technology, materials and processes for desalination, water softening and salt removal. Journal of Environmental Management. 215, 324–344. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.jenvman.2018.03.040.

Bahrami, A., Bahrami, M. & Haghani, E. (2024). Groundwater quality assessment for potable using WQI and GIS technology in the south of Iran. Sustain. Water Resources Management. 10, 177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-024-01155-7.

Brindha, K. Parimala, R. and Elango, L. (2017). Sources, toxicological effects and removal techniques of nitrates in groundwater: An overview. Volume 37. Indian Journal of Environmental Protection. 37(8):667-700. DOI: 10.1007/s12665-013-2257-7.

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). (1999). Canadian water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life: pH (marine). In: Canadian environmental quality guidelines, 1999, Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, Winnipeg. https://ccme.ca/en/resources/water-aquatic-life

Workgroup, O. I. W. (2017). Water Quality Indicators (WQI) Project Background and Technical Specifications. Technical Report, US EPA Office of Compliance. URL https://echo. epa. gov/tools/data-downloads/wqi-data-review.

CCME Water Quality Index User’s Manual. 2017. http://www.ccme.ca/en/resources/canadian_environmental_quality_guidelines/calculators.html.

Fan, A. M. (2011). Nitrate and nitrite in drinking water: a toxicological review. Encyclopedia of Environmental Health 137–145. DOI:10.1016/B978-0-444-52272-6.00563-8

Fan, A. M., Willhite, C. C., and Book, S. A. (1987). Evaluation of the nitrate drinking water standard with reference to infant methemoglobinemia and potential reproductive toxicology. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. 7(2):135–148. DOI: 10.1016/0273-2300(87)90024-9

Gibbs, R.J. (1970). Mechanism controlling world water chemistry. Science 170: 1088-1090. DOI: 10.1126/science.170.3962.10

Gupta, S. K., Gupta, R. C., Chhabra, S. K., Eskiocak, S., Gupta, A. B., and Gupta, R. (2008). Health issues related to N pollution in water and air. Current Science. 94(11):1469-1477. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24100503

Heaton, T.H.E., Stuart, M.E., Sapiano, M., Micallef Sultana, M. (2012). An isotope study of the sources of nitrate in Malta’s groundwater. Journal of Hydrology. 414–415, 244–254. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.10.037.

ISIRI: Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. (1997).Drinking water Physical and chemical specifications. 1053. 5th revision. ICS:13.060.020.

Jalali,M. Jalali, M. and Morrison, L. (2024). Groundwater hydrogeochemical processes, water quality index, and probabilistic health risk assessment in an arid and semi-arid environment (Hamedan, Iran), Groundwater for Sustainable Development, Volume 26,101255, ISSN 2352-801X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101255

Khan, F., Husain, T., & Lumb, A. (2003). Water quality evaluation and trend analysis in selected watersheds of the Atlantic region of Canada. Environmental Monitoring and assessment, 88, 221-248. DOI:10.1023/A:1025573108513

Lumb, A., Sharma, T.C., Bibeault, JF. et al.(2011). A Comparative Study of USA and Canadian Water Quality Index Models. Water Quality, Exposure and Health 3, 203–216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-011-0056-5.

Misstear, B., Banks, D., Clark, L. (2017). Appendix 5 FAO irrigation water quality guidelines. WaterWells and Boreholes, pp. 473–474. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119080176.app5.

Obeidat M M, Awawdeh M, Al-Rub F A and Ahmad Al-Ajlouni A (2012) An Innovative Nitrate Pollution Index and Multivariate Statistical Investigations of Groundwater Chemical Quality of Umm Rijam Aquifer (B4), North Yarmouk River Basin, Jordan. Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment. 169- 188. https:// DOI:10.5772/32436.

Ogrinc, N., Tamše, S., Zavadlav, S., Vrzel, J., Jin, L. (2019). Evaluation of geochemical processes and nitrate pollution sources at the Ljubljansko Polje aquifer (Slovenia): a stable isotope perspective. Science of The Total Environment. 646, 1588–1600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. scitotenv.2018.07.245.

Ossa-Valencia, J., Betancur-Vargas, T. (2018). Hydrogeochemical characterization and identification of a system of regional flow. Case study: the aquifer on the Gulf of Urabá, Colombia. Revista Facultad de Ingenieria, 9–18.. https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.redin. n86a02.

Rajmohan, N. and Elango, L. (2004). Identification and evolution of hydrogeochemical processes of groundwater environment in an area of the Palar and Cheyyar River Basins, Southern India. Journal of Environmental Geology Volume 46, Issue 1, pp 61-47.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1012-5.

Rezaee, M. Zivari, R. Ashjari, J. and Kaboli, A. (2017). Geochemical processes affecting groundwater chemistry in carbonate formations of Khosh Yeylagh, north of Iran. Environmental Studies Journal. 43(2), 219-231. https://doi: 10.22059/jes.2017.113706.1006871.

Rodriguez, J., Perez, B., Nebot, C., Falque, E., Simal-Gandara, J. (2020). Food production link to underground waters quality in a limia river basin. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 297, 106969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.106969.

Sailaukhanuly, Y., Azat, S., Kunarbekova, M., Tovassarov, A., Toshtay, K., Tauanov, Z., Carlsen, L., & Berndtsson, R. (2024). Health Risk Assessment of Nitrate in Drinking Water with Potential Source Identification: A Case Study in Almaty, Kazakhstan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(1), 55. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010055

Sarkar C, Abbasi SA. (2006). Qualidex--a new software for generating water quality indices. E Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 119(1-3):201-31. . https://doi: 10.1007/s10661-005-9023-6. Epub 2006 Jun 2. PMID: 16741825.

Shukla, S. & Saxena, A. (2019). Global Status of Nitrate Contamination in Groundwater: Its Occurrence, Health Impacts, and Mitigation Measures. In: Hussain, C. (eds) Handbook of Environmental Materials Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73645-7_20

Solgi, E. , Beigmohammadi, F. , Ahmadvand, R. and Baser, S. (2025). Nitrate risk assessment in drinking water in different areas of Malayer city. Journal of New Approaches in Water Engineering and Environment, 3(2), 101-117. https://doi: 10.22034/nawee.2024.468406.1098.

United States EPA. (1989). Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund Vol. I: Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part A) EPA/540/1-89/002; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Washington, DC, USA, Available online: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/20 15-09/documents/rags_a.pdf (accessed on 18 June 2023).

United States EPA. (1991). IRIS Summary Nitrate; CASRN 14797-55-8; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Washington, DC, USA. Available online: https://iris.epa.gov/static/pdfs/0076_summary.pdf (accessed on 20 June 2023).

Varol, S., Şekerci, M. (2018). Hydrogeochemistry, water quality and health risk assessment of water resources contaminated by agricultural activities in Korkuteli (Antalya, Turkey) district center. Journal of Water and Health 16, 574–599. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2018.003.

Verma, A. Sharma, A. Kumar, R. Sharma, P. (2023). Nitrate contamination in groundwater and associated health risk assessment for Indo-Gangetic Plain, India. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, Volume 23,100978, ISSN 2352-801X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2023.100978.

Ward, M.H., Jones, R.R., Brender, J.D., de Kok, T.M., Weyer, P.J., Nolan, B.T., Villanueva, C.M., van Breda, S.G. (2018). Drinking water nitrate and human health: an updated review. Int. Journal of Environmental Research. Public Health https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15071557.

WHO (World Health Organization). (2017). Guidelines for drinking-water quality.4th edition. ISBN: 978-92-4-154995-0. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549950.

WHO (World Health Organization). (2011). Histories of Guideline Development for the Fourth Edition:emical Fact Sheets.Chemical Contaminants in Drinking-Water. Manganese:History of Guideline Development. Available:http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/history_guideline_mang.pdf [accessed 13 October 2011].

World Health Organization. (‎2003)‎. Nitrate and nitrite in drinking-water: background document for development of WHO guidelines for drinking-water quality. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/75380.

Journal of Aquifer and Qanat

Nitrate Pollution of the Izeh Urban Aquifer: Health Risks and Local Management

References

References

Volume 5, Issue 2 - Serial Number 9
March 2025
Pages 203-220

Nitrate Pollution of the Izeh Urban Aquifer: Health Risks and Local Management

References

References

Volume 5, Issue 2 - Serial Number 9March 2025Pages 203-220

Volume 5, Issue 2 - Serial Number 9
March 2025
Pages 203-220