[M-IS26] Biogeochemistry

[MIS26-13] Contamination by arsenic, manganese and barium in groundwater and human health risk in Vietnam

*Tetsuro AGUSA¹, Takashi KUNITO², Suguru INOUE¹, Tu Binh Minh³, Nguyen Minh Tue¹, Nguyen Ngoc Ha⁴, Nguyen Phuc Cam Tu⁴, Pham Thi Kim Trang³, Shin TAKAHASHI⁵, Bui Cach Tuyen⁶, Pham Hung Viet³, Hisato IWATA¹, Shinsuke TANABE¹ (1.Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Japan, 2.Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, Japan, 3.Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University, Vietnam, 4.Faculty of Fisheries, Nong Lam University, Vietnam, 5.Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Japan, 6.Research Institute for Biotechnology and Environment (RIBE), Nong Lam University, Vietnam)

In this study, we investigated contamination by arsenic and other trace elements in groundwater and in the Red River and the Mekong River Deltas, Vietnam. In addition, we evaluated human health risk from consumption of the contaminated groundwater. Concentrations of arsenic in groundwater were in the range of <0.1 - 502 μg/l, with about 39% of these water samples exceeding WHO drinking water guideline of 10 μg/l. Interestingly, 31% and 5% of groundwater samples had higher concentrations of manganese (400 μg/l) and barium (700 μg/l) than WHO guidelines for drinking water, respectively. Concentrations of arsenic, manganese and barium in hair of local residents were positively correlated with those in groundwater. Estimation using hazard quotient showed that about 43 % of groundwater samples have potential human health risks associated with intakes of these elements. These results suggest that people in these regions are exposed to arsenic, manganese and barium through the consumption of groundwater and hence potential health risks of these elements are of great concern for these local people.