US EPA

364697 

Journal Article 

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in drinking water sources in Shanghai, China 

Sun, C; Chen, Z; Zhang, G; Shi, G; Bi, C 

2009 

22 

1 

60-65 

The concentrations of Cr, As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Hg in the main drinking water sources of Shanghai (the upper-reach areas of the Huangpu River and Chenghang Reservoir) were studied. Health risks associated with these heavy metals in drinking water were assessed primarily by health risk assessment models. The results indicated that among the health risks caused by carcinogens in drinking water, the ranking of the average health risks in the upper-reach areas of the Huangpu River was Cr > As > Cd, while in the Chenghang Reservoir the ranking was As > Cr > Cd, and the risk levels ranged from 10-7 to 10-5. The risk values of Cr and As were higher than the maximum allowance levels recommended by some organizations and researchers (1×10-6 a-1), but were lower than the maximum allowance levels recommended by ICRP (5×10-5 a-1) and by US EPA (1×10-4 a-1). Therefore, Cr and As were regarded as the main carcinogenic elements in drinking water sources of Shanghai. Among the non-carcinogenic risks in drinking water, the ranking of the average health risks in the upper-reach areas of the Huangpu River and Chenghang Reservoir were Pb > Cu > Zn > Hg and Hg > Cu > Pb > Zn, respectively, and the risk levels ranged from 10-12 to 10-10. The health risks caused by the carcinogens were significantly higher than the non-carcinogenic risks in the drinking water. 

arsenic; cadmium; chromium; copper; drinking water; environmental assessment; health hazards; heavy metals; lead; mercury; polluted water; public health; water pollution; water quality; zinc; China; Shanghai; East Asia; Asia; Developing Countries; Eastern China; water composition and quality; Water Resources (PP200); Pollution and Degradation (PP600); Human Health and the Environment (VV500); Industrial Wastes and Effluents (XX400)