Health risk assessment of heavy metals in drinking water in Jiangsu Province

Objective To assess health risk of heavy metals in drinking water in Jiangsu Province.Methods Six heavy metals concentration were detected by ICP-MS analysis method.Health risk associated 6 heavy metals in drinking water were assessed using USEPA health risk assessment model.Results The median concentration of six metals was:2 μg/L for Cr6+,0.5 μg/L for As,0.03 μg/L for Cd,0.36 μg/L for Pb,0.35 μg/L for Hg,5 μg/L for Zn.The carcinogenic risk level is:Cr6+ for 4.23×10-5/a,As for 5.66×10-6/a,Cd for 37.65×10-8/a.The non carcinogenic risk level is:Pb for 34.59×10-11/a,Hg for 16.35×10-10/a,Zn for 62.73×10-7/a.The rank of health risk is Cr6+ZnCdHgPb.The total health risk level is 5.47×10-5/a.Conclusion The total health risk level was higher than ICRP recommended level(5×10-5),while lower than US EPA recommended level(1×10-4).