title: Environmental risk assessment of arsenic and fluoride in the Chaco Province, Argentina: research advances.
abstract: The arsenic (As) and fluoride (F⁻) concentration in groundwater and potential adverse human health risk was investigated in the Central-West Region of the Chaco Province, northern Argentina. The mean concentration of As in shallow groundwater was 95 μg/L, where 76% of samples exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value of 10 μg/L, while in deep groundwater it was 90 μg/L, where 63% samples exceeded 10 μg/L. For As health risk assessment, the average daily dose, hazard quotient (HQ), and cancer risk were calculated. The values of HQ were found to be >1 in 77% of samples. This level of contamination is considered to constitute a high chronic risk compared with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines. Further, a significant portion of the population has lifetime carcinogenic risk >10⁻⁴ and may suffer from cancer. A positive correlation was observed between As and F⁻ in groundwater. The Código Alimentario Argentino (CAA) suggested a limit of F⁻ in drinking water as low as 0.8 mg/L under tropical environmental conditions; however, in shallow (39%) and deep groundwater (32%), samples exceeded these values. Exposure to F⁻ was calculated and compared with the adequate intake of minimal safe level exposure dose of 0.05 mg/kg/d and it was noted that 42% of population may be at high risk of fluorosis. Chronic exposure to high As and F⁻ levels in this population represents a concern due to possible adverse health effects attributed to these elements.
authors.affiliation: Departamento Química Analítica, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral, Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, Chaco, Argentina.
authors.forename: Edgar E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Buchhamer
authors.forename: Patricia S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Blanes
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Osicka
authors.forename: M Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Giménez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001151:Arsenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012423:Rural Health; D018881:Suburban Health; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic; D005459:Fluorides