Health risks associated with contamination of groundwater by abandoned mines near Twisp in Okanogan County, Washington, USA
Health risks associated with contamination of groundwater by abandoned mines near Twisp in Okanogan County, Washington, USA
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DOI：
10.1023/b:egah.0000020974.52087.cb
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发表时间：
2004-03-01
影响因子：
4.2
通讯作者：
Edmonds, R
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Peplow, D;Edmonds, R
众所周知，废弃的矿井会用有毒金属和砷(As)污染私人饮用水井。然而，很少关注人口密度低的农村地区的地点，那里也可能出现自然的地源污染物。这项研究测量了美国华盛顿州奥卡诺根县特维斯普附近废弃矿山附近井水的居民的砷和微量元素暴露，估计了不利健康影响的风险，并考虑了与评估的风险相关的不确定性程度。在1999年10月至2001年6月期间采集了水样。砷的平均浓度为1~298μg L~(-1)，铅为0~94μg L~(-1)，镉(Cd)为0~5μg L~(-1)，硒为0~390μg L~(-1)。浓度随季节变化，最大浓度出现在积雪融化的同时。在平均浓度低至8μg L-1的AS暴露下，计算出的癌症死亡风险大于万分之一。其他非致癌风险与暴露于砷、镉、铅和硒有关。可能受影响的人口估计在1000到1287名居民之间，居住在研究地点半径6.5公里(4英里)内。这项研究强调，有必要在积雪融化最严重的时候测试废弃矿井附近的饮用水水井，以确定对人类健康的危险程度。想要降低估计的致癌风险和非致癌危害商的居民，如果想要饮用这项研究中测试的井水，应该考虑处理他们的水或寻找替代来源。
Abandoned mines are known to contaminate private drinking water wells with toxic metals and arsenic ( As). Little attention is given, however, to sites in rural areas with low population densities where natural, geogenic sources of contaminants might also occur. This study measured arsenic and trace element exposure among residents consuming water from wells adjacent to abandoned mines near Twisp, in Okanogan County, Washington, USA, estimated the risk of adverse health effects, and considered the degree of uncertainty associated with the assessed risk. Water samples were collected between October 1999 and June 2001. Average As concentrations ranged from < 1 to 298 μg L-1, lead (Pb) ranged from 0 to 94 μg L-1, cadmium (Cd) 0 - 5 μg L-1, and selenium ( Se) 0 - 390 μg L-1. Concentrations varied seasonally with maximum concentrations occurring in conjunction with snow-melt. The calculated risk of mortality from cancer following exposure to As at average concentrations as low as 8 μg L-1 was greater than one in 10,000. Additional noncarcinogenic risks are associated with exposure to As, Cd, Pb and Se. A potentially affected population, estimated to be between 1000 and 1287 residents, live within a 6.5-km (4-mile) radius of the study site. This study emphasises the need to test drinking water wells in the vicinity of abandoned mines during times of maximum snow-melt to determine the extent of risk to human health. Residents drinking water from wells tested in this study who want to reduce the estimated carcinogenic risk and the noncarcinogenic hazard quotient should consider treating their water or find alternative sources.