HEALTH RISK ASSOCIATED WITH NITRATE EXPOSURE IN GROUNDWATER AMONG RESIDENTS OF GONG MANAK VILLAGE IN PASIR PUTEH DISTRICT, KELANTAN STATE, MALAYSIA Muhammad Afiq Zharfan (a), Shaharuddin (a*), Zaenal Abidin (b)
a) Universiti Putra Malaysia
(*shaha[at]upm.edu.my)
b) Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Bhakti Husada Mulia, Madiun, Indonesia
Abstract
Introduction: The agriculture sector in Malaysia is growing faster every year, resulting in increased usage of fertilizer which brings about the increase in the contamination of water sources such as groundwater. Groundwater is commonly used in rural areas where nitrate levels were found and may cause birth defects and cancers. In order to determine the health status of the population, health risk analysis can be done to determine the level of exposure.
Objective: To determine the association between health risk and nitrate exposure in groundwater among residents of Gong Manak village in Pasir Puteh district, Kelantan state, Malaysia.
Methodology: Water samples from pre-determined wells were collected and then analyzed using a multimeter with an attached nitrate electrode. Questionnaires were used to collect information such as age and depth of wells. Distance between wells and source of nitrate was calculated using coordinates obtained from global positioning system (GPS).
Results: A total of 60 respondents were recruited and the same number of wells chosen for this study after fulfilling all inclusive and exclusive criteria. Mean nitrate level was 3.68 +- SD 2.60 mg/L, with a range of 0.32 to 8.99 mg/L. Both variables (age and depth) had no significant association with nitrate levels (p>0.05). However, there was a significant association between distance from nitrate source and nitrate levels (p<0.05) with a correlation coefficient, r = -0.487. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) was calculated to be less than 1 (HQ<1) for all respondents. This is an indication that there is no risk from nitrate exposure to the respondents.
Conclusion: Respondents were exposed to low levels of nitrate in groundwater, and the health risk was negligible.
Keywords: Nitrate, Groundwater, Health risk, Kelantan, association
