Health risk assessment of drinking groundwater in rural areas of Ru village and surrounding areas in Wutai County, China

Nitrate pollution in groundwater is a global environmental problem that poses health risks to human health. In order to investigate the health risks of nitrate in rural drinking groundwater in Rucun Township and surrounding areas of Wutai County and provide a basis for healthy drinking water, by using statistical analysis software (SPSS19) and hydrogeochemical analysis software (AqQA), a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of nitrate health risks was conducted among populations of different ages and genders through water sample collection, chemical analysis, and construction of a human health risk model (HHRA). Through research, it was found that the average concentration of nitrate in the study area is 43.99 mg/L. The Quaternary loess layer, as a permeable layer, cannot prevent groundwater from being polluted by NO3−. The cation in the groundwater of the research area is mainly calcium-type water, while the anion is bicarbonate type. Through evaluation, it is believed that there is a health risk of nitrate pollution in rural drinking groundwater in Rucun Township and surrounding areas. The discovery and evaluation results can provide a basis for the prevention and control of nitrate pollution in groundwater and improve people's quality of life.