Hydrogeochemical characterization and human health risks associated with groundwater nitrate concentrations in the Saiss basin, Morocco

HydroResearch Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI:10.1016/j.hydres.2024.11.006

Abdelhakim Lahjouj , Abdellah El Hmaidi , Hafid Achtak , Chafik Nakhcha , Karima Bouhafa

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Abstract

Groundwater has been facing not only prolonged climate change-induced groundwater shortage but also severe deterioration of groundwater quality from natural and/or anthropogenic sources. This study aims to determine the hydrogeochemical processes controlling groundwater chemistry in the Saiss basin, Morocco, and to assess seasonal changes in groundwater quality using the entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI). In addition, human health risks associated with groundwater nitrate (NO₃⁻) contamination/pollution were investigated using the hazard quotient (HQ). Groundwater chemistry in the Saiss basin was mainly controlled by mineral dissolution/precipitation and direct cation exchange, with slight seasonal variations in the saturation indices (SIs). The EWQI suggested slight groundwater quality deterioration in the dry season due to increased NO₃⁻ concentrations. In fact, children were over two times exposed to non-carcinogenic issues associated with groundwater NO₃⁻ concentrations when compared with adults. The current study provides further insights into the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater to ensure safe regional water supplies.

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摩洛哥Saiss盆地与地下水硝酸盐浓度有关的水文地球化学特征和人类健康风险

地下水不仅长期面临气候变化引起的地下水短缺，而且自然和/或人为来源的地下水质量严重恶化。本研究旨在确定控制摩洛哥Saiss流域地下水化学的水文地球化学过程，并利用熵加权水质指数（EWQI）评价地下水质量的季节变化。此外，利用危害商（HQ）对地下水硝酸盐（NO3−）污染/污染相关的人类健康风险进行了调查。siss盆地地下水化学主要受矿物溶解/降水和直接阳离子交换控制，饱和度指数（si）有轻微的季节变化。EWQI结果表明，旱季NO3−浓度增加导致地下水水质略有恶化。事实上，与成人相比，儿童暴露于与地下水NO3−浓度相关的非致癌性问题的程度超过两倍。本研究为进一步了解地下水的水文地球化学特征，确保区域供水安全提供了依据。

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来源期刊

HydroResearch

CiteScore

9.20

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0.00%

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