Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Groundwater of a Coal Mining area in Northern Anhui Province, China

To investigate the health risk posed by heavy metals in the groundwater of a coal mining area in northern Anhui Province, China, six types of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni) were identified and analysed by obtaining 59 water samples from four aquifers (UF, CA, TA, OA) through the use of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The values of these heavy metals were then compared with the permissible limits set by the Chinese Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) (2008). The health risk posed to adults and children was assessed based on the American Environmental Protection Agency's health risk assessment model. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb are within the permissible limits set by the Chinese EPA, but the concentration of Ni is higher than the permissible limits. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ni are within the permissible limits set by the WHO (2008), whereas Cd and Pb concentrations are higher than the permissible limits. The health risk assessment performed shows that the HRI values of the selected heavy metals are in the order of Cd>Ni>Pb>Cu>Zn>Cr. Although most of the heavy metals pose no health risk (HRI<1), several HRI values of Cd in the selected water samples exceed 1, indicating a small health risk imposed on local people. This health risk assessment of heavy metals in a deep groundwater mining area can serve as a reference for groundwater resource exploitation and protection.