Health Risk Assessment of Nitrate Exposure Originating from Gravity Feed System (GFS) Water: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hulu Langat, Selangor State, Malaysia

Muhammad Syafiq MY; Shaharuddin Shaharuddin; Retno Andriyani

doi:10.35910/jbkm.v9i2.1212

Muhammad Syafiq MY Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Shaharuddin Shaharuddin
Retno Andriyani Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35910/jbkm.v9i2.1212

Keywords: Nitrate, Gravity Feed System, Health Risk Assessment, Hulu Langat, Water quality

Abstract

Background: This cross-sectional study assessed the health risks of nitrate exposure from the Gravity Feed System (GFS) water in Hulu Langat, Selangor state.

Method: The study population consisted of 88 individuals aged 18 and older who have resided in 20th mile Village, Sungai Lui, Hulu Langat, for a long time and used GFS as their primary drinking water source.

Results: The mean and standard deviation of nitrate concentration in 35 water samples were 2.49 ± 1.26 mg/L, which is well below the Malaysian National Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) maximum contaminant limit (MCL) of 10.00 mg/L. The mean pH of the water samples was 7.07 ± 0.28, which falls within the recommended range of 6.50 to 8.50 from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The study's Hazard Quotient (HQ) analysis showed a mean of 0.0084 ± 0.0060, with all respondents having an HQ below one, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic health risk from nitrate content in the water. The study found no significant correlation between nitrate concentrations and pH levels.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the GFS water in the study area is safe for consumption in terms of nitrate levels, although continuous monitoring is recommended.