Evaluación del riesgo para la salud asociado con el aluminio residual del agua potable distribuida en una zona periurbana del cantón Azogues

Abstract

The present graduation work was developed in the distribution network of the treatment plant managed by the Junta de Agua Potable Regional Bayas. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the health risk associated with residual aluminum in drinkingwater by analyzing physical-chemical parameters during the dry and rainy season. The research was analytical, and the association between the exposure to aluminum and health risk was evaluated. The variables were described and analyzed through the implementation of a cross-sectional method. Samples of raw and treated water were taken atthe treatment plant and at different areas. The parameters measured were: aluminum concentration, pH, temperature, turbidity, color, conductivity, and total dissolved solids. From the results it was obtained that in general the parameters complied with the permissible limits of the NTE INEN 1108:2020 regulation, which includes aluminum amongits chemical parameters. The average residual aluminum concentrations in the dry stage were 0.028 mg/L and 0.019 mg/L in the rainy stage. Those values were well below the standard limit of 0.25 mg/L, being slightly higher during the dry period. The calculation of the hazardindex (HI) showed that the population, both children and adults who consume the drinking water provided by the Junta de Bayas, did not present a health risk due to the intake of aluminum because the HI value was lower to 1 in both study stages during a 6- month exposure. Statistical analysis showed that the season influences the amount of residual aluminum due to the influence of other parameters. Nevertheless, no incidence of the climaticstage was found in the possible health risk.