Factors and population health risks under exposure to components detected in drinking water within natural hydrogeochemical provinces in Perm region

Our research goal was to assess health risks for population who consumed drinking water with specific chemical structure systematically and for a long time. Drinking water quality is determined by conditions existing in hydrogeochemical provinces where rocks and soils contain increased concentrations of such hazardous metals as chromium, nickel, lead, manganese, and iron. We showed that low frequency or even absence of non-conformity to hygienic standards for admixtures in drinking water doesn't fully guarantee its safety in complicated hydrogeochemical conditions. When certain carcinogenic admixtures (cadmium, chromium, nickel, arsenic, and lead) occur together in drinking water even in low concentrations, it can cause unacceptable population health risks. Drinking water taken in examined geochemical provinces in Perm region causes individual lifelong carcinogenic risk which is (under the worst exposure scenarios) equal to 4 · 10-3. It can be ranked as De manifestis Risk and requires immediate measures to be taken by those responsible to reduce it...