Integral assessment of the quality of drinking water in settlements of the Murmansk region

Introduction. For the timely adoption of management decisions to improve the drinking water quality, predict and control the level of diseases associated with the water factor, regular objective assessment of the quality of drinking water is important. The methodology of public health risk assessment makes it possible to identify priority factors, evaluate the combined effect of chemicals, and assess the intensity of the impact on public health. The purpose of the study was to assess the drinking water quality in the settlements of the Murmansk region in terms of chemical safety, to determine priority risk factors. Materials and methods. The work used the results of laboratory studies of drinking water supplied to the population of the Murmansk region, conducted in 2022 as part of social and hygienic monitoring. The risk of organoleptic effects was assessed using 14 indicators. Non-carcinogenic risk was assessed for 25, carcinogenic - for 7 chemicals. Results. According to the results of the study, drinking water supplied to the population in the Murmansk region does not pose a danger from the standpoint of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks. Conclusion. In almost all the studied settlements of the Murmansk region, the integral indicators have low values. However, for the settlements of Safonovo-1, Mezhdurechye, Mishukovo, Beloe More, the values of integral indicators are significantly higher than the average and median levels for the region, which may indicate insufficient or unstable drinking water quality. For a more correct assessment of the impact of drinking water on the health of the population of the Murmansk region, it is recommended to optimize monitoring programs.