WATER QUALITY AND WATER QUALITY AND HEALTH EFFECTSHEALTH EFFECTS

ALLEN M. INDUCTIVO, CE, ALLEN M. INDUCTIVO, CE, EnSEEnSE

ENGINEER IIIENGINEER III

DOH – CHD 3DOH – CHD 3

ObjectivesObjectives

describe the different physical describe the different physical and chemical properties of waterand chemical properties of water

Discuss the various health effects Discuss the various health effects caused by these substances in caused by these substances in waterwater

hazardsExposurepathway

Dose-response

Healtheffects

Waterquality

Infection,poisoning

Age, sex,Nutritional

Status, genetics

Ingestion,Skin contact

Physical CharacteristicsPhysical Characteristics

TurbidityTurbidity - property which - property which interferes with the passage of interferes with the passage of light through waterlight through water

Color Color - apparent color and true - apparent color and true colorcolor

TurbidityTurbidity

caused by a wide variety of caused by a wide variety of suspended materials - - colloidal to suspended materials - - colloidal to coarse dispersioncoarse dispersion

Common in surface waterCommon in surface water

Sources : runoff from rain and flood Sources : runoff from rain and flood (clay and silt), street washing, (clay and silt), street washing, industrial wasteindustrial waste

Environmental Environmental significance of significance of turbidityturbidity Aesthetics – undesirable Aesthetics – undesirable

appearanceappearance

Filterability – more difficult and Filterability – more difficult and costlycostly

Disinfection – interferes with Disinfection – interferes with effectiveness of disinfectioneffectiveness of disinfection

ColorColor

Apparent colorApparent color – caused by – caused by suspended mattersuspended matter

True colorTrue color – caused by dissolved – caused by dissolved vegetables or organic extractsvegetables or organic extracts

Public Health Public Health Significance of ColorSignificance of Color Imparts aesthetic problems affecting Imparts aesthetic problems affecting

acceptability of wateracceptability of water

Interferes with disinfection by reacting Interferes with disinfection by reacting with chlorine compounds resulting to with chlorine compounds resulting to formation of chloroform and other formation of chloroform and other trihalomethanes (THM), and other trihalomethanes (THM), and other chlorinated organics. These may pose chlorinated organics. These may pose certain health problems to consumerscertain health problems to consumers

Chemical Properties of Chemical Properties of WaterWater pH, acidity and alkalinitypH, acidity and alkalinity Water hardnessWater hardness Iron and ManganeseIron and Manganese ChlorideChloride FluorideFluoride SulfateSulfate

Chemical Properties of Chemical Properties of WaterWater Nitrogen and PhosphorusNitrogen and Phosphorus Residual ChlorineResidual Chlorine PhenolsPhenols Inorganic substances ( Lead, Mercury, Inorganic substances ( Lead, Mercury,

Arsenic, Cadmium, SeleniumArsenic, Cadmium, Selenium Organic substances ( chlorinated Organic substances ( chlorinated

hydrocarbons, organic phosphates, hydrocarbons, organic phosphates, carbamates, polyaromatic carbamates, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, etc.hydrocarbons, etc.

pH, Acidity and pH, Acidity and AlkalinityAlkalinity

pH – expresses the intensity of the acid pH – expresses the intensity of the acid and alkaline conditions of waterand alkaline conditions of water

pH ------------ 7 -------------14pH ------------ 7 -------------14

Acidic AlkalineAcidic Alkaline

pH – expresses the hydrogen ion pH – expresses the hydrogen ion concentrationconcentration

Forms of Acidity in waterForms of Acidity in water Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide Mineral acidity ( Mineral acidity ( Nitric, Sulfuric, Nitric, Sulfuric,

Phosphoric acids, etc Phosphoric acids, etc ))

Environmental Significance of Environmental Significance of AcidityAcidity::

Carbon dioxide imparts pleasant Carbon dioxide imparts pleasant tastetaste

Mineral acidity makes water Mineral acidity makes water unpalatable that deters consumptionunpalatable that deters consumption

Alkalinity – measure of the capacity of Alkalinity – measure of the capacity of water to neutralize acidswater to neutralize acids

Caused by salts of weak acids :Caused by salts of weak acids : bicarbonates, carbonates and bicarbonates, carbonates and

hydroxidehydroxide borates, silicates and phosphatesborates, silicates and phosphates

Alkalinity imparts bitter (Alkalinity imparts bitter (mapaklamapakla) ) taste to watertaste to water

Water HardnessWater Hardness

Hardness is caused by multivalent Hardness is caused by multivalent metallic cations:metallic cations:

CalciumCalcium MagnesiumMagnesium StrontiumStrontium Iron Iron ManganeseManganese

Sources of HardnessSources of Hardness

Contact of water with soil and rock Contact of water with soil and rock formationsformations

Under low pH due to presence of Under low pH due to presence of carbon dioxide, water can dissolve carbon dioxide, water can dissolve basic materials, i.e. limestonebasic materials, i.e. limestone

Common in groundwaterCommon in groundwater

Classification of water Classification of water according to degree of according to degree of hardnesshardness

mg/Lmg/L Degree of HardnessDegree of Hardness

0 - 75 Soft0 - 75 Soft

75 - 150 Moderately Hard75 - 150 Moderately Hard

150 – 300 Hard150 – 300 Hard

300 up Very Hard300 up Very Hard

Significance of Significance of HardnessHardness

Increases soap consumption to Increases soap consumption to

produce foam or latherproduce foam or lather Produces scale in hot water pipes, Produces scale in hot water pipes,

boilers, and heatersboilers, and heaters Studies in the US indicated that Studies in the US indicated that

cardiovascular diseases were cardiovascular diseases were reduced among population drinking reduced among population drinking hard waterhard water

Iron (Fe) and Manganese Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn)(Mn) Present in soil in insoluble formPresent in soil in insoluble form Under certain acidic condition, Fe and Mn Under certain acidic condition, Fe and Mn

become solublebecome soluble When exposed to air, these are converted When exposed to air, these are converted

to insoluble formto insoluble form Imparts yellow stain color and rusty taste Imparts yellow stain color and rusty taste

(Fe) and black stain (Mn)(Fe) and black stain (Mn) Fe facilitates formation of “red water” from Fe facilitates formation of “red water” from

corrosion of cast iron and steel pipelinescorrosion of cast iron and steel pipelines

ChloridesChloridesSources:Sources: naturally occurring, chloride salts in the naturally occurring, chloride salts in the

soil dissolve in contact with watersoil dissolve in contact with water spray from ocean is carried inland as spray from ocean is carried inland as

dropletdroplet saltwater (sea) intrusion into groundwatersaltwater (sea) intrusion into groundwater Irrigation waterIrrigation water Human excretaHuman excreta Industrial wastesIndustrial wastes

Significance of Significance of ChloridesChlorides

Imparts salty taste at concentrations Imparts salty taste at concentrations beyond 250 mg/Lbeyond 250 mg/L

No known adverse health effects to people No known adverse health effects to people who consume more than 2000 mg/Lwho consume more than 2000 mg/L

Before the development of bacteriological Before the development of bacteriological tests, chloride is used to detect tests, chloride is used to detect contamination of groundwatercontamination of groundwater

Used as tracers in groundwater studies, Used as tracers in groundwater studies, where dyes are not effective tracers.where dyes are not effective tracers.

FluorideFluoride

Significance:Significance: At high concentrations (more than 1.0 At high concentrations (more than 1.0

mg/L) promote disfigurement of teeth in mg/L) promote disfigurement of teeth in humans “mottled enamel” or dental humans “mottled enamel” or dental fluorosisfluorosis

At low levels (less than 1.0 mg/L), dental At low levels (less than 1.0 mg/L), dental caries become prevalentcaries become prevalent

Sources :Sources :Naturally occurring, air pollution deposits Naturally occurring, air pollution deposits

from aluminum processing industryfrom aluminum processing industry

SulfateSulfate

Significance in drinking water:Significance in drinking water:

At concentrations above 250 mg/L, At concentrations above 250 mg/L, impart cathartic (purgative) effectimpart cathartic (purgative) effect

Promote formation of scales in Promote formation of scales in bolers and heatersbolers and heaters

NitrogenNitrogenSources : naturally occurring, organic Sources : naturally occurring, organic

wasteswastes Forms: Organic N –Ammonia –Nitrite --- NitrateForms: Organic N –Ammonia –Nitrite --- Nitrate used as indicator of sanitary qualityused as indicator of sanitary quality Indicate recent contamination of water Indicate recent contamination of water

depending on the nitrogen form presentdepending on the nitrogen form present interferes with the water disinfection interferes with the water disinfection

processprocess Nitrates at levels above 50 mg/L, may Nitrates at levels above 50 mg/L, may

cause infantile hemoglobinemiacause infantile hemoglobinemia

Phosphorous and Phosphorous and PhosphatesPhosphates

Significance:Significance: Together with nitrogen, Together with nitrogen,

Phosphorous serve as nutrients Phosphorous serve as nutrients for planktonsfor planktons

Polyphosphates are used in Polyphosphates are used in public water supplies for public water supplies for controlling corrosioncontrolling corrosion

Radioactive Radioactive substances (Radon substances (Radon and Radium)and Radium) Naturally occurring radionuclidesNaturally occurring radionuclides Radioactive fallout from power Radioactive fallout from power

generation using nuclear energygeneration using nuclear energy Health effects varies from cancer Health effects varies from cancer

induction to genetic disorderinduction to genetic disorder According to PNRI, the limits of According to PNRI, the limits of

radioactivity in Metro Manila radioactivity in Metro Manila drinking water have not been drinking water have not been reached nor exceededreached nor exceeded

Inorganic Substances Inorganic Substances in Waterin Water ArsenicArsenic CadmiumCadmium ChromiumChromium CyanideCyanide LeadLead MercuryMercury

ArsenicArsenic

Sources :Sources :

Dissolution of minerals and oresDissolution of minerals and ores geothermal springsgeothermal springs industrial effluents (power industrial effluents (power

generation from coal-fired furnaces, generation from coal-fired furnaces, metal smelters)metal smelters)

atmospheric depositionatmospheric deposition

Health Effects of Health Effects of ArsenicArsenic Hyperkeratosis, blackfoot disease, Hyperkeratosis, blackfoot disease,

myocardial schemia, liver dysfunctionmyocardial schemia, liver dysfunction Inorganic arsenic is a documented Inorganic arsenic is a documented

human carcinogenhuman carcinogen Excess lifetime skin cancer risk of 1 in Excess lifetime skin cancer risk of 1 in

100,000 for concentration of 0.17 ug/L100,000 for concentration of 0.17 ug/L Guideline value : 0.01 mg/L with an Guideline value : 0.01 mg/L with an

estimated excess lifetime skin cancer estimated excess lifetime skin cancer risk of 6 in 10,000risk of 6 in 10,000

CadmiumCadmium

Sources:Sources: wastewater pollutionwastewater pollution air pollution depositionair pollution deposition impurities in galvanized pipes, impurities in galvanized pipes,

solders and metal fittingssolders and metal fittings food is the main source of daily food is the main source of daily

exposure of cadmiumexposure of cadmium

HealthHealth Effects of Effects of CadmiumCadmium

Accumulates in the kidney with a Accumulates in the kidney with a biological half-life of 10 – 35 yearsbiological half-life of 10 – 35 years

Main routes of exposure are inhalation and Main routes of exposure are inhalation and ingestioningestion

Kidney is the main target organ of Kidney is the main target organ of cadmium (Itai-itai disease)cadmium (Itai-itai disease)

Skeletal effects secondary to derangement Skeletal effects secondary to derangement of mineral metabolism in the kidneyof mineral metabolism in the kidney

Cardiovascular diseases accompanied by Cardiovascular diseases accompanied by hypertensionhypertension

ChromiumChromium

Source Source : Naturally occurring, industrial : Naturally occurring, industrial wastewaterwastewater

Health EffectsHealth Effects : : carcinogenic and genotoxic through carcinogenic and genotoxic through

the inhalation routethe inhalation route

No sufficient evidence of No sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity through the oral routecarcinogenicity through the oral route

CyanideCyanide

SourceSource : industrial contamination : industrial contamination of drinking water sourcesof drinking water sources

Health effectsHealth effects : :

thyroid and nervous system thyroid and nervous system dysfunctiondysfunction

LeadLead

Source :Source :

dissolution of lead in minerals dissolution of lead in minerals and soiland soil

household plumbing fixtures, household plumbing fixtures, fittings, solders and pipesfittings, solders and pipes

LeadLead

Health Effects :Health Effects : At high concentrations, hematological, At high concentrations, hematological,

renal and neurological impairments, renal and neurological impairments, reproductive effects including impaired reproductive effects including impaired fertility and fetal wastagefertility and fetal wastage

At lower levels include impaired growth of At lower levels include impaired growth of children, increases in blood pressure and children, increases in blood pressure and minor congenital defectsminor congenital defects

MercuryMercury

Sources :Sources : inorganic and organic mercury inorganic and organic mercury

are naturally occurring in surface are naturally occurring in surface and groundwaterand groundwater

mining wastes where mercury is mining wastes where mercury is used for ore processingused for ore processing

industrial processing wastes, industrial processing wastes, electrical apparatus, paperelectrical apparatus, paper

MercuryMercury

Health EffectsHealth Effects Teratogenic effects of Teratogenic effects of

organomercurials have been organomercurials have been documenteddocumented

congenital fetal “ Minamata congenital fetal “ Minamata disease” (neurological effects)disease” (neurological effects)

cereberal palsy, impaired learning cereberal palsy, impaired learning and behavioral disabilityand behavioral disability

Organic Constituents Organic Constituents with Health with Health SignificanceSignificance Aldrin LindaneAldrin Lindane

Dieldrin MethoxychlorDieldrin Methoxychlor

Chlordane ToxypaneChlordane Toxypane

Endrin 2,2 – DEndrin 2,2 – D

Heptachlor 2,4.5-THeptachlor 2,4.5-T

Wide range of health effects : Wide range of health effects : carcinogen, teratogen, mutagencarcinogen, teratogen, mutagen

By-products of water By-products of water disinfectiondisinfection

Chloroform * Phenolic substancesChloroform * Phenolic substances

Formaldehyde BromoformFormaldehyde Bromoform

Bromate Bromate dibromochloromethane*dibromochloromethane*

Bromodichloromethane *Bromodichloromethane *

* THM - trihalomethane* THM - trihalomethane

Health effects of Health effects of disinfection by-productsdisinfection by-products

carcinogenic effectscarcinogenic effects

effects on reproduction and effects on reproduction and developmentdevelopment

toxic effects on the liver and toxic effects on the liver and kidneykidney

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