Pollution Evaluation and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal (Loid)s in Spring Water from the Coastal Areas of Cambodia

Heavy metals in water sources are a worldwide issue that requires regular risk assessments to address any possible health risks to humans. The sample analysis was investigated for 6 physicochemical parameters and 12 heavy metal (loid)s comprising pH, temperature (°C), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), and thallium (Tl)). Water qualities were evaluated by cumulative impacts of heavy metals with metal pollution index (MPI), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), contamination degree (CF), and the degree of contamination (dC), and health risk assessment was evaluated by comparing the obtained data with current World Health Organization (WHO) and Cambodian Drinking Water Quality Standard (CDWQS) regulations as well as using the hazard quotient and total cancer risk (HQ and TCR). Statistical analysis was performed with Minitab 21 and Microsoft Excel 16 software. The detection results revealed the following order of heavy metal concentrations: Fe > Al > Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb > As > Co > Cr > Ni > Cd > Tl. Notably, the concentrations of Co (KE03), Mn (KE02 and KE03), Al (KS03, KP01, KE02, and KE03), and Fe (KS02, KS03, KP01, KP02, KE01, KE02, and KE03) exceeded the standard limits set by WHO and CDWQS. From the results of MPI, HER, and dC, the spring water shows that water has started to be contaminated and has reached a high pollution level. Cancer risk was increased in adults compared to children when using chronic daily intake (CDI) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). This research helps ensurewater safety in countries that rely mostly on natural sources for water supply by fostering a more sophisticated understanding of water safety and taking a step towards realizing the goal of providing everyone with safe and clean drinking water. Therefore, spring water may not be suitable for drinking; the treatments are required before use but can used for other domestic purposes.