Objective
To compare and assess the non-carcinogenic health risks of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) in source water and drinking water in China.
Methods
We collected and collated data of reported MC-LR concentrations in source water and drinking water in China from publicly released domestic and foreign studies. Hazard quotient (HQ) recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was adopted to assess the non-carcinogenic risks of MC-LR by consuming contaminated source water and drinking water.
Results
The results showed that in China from 1998 to 2016 the concentrations of MC-LR in lake (reservoir) water ranged from ND to 54.898 μg/L, and the HQ of lake water was from 0 to 50.996; the concentrations of MC-LR in river water ranged from ND to 1.360 μg/L, and the HQ of river water was from 0 to 1.263; the concentrations of MC-LR in well water ranged from ND to 0.780 μg/L, and the HQ of well water was from 0 to 0.725; the concentrations of MC-LR in finished water of waterworks ranged from ND to 1.270μg/L, and the HQ of finished water was from 0 to 1.180; the concentrations of MC-LR in peripheral water ranged from ND to 0.860 μg/L, and the HQ of peripheral was from 0 to 0.799; the concentrations of MC-LR in bottled water ranged from ND to 0.795 μg/L, and the HQ of bottle water was from 0 to 0.738. The maximums of HQ for lake (reservoir) water, river water, and finished water in China were all greater than 1, indicating that MC-LR had non-carcinogenic health risks. The maximums of HQ for well water, peripheral water, and bottled water were less than 1, indicating that the related non-carcinogenic health risks of MC-LR were acceptable. However, the non-carcinogenic health risk of MC-LR in bottled water was not less than that in peripheral water.
Conclusion
We suggest strengthening the monitoring of MC-LR concentrations in lake (reservior) water, river water, and finished water of waterworks, and protecting people from MC-LR pollution. Moreover, we recommend that more studies on the health risk of MC-LR in bottled water should be conducted.
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