Decharat & Phethuayluk 2023 — Lead and cadmium in drinking water at child development centres, Phatthalung province, Thailand
This study assessed the quality and health risk of Pb and Cd in 210 drinking water samples of four types (bottled, tap, filtered, raw) collected from child development centres in Phatthalung province, southern Thailand. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) was used for analysis. Health risk assessment calculated hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) specifically for children, a vulnerable population. All HQ and HI values were below 1, indicating no apparent non-cancer risk under the measured concentrations. The study provides concentration data for Pb and Cd across multiple water types in a childhood exposure setting in Thailand.
Key numbers
- n = 210 water samples (bottled, tap, filtered, raw water)
- Location: child development centres, Phatthalung province, southern Thailand
- HQ < 1 and HI < 1 for all sample groups and both metals in children
- Method: GFAAS
- Pb and Cd concentration data reported by water type (specific values in source tables)
- Journal: Medical Archives (MED ARCH)
Methods (brief)
Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) for Pb and Cd. Water types: bottled, tap, filtered, raw. Risk assessment: HQ and HI calculated for child population. Cross-sectional survey, Phatthalung province, Thailand. 2023.
Implications
Certification: Drinking water quality data for child-use facilities in Thailand; all samples below HQ thresholds suggesting water supply quality adequate for these metals, but baseline data useful for establishing typical range. Courses: Child-specific risk assessment methodology and the importance of assessing multiple water source types (bottled vs. tap vs. filtered) at the point of consumption. App: Drinking water is a Pb and Cd exposure pathway especially relevant for children; Thai drinking water data represents a Southeast Asian baseline. Microbiome: Not applicable.