Arsenic Concentration in Groundwater and Raw Bovine Milk in Dairy Farms from Córdoba, Argentina. Is There Any Risk to Human Health?

NOELIA URSELER; FERNANDA BIOLÉ; JULIETA GRIBOFF; MICHELLE BIOLÉ; ROMINA BACHETTI; CAROLINA MORGANTE; MAGDALENA MONFERRAN

Montevideo

Congreso; SETAC Latin America 15th Biennial Meeting; 2023

SETAC Latin America

Arsenic (As) is mainly a naturally toxic metalloid that can cause adverse effects on human health. Drinking water contaminated with As is the most important route of exposure and accumulation in organisms. Dairy cattle often suffer subclinical As toxicity, as the metalloid is retained in blood and milk. This study aimed to determine As concentration in groundwater and raw bovine milk, as well as the bioaccumulation factor (BAF), and risks it is likely to pose for human health. Seventeen dairy farms in the Pampean plain of Córdoba were analyzed during November 2021. Total As concentration in groundwater and bovine milk was determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Potential human health risks, associated with As consumption, have been assessed by estimating the hazard quotient (HQ), target hazard quotient (THQ) and carcinogenic risk (CR) in children and adults. The BAF was used to evaluate the degree to which As from water can bioaccumulate in milk. Total As was quantified in 100% of the groundwater (at values ranging from 4.5 to 498.7 μg/L), and in 71% of the bovine milk samples (from 7.4 to 470.2 μg/g). The As levels in 94% and 53% of the groundwater samples (n=17) exceeded the limits established for human consumption (10 μg/L) and animal drinking (50 μg/L), respectively. While 71% of the bovine milk samples exceeded the internationally suggested concentrations (10 μg/kg). The As concentration in roundwater samples was more prevalent in the south-east (discharge area) of the Córdoba province. Therefore, As is controlled by lithology (fine sediments) and distance of the boreholes from the piedemont recharge area in the western Pampean mountain. The HQ mean values of the metalloid classified as “adverse effect” on human health for children and adults in groundwater (child= 25.9, adult= 3.6). The THQ mean values were negligible in milk (child= 1.0E-2, adult= 2.7E-3). The CR values classified as “unacceptable” to “need further evaluation” (child= 4.5E-4 – 5.0E-2, adult= 2.1E-4 – 2.0E-2 in groundwater; child= 1.3E-3 – 3.0E-2, adult= 2.5E-4 – 1.0E-2 in milk). Nevertheless, BAF was higher than 1 in 35% of the dairy farms, suggesting that dairy cows can incorporate As from abiotic matrices. The results presented indicate that the status of As contamination in the study area should continue to be monitored in order to assess its long-term impact on public health