Nitrates in drinking water as a factor of a health risk to the Platerow commune inhabitants (Mazovian province) / Azotany w wodzie do picia jako czynnik ryzyka zdrowotnego mieszkańców gminy Platerów (województwo mazowieckie)

Well and piped water quality was examined out in the area of the Platerow Commune in 2008. The study examined water from 18 household wells used as a source of water for consumption and household purposes, and piped water which is abstracted from two deep wells in Platerow. Water samples for testing were taken five times. The concentrations of physical and chemical parameters such as NO₃^- , PO₄^3- , Cl^-, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, total hardness and pH, EC were determined. Health risk due to the presence of NO₃^- ions in drinking water consumed by people was estimated in this paper. The Platerow Commune population consuming piped water abstracted from the well located in Platerow take in nitrates in the amounts which are within the low limit of safety margin (ADI : EDI = 6.76) although their concentration in water does not exceed the standard level. People drinking water from 78% examined wells ingest excess quantities of nitrates (safety margin <1), which, in the case of long-term exposure, can be harmful particularly for infants and pregnant women. Statistical analysis revealed negative correlation of nitrate concentration in well water with well depth and water pH, which indicates that there was an influx of NO₃^- ions to shallow groundwater.