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Sao, et al.

3.2. Influence of seasonal impact on water quality adverse health effects of exposure to chemical substances
Table 4 presents the influence of seasonal impact on water that do not cause cancer. This assessment typically
quality along Prek Te. Statistical analysis indicates that all focuses on risks such as organ damage, developmental
measured parameters, including pH, DO, EC, TDS, and the toxicity, and neurological effects. The process integrates
concentrations of As, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Ni, exhibited data from exposure assessment and dose-response
significant differences (p<0.05) between the rainy and dry analysis to estimate the potential risks associated with
seasons. A p<0.05 suggests that the likelihood of these chemical exposure through drinking water.
differences occurring by chance is <5%, providing strong A key metric in non-carcinogenic risk assessment is
evidence of seasonal impact on water quality. the HQ, which is calculated by dividing the estimated
The observed significant differences suggest that exposure dose by the RfD. HQ > 1 indicates a potential
seasonal factors (rainy and dry seasons), such as risk of adverse health effects, whereas HQ < 1 suggests
variations in precipitation and hydrological conditions, that non-carcinogenic health risks are unlikely. The
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influence water quality. During the rainy season, human health risk assessment was conducted for three
increased precipitation leads to higher runoff, which demographic groups: men, women, and children. The
transports pollutants into water bodies, leading to non-carcinogenic risk was calculated based on ADD and
elevated concentrations of dissolved metal and other the frequency of water consumption. Table 5 presents the
contaminants. Seasonal variations in water quality non-carcinogenic risk calculations for the dry season,
are critical considerations for effective water resource while Table 6 provides the corresponding values for the
management and environmental protection. rainy season. During the dry season, the HQ levels for
In addition, seasonal fluctuations in river flow, As, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Ni remained below 1 across
particularly under the influence of the monsoon, may
contribute to variations in water quality. Increased all groups, indicating that drinking water posed no
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rainfall during the rainy season can result in higher potential non-carcinogenic health risks. In contrast, in
discharge rates and greater transport of total suspended the rainy season, the HQ of As exceeded 1 for children,
solids, thereby affecting the overall water quality of the indicating potential non-carcinogenic risks associated
Mekong River. These seasonal variations can have with As in their drinking water. Notably, children
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detrimental effects on the water quality. 28 exhibited higher HQ values compared to women and
men, highlighting their increased vulnerability to water
3.3. Human health risk assessment contaminants.
3.3.1. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment Further analysis revealed that HQ values for As
Non-carcinogenic risk assessment is a critical process exceeded 1 at Sampling Locations 1, 2, and 3 across
in environmental health used to evaluate the potential all groups, suggesting that drinking water from these
Table 4. Influence of seasonal impact on water quality along Prek Te
Parameters Dry season (n=21) Rainy season (n=21) Mann–Whitney U test
Mean Min Max SD Mean Min Max SD (p-value)
pH 6.64 6.0 7.20 0.33 7.41 6.90 7.70 0.21 0.001*
DO (mg/L) 5.58 4.07 6.47 0.68 6.40 5.38 7.17 0.62 0.001*
EC (µS/cm) 95.5 32.8 589 128 92.6 56.1 142.5 22.6 0.001*
TDS (mg/L) 5.58 4.07 6.47 0.68 6.40 5.39 7.17 0.62 0.001*
As (µg/L) 1.23 0.92 2.88 0.42 8.53 1.01 58.1 12.1 0.001*
Cu (µg/L) 1.06 0.78 2.82 0.43 26.5 17.6 34.7 4.64 0.001*
Cr (µg/L) 0.4 0.29 1.05 0.16 1.63 0.16 11.5 2.44 0.001*
Cd (µg/L) ND ND ND ND 0.04 0.03 0.07 0.01 0.001*
Pb (µg/L) 0.28 0.22 0.64 0.09 0.42 0.22 1.32 0.26 0.005*
Zn (µg/L) 1.18 0.81 3.20 0.52 84.8 10.6 356 91.1 0.001*
Ni (µg/L) 0.36 0.27 0.88 0.13 8.30 1.51 45.8 11.5 0.001*
Note: *Significant difference at p<0.05.
Abbreviations: As: Arsenic; Cu: Copper; Cd: Cadmium; Cr: Chromium; DO: Dissolved oxygen; EC: Electrical conductivity;
ND: Non-detected; Ni: Nickel; Pb: Lead; SD: Standard deviation; TDS: Total dissolved solid; Zn: Zinc.

Volume 22 Issue 2 (2025) 92 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025060037