HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF SACHET-PACKAGED WATER CONSUMPTION IN TAMALE METROPOLIS, GHANA

A human health risk assessment was conducted in the Tamale Metropolis to evaluate potential trace metal contamination through packaged sachet water (PSW). A total of 102 PSW brands produced and sold within the metropolis were sampled between February 2014 and December 2015. Chemical analyses were performed following the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (2000). Health risk indicators, including Chronic Daily Intake (CDI), Hazard Quotient (HQ), and Hazard Index (HI), were assessed using Monte Carlo simulations via @RISK software. The CDI values (µg/kg/day) for nitrate (NO₃⁻), nitrite (NO₂⁻), sulfate (SO₄), fluoride (F⁻), chloride (Cl⁻), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and arsenic (As) ranged from 0.00 to 28.18. HQ values for individual trace metals and the overall HI (0.235) were below 1, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic risk to consumers. The findings suggest that consumption of PSW in Tamale is generally safe concerning trace metal exposure