THE IMPACT OF WATER QUALITY ON GROUNDWATER CONSUMERS' HEALTH AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL CRITERIA FOR QUALITY ASSESSMENT

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of water quality in shaping the health of populations that rely on drinking groundwater. It emphasizes biogeochemical criteria for assessing the quality and environmental safety of this water. The study is particularly relevant given the increasing anthropogenic pressure on water resources and the urgent need to reassess traditional methods of regulating the chemical composition of drinking water, focusing on its long-term effects on human health. The current water quality assessment system primarily compares individual component concentrations to maximum allowable values. However, this approach is overly simplistic, as it does not adequately account for the prolonged effects of trace elements, their antagonistic and synergistic interactions, or the ways in which chemical elements migrate within aquatic environments. This article reviews domestic and international scientific publications to analyze modern approaches to assessing health risks associated with consuming groundwater of various chemical compositions. The methods discussed include potential and actual environmental risk assessments, evaluations of non-carcinogenic toxic effects, and calculations of hazard quotients. Special attention is given to biogeochemical indication as a tool for identifying disorders caused by trace elements and geochemical endemics. This approach analyzes the relationships between water chemical composition, biogeochemical systems, and the responses of living organisms. The article supports the use of biogeochemical criteria within groundwater quality monitoring systems, as they allow for the assessment of the environmental status of areas based on a scale of “normal – risk – crisis.” Furthermore, the application of modern, highly sensitive analytical methods, thermodynamic modeling, and the integration of hydrogeochemical, toxicological, and epidemiological data provides a solid scientific foundation for objectively assessing the impact of drinking water on public health, as well as for developing appropriate preventive measures.