Joy Ewhere EBHORIA

Groundwater serves as a vital source of drinking water for millions worldwide, particularly in regions with limited access to treated surface water. However, its quality is increasingly compromised by contamination from heavy metals (HMs), which originate from both geogenic and anthropogenic sources. These metals pose significant non-carcinogenic health risks due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity even at trace concentrations. This study evaluates the non-carcinogenic health risks associated with the ingestion of groundwater contaminated by heavy metals in the selected study area. Concentrations of key heavy metals including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were determined using standard analytical techniques. Spatial distribution patterns were analyzed to identify contamination hotspots. Health risk assessments were conducted for both children and adults using established models that calculate hazard quotients (HQ) and hazard indices (HI). The findings reveal varying degrees of exposure risk across age groups and sampling locations, underscoring the urgent need for targeted public health interventions and sustainable groundwater management strategies. This research contributes valuable data to environmental health science and supports policy development aimed at mitigating heavy metal exposure through ingestion pathways.