Nitrates and Nitrites in Drinking Water with a Human Health Risk Assessment in the City of Mostar

The paper presents the results of monitoring drinking water at four locations in the City of Mostar with the aim of monitoring the concentration of nitrates and nitrites. The wellsprings where the samples were collected are Radobolja, Studenac, Bosnjaci, and Salakovac. Eight samples were taken at each location over the course of one year in different time intervals. The samples were delivered to the Institute for Public Health in Mostar, where the analyses were performed. The research was conducted using the descriptive-research method and spectrophotometric method. The human health risk assessment was also performed by calculating the Hazard Quotient Index (HQI). It was determined that the samples from all locations are in accordance with the Rulebook on health safety of drinking water (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 40/10) and that they do not exceed the MDK values for nitrates and nitrites. It was also determined that there is no health risk for adults and children from the intake of nitrates and nitrites from drinking water from these wellsprings.