Contamination of Nitrate in Groundwater and Evaluation of Health Risk in Bachok, Kelantan: A Cross-Sectional Study

High concentrations of nitrate through drinking water have been associated with health problems. This cross sectional study sought to determine the level of nitrate concentrations in private well water and the association to the disease caused by nitrate among population of Bachok, Kelantan. The concentrations of nitrate in 256 wells were sampled from September to October 2015. About 126 respondents from the agricultural area and 130 respondents from the non-agricultural area were participated in the study. The human health risk associated with ingesting nitrate were assessed by Hazard Quotient and Odd Ratio. The physicochemical characteristics of well water in both areas were within the acceptable limits of Malaysian Drinking Water Quality Standard. About 52 wells in the agricultural area and 35 wells in the non-agricultural area had nitrate level above the maximum acceptable nitrate. The OR for disease such as diabetes, goitre and gastric were not significant with high levels of nitrate in the well water.