A Participatory Science Approach to Evaluating Factors Associated with the Occurrence of Metals and PFAS in Guatemala City Tap Water

Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, Riley E. Mulhern, Edwin Castellanos, Erica Wood, Andrea McWilliams, Isabel Herrera, Chamindu Liyanapatirana, Frank Weber, Keith Levine, Evan Thorp, Nichole Bynum, Kelly Amato, Maria Andrea Najera Acevedo, Justin Baker, George Van Houtven, Candise Henry, Christopher Wade and Kondash Aj
Additional contact information
Jennifer Hoponick Redmon: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Riley E. Mulhern: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Edwin Castellanos: Observatorio Económico Sostenible, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Erica Wood: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Andrea McWilliams: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Isabel Herrera: Observatorio Económico Sostenible, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Chamindu Liyanapatirana: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Frank Weber: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Keith Levine: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Evan Thorp: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Nichole Bynum: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Kelly Amato: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Maria Andrea Najera Acevedo: Observatorio Económico Sostenible, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Justin Baker: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
George Van Houtven: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Candise Henry: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Christopher Wade: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Kondash Aj: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: Limited information is available regarding chemical water quality at the tap in Guatemala City, preventing individuals, water utilities, and public health authorities from making data-driven decisions related to water quality. To address this need, 113 participants among households served by a range of water providers across the Guatemala City metropolitan area were recruited as participatory scientists to collect first-draw and flushed tap water samples at their residence. Samples were transported to the U.S. and analyzed for 20 metals and 25 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). At least one metal exceeded the Guatemalan Maximum Permissible Limit (MPL) for drinking water in 63% of households ( n = 71). Arsenic and lead exceeded the MPL in 33.6% ( n = 38) and 8.9% ( n = 10) of samples, respectively. Arsenic was strongly associated with groundwater while lead occurrence was not associated with location, water source, or provider. One or more PFAS were detected in 19% of samples ( n = 21, range 2.1–64.2 ppt). PFAS were significantly associated with the use of plastic water storage tanks but not with location, water source, or provider. Overall, the high prevalence of arsenic above the MPL in Guatemala City tap water represents a potential health risk that current water treatment processes are not optimized to remove. Furthermore, potential contaminants from premise plumbing and storage, including lead and PFAS, represent additional risks requiring further investigation and public engagement.

Keywords: drinking water quality; climate change; sustainability; arsenic; lead; PFAS; Guatemala; participatory science; community-engaged research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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