Spatial distribution of nitrate health risk associated with groundwater use as drinking water in Merida, Mexico

Water containing nitrate levels above 45 mg/l is not recommended for human consumption and its prolonged intake is associated with various health conditions. In Merida city, Mexico, the only source for water supply is a karstic aquifer, but the absence of sewerage and drainage networks makes it highly vulnerable to anthropogenic contamination. In this work, the concentration and spatial distribution of nitrate in the Merida’s karstic aquifer were assessed by statistical and geostatistical techniques. The sources of nitrate contamination were tracked by making statistical correlations between nitrate concentrations and key ions; the potential risk to human health was also estimated by using the Hazard Index (HI). A total of 177 groundwater samples were collected from the four water supply systems serving Merida, during 2012 and 2013. Nitrate concentrations from collected samples varied between 15.51 and 70.61 mg/l, with maximum and minimum concentrations per sampling point ranging from 47.47 to 70.61 mg/l and from 15.51 to17.32 mg/l, respectively. Significant positive correlations (P < 0.05) between nitrates and chlorides, sulphates and potassium were found, which may indicate potential contamination from domestic wastewater and agricultural activities. The spatial distribution of nitrate concentrations in the aquifer revealed an increase in nitrates following a trajectory South – North West, towards central and northwestern zones within Merida Metropolitan Area. From the health risk analysis, it was found that infants exposed at current nitrate levels are at a higher risk (HIMAX = 1.40) than adults (HR<1.0) and therefore, there is a clear need for implementing effective strategies to protect groundwater quality and to better manage and control nitrate pollution sources

Double death electrocution in the bathtub

We report the case of a 25‐year‐old woman and her 3‐year‐old son who were found dead in the bathtub because of electrocution. The case happened in August, which is winter, in South Africa. An electrical urn used to heat the bathwater was plugged into the mains and apparently fell into the water. The chrome taps contacted the shoulder of the woman and provided a pathway for the electrical current. Both mother and child died from electrocution, although the child showed signs of drowning. This case is unique in that it represents a double death due to electrocution in a bathtub.https://journals.lww.com/amjforensicmedicine/pages/default.aspx2023-03-21hj2022Forensic Medicin

Analysis of the social and environmental economic sustainability in the territory of Yucatan (Mexico)

This research focuses on the state of Yucatan, Mexico, and provides evidence of unsustainable performance of the local economy: the local economic structure and income distribution widens the gap between rich and poor households. A constructive policy towards sustainable development would place greater emphasis on productive restructuring the agricultural sector, road transport and electric power generation, in designing actions of technological change and sustainable natural resource management. An exhaustive hybrid environmental social accounting matrix (ESAM) and linear multipliers models are used to analyse the interactions of the local economy with the use of resources, the environment and income distributio