Health risk analysis of nitrite, nitrate, and heavy metal pollution in groundwater near landfill area: A case study of the Sumur Batu village in Bekasi, Indonesia

Previous studies state that improper landfill or waste management is one of the main causes of nitrite, nitrate, and heavy metal contamination in groundwater. In Bekasi, Indonesia, 70% of the population depends on groundwater for daily use, including the residents of Sumur Batu. The village of Sumur Batu is located adjacent to two landfills, namely, the Bantar Gebang landfill, which is the largest landfill in Indonesia, and the Sumur Batu landfill. This research analyzed the health risk of drinking groundwater that may have been contaminated by nitrite, nitrate, and heavy metals. Data processing was performed separately for different age groups: infants, children, and adults. The results showed that there is a risk of NO₂ exposure in all age groups when groundwater is used as a source of drinking water in Sumur Batu. Because the region is directly bordered by a landfill area and the community is highly dependent on groundwater, as long as access to water services is not guaranteed, the quality of groundwater in this area needs to be monitored.