Contamination of water resources by heavy metals causes health problems for humans. This study attempts to investigate the heavy metal contamination levels, health risks and sources of appraisal of groundwater and surface water in the mountain-bounded catchment and low-grade basement rock-dominated area of ​​the Irob, Tigray. Eighteen grab water samples (13 borehole water, 2 spring water and 3 surface water) were collected and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and heavy metals using standard procedures. The findings were contrasted with those of the standards set by the World Health Organization and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Integrated techniques, including indexed and statistical methods, were used to determine the contamination levels of metals, risks to human health and sources. The result shows that the pH value, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids fluctuated between 7.4 and 7.9, 516 and 2410 µs/cm and 396.7 mg/l and 1719 mg/l, respectively. The findings indicate that 94.4% of the water samples had levels of contamination above the critical limit for all three indices: the heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), the degree of contamination (cd) and the heavy metal pollution index. The hazard index of metals for adults and children was greater than 1. 88.9% of the water samples showed a cancer risk value above the recommended value (CR > 1 × 10^–4) for Cd and Cr for both adults and children. Multivariate statistical analyses indicate that weathering of bedrocks and partly anthropogenic influences are responsible for the metal contamination. The study concludes that some water samples sources are unfit for human consumption that can pose health risks over time. Therefore, it is recommended to treat contaminated water sources to protect and sustain public health.

重金属污染水资源会给人类带来健康问题。本研究试图调查提格雷州伊罗布山区山区流域和低品位基岩为主地区地下水和地表水的重金属污染水平、健康风险和评价来源。收集了 18 个取样水样（13 个钻孔水、2 个泉水和 3 个地表水），并使用标准程序分析了 pH 值、电导率、总溶解固体和重金属。研究结果与世界卫生组织和美国环境保护局制定的标准进行了对比。综合技术，包括索引和统计方法，用于确定金属的污染水平、对人类健康的风险和来源。结果表明，pH值、电导率和总溶解固体分别在7.4和7.9、516和2410 µs/cm、396.7 mg/l和1719 mg/l之间波动。结果表明，94.4%的水样的重金属评价指数（HEI）、污染程度（cd）和重金属污染指数这三个指标的污染程度均超过临界限值。金属对成人和儿童的危害指数均大于1。88.9%的水样中镉和铬的致癌风险值均高于成人和儿童推荐值（CR > 1 × 10 ^–4 ）。多元统计分析表明，基岩风化和部分人为影响是造成金属污染的原因。该研究的结论是，一些水样来源不适合人类饮用，随着时间的推移可能会带来健康风险。 因此，建议对受污染的水源进行处理，以保护和维持公众健康。