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1.
This investigation aims to evaluate the concentration of dissolved radon in drinking water and to assess the associated radiation doses for infants, children and adults in Bhiwani district of Haryana The radon concentrations were measured in 82 drinking water samples collected from 32 villages/towns in the Bhiwani district. The measurements were performed by RAD7, an electronic radon detector manufactured by Durridge Company Inc. The mean radon concentration ranged between 1.3 ± 0.4 and 13.4 ± 2.2 Bq l-1. The mean radon concentrations from two locations exceeded the maximum contamination level (MCL) of 11 Bq l-1 recommended by United States Environmental Protection Agency. The total annual effective doses due to ingestion and inhalation of radon in drinking water varied from 10.1 to 104.4 μSv y-1 for infants, 5.8 to 59.6 μSv y-1 for children and 6.6 to 67.7 μSv y-1 for adults and the average values were found to be 46.3, 26.5 and 30.1 μSv y-1, respectively.  相似文献   

2.
This study was carried out to assess the distribution of uranium in groundwater by using LED fluorimeter LF-2a and chemical and radiological risks associated with its consumption in Sirsa district, Haryana, India. Uranium concentration ranged between 0.93 and 290μg l-1 with an average value of 49 μg l-1. About 44% of the groundwater samples had uranium concentration above the maximum contamination level of 30 μg l-1 prescribed by the World Health Organization and United States Environmental Protection Agency and 22% of the samples exceeded the permissible limit of 60 μgl-1 prescribed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, India. The average cancer morbidity and mortality risks are determined to be 1.10 × 10-4 and 7.17 × 10-5 respectively, indicating the negligible carcinogenic risk. Hazard quotient for 44% samples is greater than unity which indicates health risk due to chemical toxicity of uranium in groundwater. The associated age-dependent annual effective dose is estimated by taking the prescribed water intake values of different age groups.  相似文献   

3.
This paper presents the results of radon concentration measurements in the drinking water from the municipal water supply system and private wells of Xian, Xianyang and Baoji city of Shaanxi province of China. The measurements were carried out on 38 samples. Radon levels in drinking water in Xian, Xianyang and Baoji were found to be 5.78, 13.04 and 15.01 k Bq m–3, respectively. The AM radon concentration of private well water from Xianyang and Baoji is 28.84 k Bq m–3 and 38.85 k Bq m–3, respectively, which is 2.56 times and 3.14 times as high as that of tap water radon, respectively. The radiation risk of radon in water would be due to degassing and not due to drinking water. The domestic use of showers, humidifiers, and cooking, washing up, laundering, etc. may lead to an additional increase of the radon concentration in the indoor air. The observed radon concentration in drinking water from three main cities of Shaanxi Province can contribute to a 4.86 to 32.63% increase in indoor radon concentration and can cause 0.068±0.016 mSv y–1 to 0.177±0.045 mSv y–1 extra annual effective dose to males, 0.060±0.014 mSv y–1 to 0.155±0.039 mSv y–1 to females. The mean annual effective dose equivalents to males and females of Xianyang and Baoji from well water account for 25.94 to 39.75% of environmental radon and radon daughters annual effective dose equivalents. The radon concentrations in the well water from Xianyang and Baoji will bring a definite additional risk to the population.  相似文献   

4.
The chemical quality of groundwater of western Haryana, India was assessed for its suitability for drinking purposes. A total of 275 water samples were collected from deep aquifer based hand-pumps situated in 37 different villages/towns of Bhiwani region. The water samples were analyzed for different physico-chemical properties, e.g., pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total harness (TH), total alkalinity (TA), calcium, magnesium, carbonate, bicarbonate, sulphate, chloride and fluoride concentrations. In this study, the average TDS content was greater ranging 1,692 (Bhiwani block) to 2,560 mg l−1 (Siwani block), and other important parameters of water, e.g., TA (442–1,232 mg l−1), TH (437–864 mg l−1) and bicarbonate (554–672 mg l−1), were also higher than maximum permissible limit by WHO or BIS. The fluoride appeared as a major problem of safe drinking water in this region. We recorded greater fluoride concentration, i.e., 86.0 mg l−1 from Motipura village that is highest fluoride level ever recorded for Haryana state. The average fluoride concentration ranged between 7.1 and 0.8 mg l−1 in different blocks of western Haryana. On the basis of fluoride concentration, Siwani block showed the maximum number of water samples (84% of total collected samples) unsuitable for drinking purposes (containing fluoride >1.5 mg l−1) followed by Charki Dadri block (58%), Bhiwani block (52%), Bawani Khera block (33%) and Loharu block (14%). This study clearly suggest that some health deteriorating chemicals in drinking water were at dangerous level and; therefore, water quality could be a major health threat for local residents of western Haryana. The high fluoride level in drinking water has posed some serious dental health risks in local residents.  相似文献   

5.
Groundwater constitutes the major source of utility water in Ekiti State with the majority of the population depending on groundwater for drinking and other household uses. Soil in the area is commonly used as a component of building materials, which may produce radon in the indoor environment. Excessive concentrations of radon in water and soil can cause radiological health risks to human as witnessed by the increased cases of lung cancer among non-smokers in Nigeria, which may be traceable to the ingestion and inhalation 222Rn in drinking water and indoor air. In the present study, comparative in situ measurements of radon in groundwater and soil gas were carried out at one hundred selected locations across the Ekiti State in southwest Nigeria, using a RAD7 radon detector to generate a radon distribution map and to estimate radiation hazards due to radon. The concentrations of radon in groundwater ranged from 0.9 to 472 Bq L?1 with a mean of 34.7?±?4.4 Bq L?1, while those of soil gas ranged from 0.1 to 315 kBq L?1 with a mean of 38.9?±?1.4 kBq L?1. The total annual effective dose due to inhalation and ingestion of radon in groundwater amounted to 94.7 µSv year?1, which is lower than the reference dose of 100 µSv year?1 recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The radon map generated for groundwater and soil gas identified three distinct areas with radon levels ranging from low to high. The results of this study show that some locations (Emure, Gbonyin, Ijero and Ikole) show mean total annual effective doses which are higher than the recommended limit. It can then be inferred that the groundwater samples pose significant radiological hazards to the population and that the noticed increase in lung cancer cases may be attributed to the consumption of groundwater in the area.  相似文献   

6.
A specific method for the determination of bromine and iodine species in drinking water was developed by using high performance liquid chromatography‐ICP‐MS. An ICS‐A23 ion chromatography column was chosen for the separation of species, with the mobile phase being 0.03 mol l?1 ammonium carbonate at a flow rate of 0.8 ml min?1. The detection limits for BrO3?, Br?, IO3? and I? were 0.032, 0.063, 0.008 and 0.012 μg l?1, respectively. Spectroscopic interferences were only observed in blank samples and mainly resulted from the argon‐potassium polyatomic ion (40Ar39K+). However, this interference was negligible because of the elution and complete separation from that of iodinate under optimised conditions. The method developed was successfully applied to twenty‐two samples of drinking water obtained from a supermarket. Results indicated that 36.4% of the samples had BrO3? concentrations exceeding the Chinese national limit for drinking water of 10 μg l?1.  相似文献   

7.
Concentrations of halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine) were determined in six geochemical reference materials (BHVO‐2, GS‐N, JG‐1, JR‐1, JB‐1b, JB‐2). Halogens were first extracted from powdered samples using a pyrohydrolysis technique, then hydrolysis solutions were analysed by ion chromatography for F and Cl and inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry for Br and I. The detection limits in solutions were 100 μg l?1 for both F and Cl and 10 ng l?1 for Br and I. Considering the extraction procedure, performed on a maximum of 500 mg of sample and producing 100 ml of pyrohydrolysis solution, detection limits in rock samples were 20 mg kg?1 for F and Cl and 2 μg kg?1 for Br and I. The mean analytical errors on the studied composition ranges were estimated at 10 mg kg?1 for F and Cl, 100 μg kg?1 for Br and 25 μg kg?1 for I. The concentration values, based on repeated (generally > 10) sample analysis, were in good agreement generally with published values and narrowed the mean dispersion around mean values. Large dispersions are discussed in terms of samples heterogeneity and contaminations during sample preparation. Basaltic RMs were found to be more suitable for studies of halogen compositions than differentiated rock material, especially granites – the powders of which were heterogeneous in halogens at the 500 mg level.  相似文献   

8.
The occurrence of uranium in groundwater is of particular interest due to its toxicological and radiological properties. It has been considered as a relevant contaminant for drinking water even at a low concentration. Uranium is a ubiquitously occurring radionuclide in the environment. Four hundred and fifty-six (456) groundwater samples from different locations of five districts of South Bihar (SB) were collected and concentrations of uranium (U) were analyzed using a light-emitting diode (LED) fluorimetric technique. Uranium concentrations in groundwater samples varied from 0.1 µg l?1 to 238.2 µg l?1 with an average value of 12.3 µg l?1 in five districts of Bihar in the mid-eastern Gangetic plain. This study used hot spot spatial statistics to identify the distribution of elevated uranium concentration in groundwater. The hypothesis whether spatial distribution of high value and low value of U is more likely spatially clustered due to random process near a uranium hotspot in groundwater was tested based on z score and Getis-Ord Gi* statistics. The method implemented in this study, can be utilized in the field of risk assessment and decision making to locate potential areas of contamination.  相似文献   

9.
《Applied Geochemistry》2002,17(3):259-284
Groundwaters from Quaternary loess aquifers in northern La Pampa Province of central Argentina have significant quality problems due to high concentrations of potentially harmful elements such as As, F, NO3-N, B, Mo, Se and U and high salinity. The extent of the problems is not well-defined, but is believed to cover large parts of the Argentine Chaco-Pampean Plain, over an area of perhaps 106 km2. Groundwaters from La Pampa have a very large range of chemical compositions and spatial variability is considerable over distances of a few km. Dissolved As spans over 4 orders of magnitude (<4–5300 μg l−1) and concentrations of F have a range of 0.03–29 mg l−1, B of 0.5–14 mg l−l, V of 0.02–5.4 mg l−1, NO3–N of <0.2–140 mg l−1, Mo of 2.7–990 μg l−1 and U of 6.2–250 μg l−1. Of the groundwaters investigated, 95% exceed 10 μg As l−1 (the WHO guideline value) and 73% exceed 50 μg As l−1 (the Argentine national standard). In addition, 83% exceed the WHO guideline value for F (1.5 mg l−1), 99% for B (0.5 mg l−1), 47% for NO3-N (11.3 mg l−1), 39% for Mo (70 μg l−1), 32% for Se (10 μg l−1) and 100% for U (2 μg l−1). Total dissolved solids range between 730 and 11400 mg l−1, the high values resulting mainly from evaporation under ambient semi-arid climatic conditions. The groundwaters are universally oxidising with high dissolved-O2 concentrations. Groundwater pHs are neutral to alkaline (7.0–8.7). Arsenic is present in solution predominantly as As(V). Groundwater As correlates positively with pH, alkalinity (HCO3), F and V. Weaker correlations are also observed with B, Mo, U and Be. Desorption of these elements from metal oxides, especially Fe and Mn oxides under the high-pH conditions is considered an important control on their mobilisation. Mutual competition between these elements for sorption sites on oxide minerals may also have enhanced their mobility. Weathering of primary silicate minerals and accessory minerals such as apatite in the loess and incorporated volcanic ash may also have contributed a proportion of the dissolved As and other trace elements. Concentrations of As and other anions and oxyanions appear to be particularly high in groundwaters close to low-lying depressions which act as localised groundwater-discharge zones. Concentrations up to 7500 μg l−1 were found in saturated-zone porewaters extracted from a cored borehole adjacent to one such depression. Concentrations are also relatively high where groundwater is abstracted from close to the water table, presumably because this zone is a location of more active weathering reactions. The development of groundwaters with high pH and alkalinity results from silicate and carbonate reactions, facilitated by the arid climatic conditions. These factors, together with the young age of the loess sediments and slow groundwater flow have enabled the accumulation of the high concentrations of As and other elements in solution without significant opportunity for flushing of the aquifer to enable their removal.  相似文献   

10.
A study of natural radionuclides and radon concentration of Hamirpur District of Himachal Pradesh, India is carried out using various methodologies. The activity concentration of the natural radionuclides viz. 226Ra, 232Th and 40K is measured using high-resolution-based HPGe detector. Indoor radon measurements in the dwellings of Hamirpur district is carried out using LR-115 type II cellulose nitrate films in the bare mode. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are 35.58, 54.95 and 580.58 Bq kg?1, respectively. The annual average indoor radon value in the study area varies from 173.90 to 198.25 Bq m?3, which is well within the recommended action level given by International Commission on Radiological Protection. The indoor radon values obtained in the present investigation are higher than the world average of 40 Bq m?3. Radon concentration in water samples is measured using RAD7, an active radon detector. The annual effective dose for stomach and lung is determined from the measured value of radon concentration in water. To assess the radiation hazard of the natural radioactivity in all samples to the people, the radium equivalent activity, external hazard index, lifetime fatality risk, absorbed dose rate and total annual effective dose is estimated. The results signify that the studied area does not possess any radiation hazards due to the presence of natural radioactivity concentration.  相似文献   

11.
The adsorption of fluoride ions on ground fired clay pot has been investigated. The maximum efficiency of the adsorbent for defluoridating 1–2 litres of water was found to be 200 mg fluoride kg−1 adsorbent. The investigation showed that 5–20 mg l−1 fluoride, from 1 litre of water, could be reduced to less than 1.5 mg l−1 using 120–240 g of the adsorbing medium. The effects of the dose of the medium, the pH, the contact time and the initial fluoride content were studied in relation to defluoridation efficiency. Comparison of fluoride removal capacity of the adsorbent was also made with those of fired brick, clay soil and red ash. The latter exhibited practically no adsorption. A packed column of the same ground clay pot was saturated with 285 mg fluoride kg−1 of adsorbent when 20 litres of water containing 10 mg l−1 F was allowed to pass through it. This column defluoridated 6 litres of tap water containing 10 ppm F− to below 1.5 mg l−1.  相似文献   

12.
Iron-hydroxide-rich and plant litter-containing sediments from natural sites contaminated with uranium mine tailing leachates were examined for their ability to adsorb arsenic. The samples with high contents of iron hydroxides (Fetotal concentration, >300 g kg−1) exhibited remarkable fixation of arsenic (up to 40 g As kg−1). This value corresponded approximately to the supersaturation point for natural iron hydroxides under the present conditions, and it was significantly lower than the value found for synthetic iron hydroxides. There was a strong correlation (R=0.8999) between the concentration of iron and that of arsenic at low arsenic contents, indicating adsorption on strong binding sites. Although all the samples had noticeable contents of organic carbon (plant litter), calcium, and manganese, no obvious effect of these elements on arsenic fixation could be detected. The amount of iron hydroxides was found the only fixation-controlling parameter immediately below a leaching water source.  相似文献   

13.
The natural radioactivity levels and magnetic measurements in sediment samples of Bharathapuzha river for the first time have been determined. Bottom sediments from 33 locations were collected to determine 226Ra, 232Th and 40K using a HPGe detector based on the high-resolution gamma spectrometry system, and magnetic susceptibility by using Bartington MS2 magnetic susceptibility meter. The calculated activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K have been found to vary from 21.21 to 66.03 Bq kg?1, 33.49 to 93.10 Bq kg?1 and 232.25 to 899.66 Bq kg?1, respectively. The results have been compared with worldwide recommended values and also with radioactivity measurements in river sediments of India and other parts of the world. The air-absorbed dose rate, indoor and outdoor annual effective dose rates and radium equivalent activity are calculated with an aim to access the radiation hazards arising due to the use of these materials in the construction of buildings and their mean values obtained are 74.83 nGy h?1, 367.08 μSv y?1, 91.77 μSv y?1 and 157.09 Bq kg?1, respectively. The mass-specific magnetic susceptibility values ranged widely from 35.4 to 2,160.5 × 10?8 m3 kg?1 and compared with other rivers in South India. Multivariate statistical analyses were performed to describe the magnetic and radioactivity relevance of the different groups of samples. The data obtained in the present study may be useful for radiological and magnetic mapping of the study area in the future.  相似文献   

14.
The activity concentrations and the gamma-absorbed dose rates of the primordial naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were determined for sand samples collected from the Baoji Weihe Sands Park, China, using γ-ray spectrometry. The natural radioactivity concentration of sand ranges from 10.2 to 38.3 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 27.0 to 48.8 Bq kg−1 for 232Th and 635.8 to 1,126.7 Bq kg−1 for 40K with mean values of 22.1, 39.0 and 859.1 Bq kg−1, respectively. The concentrations of these radionuclides are compared with the typical world values and the average activity of Chinese soil. The measured activity concentration of 226Ra and 232Th in sand is lower than the world average while that of 40K is higher. . To evaluate the radiological hazard of the natural radioactivity, the radium equivalent activity, the external hazard index, the absorbed dose rate, and the effective dose rate have been calculated and compared with internationally approved values. The radium equivalent activity values of all sand samples are lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg−1. The values of the external hazard index are less than unity. The mean outdoor air absorbed dose rate is 69.6 nGy h−1 and the corresponding outdoor effective dose rate is 0.085 mSv y−1.  相似文献   

15.
A large environmental restoration project designed to improve the hydrological conditions of the Florida Everglades and increase freshwater flow to Florida Bay is underway. Here we explore how changing freshwater inflow to the southern Everglades is likely to change the input of nutrients to Florida Bay. We calculated annual inputs of water, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) to Everglades National Park (ENP) since the early 1980s. We also examined changes in these nutrient concentrations along transects through the wetland to Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. We found that the interannual variability of the water discharge into ENP greatly exceeded the interannual variability of flow-weighted mean nutrient concentrations in this water. Nutrient inputs to ENP were largely determined by discharge volume. These inputs were high in TN and low in TP; for two ENP watersheds TN averaged 1.5 mg l?1 (0.11 mM) and 0.9 mg l?1 (0.06 mM) and TP averaged 15 μg l?1 (0.47 μM) and 9 μg l?1 (0.28 μM). Both TP and DIN that flowed into ENP wetlands were rapidly removed from the water. Over a 3-km section of Taylor Slough, TP decreased from a flow-weighted mean of 11.6 μg l?1 (0.37 μM) (0.20 μM) and DIN decreased from 240 μg l?1 (17μM) to 36 μ l?1 (2.6 μM). In contrast, TN, which was generally 95% organic N, changed little as it passed through the wetland. This resulted in molar TN:TP ratios exceeding 400 in the wetland. Decreases in TN concentrations only occurred in areas with relatively high P availability, such as the wetlands to the north of ENP and in the mangrove streams of western ENP. Increasing freshwater flow to Florida Bay in an effort to restore the Everglades and Florida Bay ecosystems is thus not likely to increase P inputs from the freshwater Everglades but is likely to increase TN inputs. Based on a nutrient budget of Florida Bay, both N and P inputs from the Gulf of Mexico greatly exceed inputs from the Everglades, as well as inputs from the atmosphere and the Florida Keys. We estimate that the freshwater Everglades contribute <3% of all P inputs and <12% of all N inputs to the bay. Evaluating the effect of ecosystem restoration efforts on Florida Bay requires greater understanding of the interactions of the bay with the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent mangrove ecosystems.  相似文献   

16.
The occurrence and distribution of polycyclic musks in the Lippe River system (a tributary of the Rhine River, Germany) was investigated in order to observe the dynamic transport and partitioning of these compounds between aqueous and particulate phases after their discharge into the river by sewage effluents. 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[g]-2-benzopyrane (HHCB), 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (AHTN), 6-acetyl-1,1,2,3,3,5-hexamethylindane (AHMI) and 4-acetyl-1,1-dimethyl-6-tert.-butylindane (ADBI) concentrations were determined in 19 water and surface sediment samples which were taken from a longitudinal section of the river. HHCB and AHTN were present in each of the water samples at concentrations ranging from <10 to 180 ng l−1 and <10 to 70 ng l−1, respectively. The load of dissolved HHCB and AHTN was calculated on the basis of compound concentrations in water and the corresponding river runoff data and ranged from 3 to 293 g day−1 and from 1 to 108 g day−1, respectively. Increasing loads of HHCB and AHTN along the river reflect a high input of sewage effluents to the densely populated areas along the central part of the river. Decreasing loads at the lower reaches indicate that in the corresponding river sections the rate of removal of musks was higher than the rate of input. Degradation and/or adsorption to particulate matter are processes that might explain this phenomenon. Consequently, high concentrations of HHCB and AHTN were detected in surface sediments from the Lippe River (from 5 to 191 μg kg−1 and from 2 to 1399 μg kg−1, respectively). HHCB/AHTN ratios in sediment samples were lower (average 1.2) than in water samples (average 2.9), suggesting the preferential adsorption of AHTN to particulate matter.  相似文献   

17.
Hydrogeochemical evaluation of groundwater in the lower Offin basin,Ghana   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  
Alumino-silicate mineral dissolution, cation exchange, reductive dissolution of hematite and goethite, oxidation of pyrite and arsenopyrite are processes that influence groundwater quality in the Offin Basin. The main aim of this study was to characterise groundwater and delineate relevant water–rock interactions that control the evolution of water quality in Offin Basin, a major gold mining area in Ghana. Boreholes, dug wells, springs and mine drainage samples were analysed for major ions, minor and trace elements. Major ion study results show that the groundwater is, principally, Ca–Mg–HCO3 or Na–Mg–Ca–HCO3 in character, mildly acidic and low in conductivity. Groundwater acidification is principally due to natural biogeochemical processes. Though acidic, the groundwater has positive acid neutralising potential provided by the dissolution of alumino-silicates and mafic rocks. Trace elements’ loading (except arsenic and iron) of groundwater is generally low. Reductive dissolution of iron minerals in the presence of organic matter is responsible for high-iron concentration in areas underlain by granitoids. Elsewhere pyrite and arsenopyrite oxidation is the plausible process for iron and arsenic mobilisation. Approximately 19 and 46% of the boreholes have arsenic and iron concentrations exceeding the WHO’s (Guidelines for drinking water quality. Final task group meeting. WHO Press, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2004) maximum acceptable limits of 10 μg l−1 and 0.3 mg l−1, for drinking water.  相似文献   

18.
Phosphorus (P) application in excess of plant requirement may result in contamination of drinking water and eutrophication of surface water bodies. The phosphorous buffer capacity (PBC) of soil is important in plant nutrition and is an important soil property in the determination of the P release potential of soils. Phosphorus sorption greatly affects both plant nutrition and environmental pollution. For better and accurate P fertilizer recommendations, it is necessary to quantify P sorption. This study was conducted to investigate available P and P sorption by calcareous soils in a semi-arid region of Hamadan, western Iran. The soil samples were mainly from cultivated land. Olsen’s biocarbonate extractable P (Olsen P) varied among soils and ranged from 10 to 80 mg kg−1 with a mean of 36 mg kg−1. Half of the soils had an Olsen P > 40 mg kg−1 and >70% of them had a concentration >20 mg kg−1, whereas the critical concentration for most crops is <15 mg P kg−1. Greater average Olsen P in soils occurred under garlic (56 mg kg−1) and potato (44 kg kg−1) fields than in dry-land wheat farming (24 mg kg−1), pasture (30 mg kg−1), and wheat (24 mg P kg−1) fields. A marked increase in fertilizer P rates applied to agricultural soils has caused P to be accumulated in the surface soil. Phosphate sorption curves were well fitted to the Freundlich equation. The standard P requirement (SPR) of soils, defined as the amount of P sorbed at an equilibrium concentration of 0.2 mg l−1 ranged from 4 to 102 mg kg−1. Phosphorus buffer capacity was relatively high and varied from 16 to 123 l kg−1 with an average of 58 l kg−1. In areas of intensive crop production, continual P applications as P fertilizer and farmyard manure have been used at levels exceeding crop requirements. Surface soil accumulations of P are high enough that loss of P in surface runoff and a high risk for P transfer into groundwater have become priority management concerns.  相似文献   

19.
《Applied Geochemistry》2002,17(5):517-568
The range of As concentrations found in natural waters is large, ranging from less than 0.5 μg l−1 to more than 5000 μg l−1. Typical concentrations in freshwater are less than 10 μg l−1 and frequently less than 1 μg l−1. Rarely, much higher concentrations are found, particularly in groundwater. In such areas, more than 10% of wells may be ‘affected’ (defined as those exceeding 50 μg l−1) and in the worst cases, this figure may exceed 90%. Well-known high-As groundwater areas have been found in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, China and Hungary, and more recently in West Bengal (India), Bangladesh and Vietnam. The scale of the problem in terms of population exposed to high As concentrations is greatest in the Bengal Basin with more than 40 million people drinking water containing ‘excessive’ As. These large-scale ‘natural’ As groundwater problem areas tend to be found in two types of environment: firstly, inland or closed basins in arid or semi-arid areas, and secondly, strongly reducing aquifers often derived from alluvium. Both environments tend to contain geologically young sediments and to be in flat, low-lying areas where groundwater flow is sluggish. Historically, these are poorly flushed aquifers and any As released from the sediments following burial has been able to accumulate in the groundwater. Arsenic-rich groundwaters are also found in geothermal areas and, on a more localised scale, in areas of mining activity and where oxidation of sulphide minerals has occurred. The As content of the aquifer materials in major problem aquifers does not appear to be exceptionally high, being normally in the range 1–20 mg kg−1. There appear to be two distinct ‘triggers’ that can lead to the release of As on a large scale. The first is the development of high pH (>8.5) conditions in semi-arid or arid environments usually as a result of the combined effects of mineral weathering and high evaporation rates. This pH change leads either to the desorption of adsorbed As (especially As(V) species) and a range of other anion-forming elements (V, B, F, Mo, Se and U) from mineral oxides, especially Fe oxides, or it prevents them from being adsorbed. The second trigger is the development of strongly reducing conditions at near-neutral pH values, leading to the desorption of As from mineral oxides and to the reductive dissolution of Fe and Mn oxides, also leading to As release. Iron (II) and As(III) are relatively abundant in these groundwaters and SO4 concentrations are small (typically 1 mg l−1 or less). Large concentrations of phosphate, bicarbonate, silicate and possibly organic matter can enhance the desorption of As because of competition for adsorption sites. A characteristic feature of high groundwater As areas is the large degree of spatial variability in As concentrations in the groundwaters. This means that it may be difficult, or impossible, to predict reliably the likely concentration of As in a particular well from the results of neighbouring wells and means that there is little alternative but to analyse each well. Arsenic-affected aquifers are restricted to certain environments and appear to be the exception rather than the rule. In most aquifers, the majority of wells are likely to be unaffected, even when, for example, they contain high concentrations of dissolved Fe.  相似文献   

20.
Dissolved uranium concentration and 234U/238U activity ratio have been measured in two distinctly different Indian drainage systems: the Yamuna headwaters in the Himalaya and the Chambal river system in the plains to study the weathering and mobility of uranium in these watersheds. The dissolved uranium in the Chambal river system ranges from 0.2 to 1.74 μg L−1 during September (tail end of monsoon), whereas in the Yamuna river system, its concentration varies from 0.1 to 3.18 μg L−1 during October (post-monsoon) and from 0.09 to 3.61 μg L−1 in June (summer). In the Yamuna main stream, uranium is highest at its source and decreases steadily along its course, from 3.18 μg L−1 at Hanuman Chatti to 0.67 μg L−1 at Batamandi, at the base of the Himalaya. This decrease results mainly from mixing of the Yamuna mainstream with its tributaries, which are lower in uranium. The high concentration of uranium at Hanuman Chatti is derived from weathering of the Higher Himalayan Crystalline series (HHC) and associated accessary minerals, which may include uranium-mineralised zones. The 234U/238U activity ratios in the samples from the Chambal watershed are in the range of 1.15±0.05 to 1.67±0.04; whereas in the Yamuna the ratios vary from 0.95±0.03 to 1.56±0.07, during post-monsoon and from 0.98±0.01 to 1.30±0.03, during summer. The relatively high 234U/238U activity ratios in the Yamuna system are in its tributaries from the lower reaches viz., the Amlawa, Aglar, Bata, Tons and the Giri. It is estimated that ~9×103 and ~12 × 103 kg of dissolved uranium are transported annually from the Yamuna at Batamandi and the Chambal at Udi, respectively. This corresponds to uranium weathering rates of 0.9 and 0.09 kg U km−2 y−1 in the basins of the Yamuna and the Chambal headwaters. This study confirms that uranium weathering rate in the Himalaya is far in excess (by about an order of magnitude) of the global average value of ~0.08 kg U km−2 y−1.  相似文献   

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