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Inorganic constituents of well water in one acid and one alkaline area of south Sweden

Rosborg, Ingegerd LU ; Nihlgård, Bengt LU and Gerhardsson, Lars LU (2003) In Water, Air and Soil Pollution 142(1-4). p.261-277
Abstract
Acid precipitation may lead to loss of essential elements and increase the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in drinking water. In this study 46 private wells from acid regions (pH < 6.5) were compared with 43 private wells from alkaline areas in southern Sweden. The concentrations of about 30 elements were analysed especially by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The concentrations of essential elements such as calcium, chromium, selenium and potassium were significantly lower in acid than in alkaline well water. On the other hand, the levels of potentially toxic metals such as cadmium and lead were significantly higher in acid well water. High copper concentrations, observed at pH around 6... (More)
Acid precipitation may lead to loss of essential elements and increase the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in drinking water. In this study 46 private wells from acid regions (pH < 6.5) were compared with 43 private wells from alkaline areas in southern Sweden. The concentrations of about 30 elements were analysed especially by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The concentrations of essential elements such as calcium, chromium, selenium and potassium were significantly lower in acid than in alkaline well water. On the other hand, the levels of potentially toxic metals such as cadmium and lead were significantly higher in acid well water. High copper concentrations, observed at pH around 6 in contrast to earlier findings, is to be considered as an acidification problem, as should the high fluoride values. The highest concentrations of a number of metals and ions, for example calcium, chromium, titanium and sulphate, appeared at pH 7.0-8.0, where the peak in concentrations occur due to leaching of metals from soil particles in acid soils and precipitation of carbonates and sulphates in more alkaline soils. The low levels of especially calcium and magnesium ions, and some micronutrients in the acid water, in combination with high concentrations of acid ions and toxic microelements, may cause nutritional imbalances. This should be regarded as risk factors with relation to effects on human health. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Water, Air and Soil Pollution
volume
142
issue
1-4
pages
261 - 277
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000181303900016
  • scopus:0037277424
ISSN
1573-2932
DOI
10.1023/A:1022078925064
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6f1ba6fa-be54-40e6-806e-70e883e0579d (old id 137689)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:38:24
date last changed
2022-01-27 07:50:27
@article{6f1ba6fa-be54-40e6-806e-70e883e0579d,
  abstract     = {{Acid precipitation may lead to loss of essential elements and increase the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in drinking water. In this study 46 private wells from acid regions (pH &lt; 6.5) were compared with 43 private wells from alkaline areas in southern Sweden. The concentrations of about 30 elements were analysed especially by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The concentrations of essential elements such as calcium, chromium, selenium and potassium were significantly lower in acid than in alkaline well water. On the other hand, the levels of potentially toxic metals such as cadmium and lead were significantly higher in acid well water. High copper concentrations, observed at pH around 6 in contrast to earlier findings, is to be considered as an acidification problem, as should the high fluoride values. The highest concentrations of a number of metals and ions, for example calcium, chromium, titanium and sulphate, appeared at pH 7.0-8.0, where the peak in concentrations occur due to leaching of metals from soil particles in acid soils and precipitation of carbonates and sulphates in more alkaline soils. The low levels of especially calcium and magnesium ions, and some micronutrients in the acid water, in combination with high concentrations of acid ions and toxic microelements, may cause nutritional imbalances. This should be regarded as risk factors with relation to effects on human health.}},
  author       = {{Rosborg, Ingegerd and Nihlgård, Bengt and Gerhardsson, Lars}},
  issn         = {{1573-2932}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1-4}},
  pages        = {{261--277}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Water, Air and Soil Pollution}},
  title        = {{Inorganic constituents of well water in one acid and one alkaline area of south Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1022078925064}},
  doi          = {{10.1023/A:1022078925064}},
  volume       = {{142}},
  year         = {{2003}},
}