Geochemical and Multivariate Statistical Evaluation of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Nigde Municipality, South-Central Turkey: Implications for Arsenic Contamination and Human Health Risks Assessment
Küçük Resim Yok
Tarih
2021
Dergi Başlığı
Dergi ISSN
Cilt Başlığı
Yayıncı
Springer
Erişim Hakkı
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
Özet
This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of trace elements, their sources, and human health risks associated with arsenic contamination in groundwater of the Nigde Municipality, south-central Turkey. Fourteen groundwater samples were collected from groundwater supply sources fed by the Nigde water distribution system and were analysed for Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, and Ba concentrations. Multivariate statistical analyses were applied to decipher the source and interrelationships among trace elements in groundwater. The groundwater is mainly tapped from Quaternary alluvial and volcanic aquifers of the Nigde Massif. The pH of groundwater is slightly acidic to neutral, which controls the solubility and mobility of the trace elements. The mean concentrations of the trace elements vary in the order Zn > Fe > Ba > As > Cr > Ni > Se > Cu > Co > Mn > Al. All of the trace element concentrations comply with the maximum permissible values provided by the Turkish Standards Institution and the World Health Organization, except Zn, Cr, and As. However, approximately 7.14% of the studied samples are contaminated with Zn and Cr, whereas 86% are contaminated with As. The As concentrations range from 9.47 to 32.9 mu g/L with an average value of 16.8 mu g/L. Contamination assessment indicates that the As contamination is dominant in the southern and southwestern parts of the area. The primary source of As in groundwater is attributed to geogenic processes involving weathering and dissolution of bed rocks and other factors, such as pH conditions, adsorption, and surface complexation. Three bimetallic complex associations are distinguished in groundwater: Fe-coordination group, As-coordination group and Ba-coordination group, all showing strong positive correlation with Cu and Ni. The As-coordination group is the most dominant in groundwater, which resulted in the high As content of groundwater. Multivariate statistical analyses indicate that As mobilization in groundwater is associated with pH, EC, Ni, Cu, and Ba depending on the redox conditions of the aquifer, controlled mainly by geogenic processes. The carcinogenic risk of arsenic affecting children and adults reaches 2 x 10(-4)and 3 x 10(-4), respectively, exceeding the guideline value of 1 x 10(-4). The estimated hazard quotient for children is in the range of 1.79-6.21, whereas that of adults is 0.77-2.66, indicating that children in the municipality are more exposed to the noncarcinogenic effects of the consumption of high groundwater arsenic.
Açıklama
Anahtar Kelimeler
Central Anatolia, Heavy-Metals, Water-Resources, Eastern Desert, Area, Province, Systems, Quality, Surface, Basin
Kaynak
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
WoS Q Değeri
Q3
Scopus Q Değeri
Q1
Cilt
80
Sayı
1
