Arsenic and associated trace-elements in groundwater from the Chaco-Pampean plain, Argentina: results from 100 years of research
Article
Article Title | Arsenic and associated trace-elements in groundwater from the Chaco-Pampean plain, Argentina: results from 100 years of research |
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ERA Journal ID | 3551 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Nicolli, Hugo B. (Author), Bundschuh, Jochen (Author), Blanco, Maria del C. (Author), Tujchneider, Ofelia C. (Author), Panarello, Hector O. (Author), Dapena, Cristina (Author) and Rusansky, Jorge E. (Author) |
Journal Title | Science of the Total Environment |
Journal Citation | 429, pp. 36-56 |
Number of Pages | 21 |
Year | 2012 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Place of Publication | Netherlands |
ISSN | 0048-9697 |
1879-1026 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.04.048 |
Web Address (URL) | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969712005803 |
Abstract | The Chaco-Pampean plain, Argentina, is a vast geographical unit (1,000,000 km2) affected by high arsenic (As) concentrations in universal oxidizing groundwater. The socio-economic development of the region is restricted by water availability and its low quality caused by high salinity and hardness. In addition, high As and associated trace-elements (F, U, V, B, Se, Sb, Mo) concentrations of geogenic origin turn waters unsuitable for human consumption. Shallow groundwater with high As and F concentrations (ranges: < 10–5300 μg As/L; 51–7,340 μg F/L) exceeding the WHO guideline values (As: 10 μg/L; F: 1,500 μg/L) introduces a potential risk of hydroarsenicism disease in the entire region and fluorosis in some areas. The rural population is affected (2–8 million inhabitants). Calcareous loess-type sediments and/or intercalated volcanic ash layers in pedosedimentary sequences hosting the aquifers are the sources of contaminant trace-elements. Large intra and interbasin variabilities of trace-element concentrations, especially between shallow and deep aquifers have been observed. All areas of the Chaco-Pampean plain were affected in different grades: the Chaco-Salteña plain (in the NNE of the region) and the northern La Pampa plain (in the center-south) have been shown the highest concentrations. The ranges of As and F contents in loess-sediments are 6–25 and 534–3340 mg/kg, respectively in the Salí River basin. Three key processes render high As concentrations in shallow aquifers: i) volcanic glass dissolution and/or hydrolysis and leaching of silicates minerals hosted in loess; ii) desorption processes from the surface of Al-, Fe- and Mn-oxi-hydroxides (coating lithic fragments) at high pH and mobilization as complex oxyanions (As and trace elements)in Na-bicarbonate type groundwaters; and iii) evaporative concentration in areas with semiarid and arid climates. Local factors play also an important role in the control of high As concentrations, highly influenced by lithology–mineralogy, soils-geomorphology, actual climate and paleoclimates, hydraulic parameters, and residence time of groundwaters. |
Keywords | hydrogeochemistry; trace-element sources and mobility; arsenic; fluoride; Chaco-Pampean aquifers; endemic hydroarsenicism and fluorosis |
Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 370799. Hydrology not elsewhere classified |
401902. Geomechanics and resources geotechnical engineering | |
400513. Water resources engineering | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Argentina |
National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture | |
KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden | |
National University of the South, Argentina | |
National University of the Littoral, Argentina | |
Institute of Geochronology and Isotope Geology, Argentina | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q16w5/arsenic-and-associated-trace-elements-in-groundwater-from-the-chaco-pampean-plain-argentina-results-from-100-years-of-research
2010
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