Geogenic arsenic and other trace elements in the shallow hydrogeologic system of Southern Poopo Basin, Bolivian Altiplano
Article
Article Title | Geogenic arsenic and other trace elements in the shallow hydrogeologic system of Southern Poopo Basin, Bolivian Altiplano |
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ERA Journal ID | 4682 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Ormachea Munoz, Mauricio (Author), Wern, Hannes (Author), Johnsson, Fredrick (Author), Bhattacharya, Prosun (Author), Sracek, Ondra (Author), Thunvik, Roger (Author), Quintanilla, Jorge (Author) and Bundschuh, Jochen (Author) |
Journal Title | Journal of Hazardous Materials |
Journal Citation | 262, pp. 924-940 |
Number of Pages | 17 |
Year | 2013 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Place of Publication | Netherlands |
ISSN | 0304-3894 |
1873-3336 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.06.078 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389413004949 |
Abstract | Environmental settings in the southern area of Lake Poopo in the Bolivian highlands, the Altiplano, have generated elevated amounts of arsenic (As) in the water. The area is characterised by a semiarid climate, slow hydrological flow and geologic formations of predominantly volcanic origin. The present study aimed at mapping the extent of the water contamination in the area and to investigate the geogenic sources and processes involved in the release of As to the groundwater. Ground- and surface-water samples were collected from 24 different sites, including drinking water wells and rivers, in the southern Poopo basin in two different field campaigns during the dry and rainy seasons. The results revealed variable levels of As in shallow drinking water wells and average concentration exceeding the WHO guidelines value. Arsenic concentrations range from below 5.2 μg/L (the detection level) to 207 μg/L and averages 72 μg/L. Additionally, high boron (B) concentrations (average 1902 μg/L), and high salinity are further serious concerns for deteriorating the groundwater quality and rendering it unsuitable for drinking. Groundwater is predominantly of the Na-Cl-HCO3 type or the Ca-Na-HCO3 type with neutral or slightly alkaline pH and oxidising character. While farmers are seriously concerned about the water scarcity, and on a few occasions about salinity, there are no concerns about As and B present at levels exceeding the WHO guidelines, and causing negative long term effects on human health. Sediment samples from two soil profiles and a river bed along with fourteen rock samples were also collected and analysed. Sequential extractions of the sediments together with the calculation of the mineral saturation indices indicate that iron oxides and hydroxides are the important secondary minerals phases which are important adsorbents for As. High pH values, and the competition of As with HCO3 and dissolved silica for the adsorption sites probably seems to be an important process for the mobilisation of As in the shallow groundwaters of the region. Continuous monitoring and expansion of monitoring systems are necessary prerequisites for better understanding of the pattern of As mobilisation in the Southern Poopo Basin. |
Keywords | adsorption; alluvial sediments; arsenic; Bolivian Altiplano; groundwater; volcanic rocks |
Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 370704. Surface water hydrology |
370510. Stratigraphy (incl. biostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy and basin analysis) | |
370799. Hydrology not elsewhere classified | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden |
Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic | |
Higher University of San Andreas, Bolivia | |
National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q217q/geogenic-arsenic-and-other-trace-elements-in-the-shallow-hydrogeologic-system-of-southern-poopo-basin-bolivian-altiplano
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