Evaluation of groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking and agricultural use in Thanjavur city, Tamil Nadu, India

As groundwater is a vital source of water for domestic and agricultural activities in Thanjavur city due to lack of surface water resources, groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking and agricultural usage were evaluated. In this study, 102 groundwater samples were collected from dug wells and bore wells during March 2008 and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, major ions, and nitrate. Results suggest that, in 90% of groundwater samples, sodium and chloride are predominant cation and anion, respectively, and NaCl and CaMgCl are major water types in the study area. The groundwater quality in the study site is impaired by surface contamination sources, mineral dissolution, ion exchange, and evaporation. Nitrate, chloride, and sulfate concentrations strongly express the impact of surface contamination sources such as agricultural and domestic activities, on groundwater quality, and 13% of samples have elevated nitrate content (>45 mg/l as NO₃). PHREEQC code and Gibbs plots were employed to evaluate the contribution of mineral dissolution and suggest that mineral dissolution, especially carbonate minerals, regulates water chemistry. Groundwater suitability for drinking usage was evaluated by the World Health Organization and Indian standards and suggests that 34% of samples are not suitable for drinking. Integrated groundwater suitability map for drinking purposes was created using drinking water standards based on a concept that if the groundwater sample exceeds any one of the standards, it is not suitable for drinking. This map illustrates that wells in zones 1, 2, 3, and 4 are not fit for drinking purpose. Likewise, irrigational suitability of groundwater in the study region was evaluated, and results suggest that 20% samples are not fit for irrigation. Groundwater suitability map for irrigation was also produced based on salinity and sodium hazards and denotes that wells mostly situated in zones 2 and 3 are not suitable for irrigation. Both integrated suitability maps for drinking and irrigation usage provide overall scenario about the groundwater quality in the study area. Finally, the study concluded that groundwater quality is impaired by man-made activities, and proper management plan is necessary to protect valuable groundwater resources in Thanjavur city.     

Analysis of uranium and its correlation with some physico-chemical properties of drinking water samples from Amritsar, Punjab

Fission track technique has been used for uranium estimation in drinking water samples collected from some areas of Amritsar District, Punjab, India. The uranium concentration in water samples is found to vary from 3.19 to 45.59 microg l(-1). Some of the physico-chemical properties such as pH, conductance and hardness and the content of calcium, magnesium, total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium, potassium, chloride, nitrate and heavy metals viz. zinc, cadmium, lead and copper have been determined in water samples. An attempt has been made to correlate uranium concentration with these water quality parameters. A positive correlation of conductance, nitrate, chloride, sodium, potassium, magnesium, TDS, calcium and hardness with uranium concentration has been observed. However, no correlation has been observed between the concentration of uranium and the heavy metals analysed.     

苯酚-次氯酸钠光度法测定水中微量苯胺

在亚硝基铁氰化钾存在下 ,苯胺在磷酸盐介质 ( p H=1 1 .4 )中与次氯酸钠、苯酚反应形成靛酚。苯胺在 0 .0 6～6 .4 0 mg/ L内服从比耳定律 ,用于环境水中微量苯胺的测定 ,结果与标准方法吻合。     

226Ra in Tap and Mineral Water and Related Health Risk in the Republic of Croatia

The presence of 226Ra in drinking water may sometimes make important contribution to natural background radiation exposures. The paper describes the study of 226Ra content in drinking water of Croatia: tap water from the public supply system of several major towns and bottled mineral water from two selected mineral water springs. 226Ra was determined by alpha-spectrometric measurement after radiochemical separation. The radiation doses originating from drinking tap water and bottled mineral water were estimated. The annual dose from consumption of bottled mineral water was compared to that received from ingestion of public system tap water. The study showed that 226Ra content for investigated categories of waters is below the levels at which any unacceptable dose due to ingestion would arise.     

过硫酸钠同时消解养殖尾水中总氮和总磷的探索

大部分池塘养殖尾水中总氮、总磷质量浓度偏高,测定过程中需要对样品进行稀释,耗时较长且影响准确度。实验室分析时,通常采用过硫酸钾对尾水样品进行消解,其配置过程对温度要求较高,易析出晶体,且耗时较长。而过硫酸钠易溶于水,受温度影响较小,易配制。因此,分别采用上述2种过硫酸盐消解液对样品进行消解并同时测定总氮、总磷的质量浓度,比较2种消解方式对校准曲线、加标回收率、养殖尾水实际样品测定的影响。结果表明,等质量或等物质的量的过硫酸钠消解液均能满足总氮、总磷的消解要求,且后者消解样品无须改变氢氧化钠的加入量和调整pH值,即可达到同等消解效果。因此,可采用等物质的量的过硫酸钠代替过硫酸钾同时消解养殖尾水中的总氮、总磷。     

中国北方干旱地区沙尘矿物特征研究

为了开展对我国沙暴传输规律的研究,了解我国北方干旱地区沙尘矿物特征有重要意义。本文对我国新疆塔克拉玛干沙漠区,内蒙腾格里沙漠区,贺兰山及银川等处的沙尘样品用X射线粉末衍射法进行矿物分析鉴定,并用原子吸收法作了特征元素的分析对比,根据矿物的X射线粉末衍射结果,结合元素分析,对沙漠源区及其以东地区沙尘矿物特征作了比较,判析了两个源区的矿物组成,讨论了它们的传输过程。     

宁波市镇海区大气降尘矿物组成及来源解析

为探讨宁波市镇海区大气降尘矿物组成及来源，用X射线衍射法分析了镇海区6个土地功能区2019年12月至2020年11月4个季度的大气降尘样品的矿物组成和含量，并开展了矿物来源解析。结果显示，降尘中以石英、长石、碳酸盐类矿物和黏土矿物为主，年均质量分数分别为29.2%、33.3%、24.2%和7.7%,且不同功能区各季度降尘中矿物含量普遍有显著差异。来源解析表明，镇海区降尘中矿物来源主要以地面扬尘输入为主，同时周边源区输入及人类活动和工业密集区燃煤等输入对降尘矿物组成有较显著影响，除黏土矿物、碳酸盐类矿物和长石类矿物之外，其他矿物的含量还与不同季节的气温和风向有关。     

Metal binding in soil cores and sediments in the vicinity of a dammed agricultural and industrial watershed

The environment is witnessing a downgrade caused by the amelioration of the industrial and agricultural sectors, namely, soil and sediment compartments. For those reasons, a comparative study was done between soil cores and sediments taken from two locations in the Qaraaoun reservoir, Lebanon. The soil cores were partitioned into several layers. Each layer was analyzed for several physicochemical parameters, such as functional groups, particle size distribution, ζ-potential, texture, pH, electric conductivity, total dissolved solids, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, active and total calcareous, available sodium and potassium, and metal content (cadmium, copper, and lead). The metal content of each site was linked to soil composition and characteristics. The two sites showed distinguishable characteristics for features such as organic matter, pH, mineral fraction, calcareous, and metal content. The samples taken toward the south site (Q1), though contain lower organic matter than the other but are more calcareous, showed higher metal content in comparison to the other site (Q2) (average metal content of Q1 > Q2; for Cd 3.8?>?1.8 mg/kg, Cu 28.6?>?21.9 mg/kg, Pb 26.7?>?19 mg/kg). However, the metal content in this study did not correlate as much to the organic matter; rather, it was influenced by the location of the samples with respect to the dam, the reservoir’s hydrodynamics, the calcareous nature of the soil, and the variation of the industrial and agricultural influence on each site.     

Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dibenzothiophenes in wetland sediments and aquatic insects in the oil sands area of Northeastern Alberta, Canada

An immense volume of tailings and tailings water is accumulating in tailings ponds located on mine leases in the oil sands area of Alberta, Canada. Oil sands mining companies have proposed to use tailings- and tailings water-amended lakes and wetlands as part of their mine remediation plans. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are substances of concern in oil sands tailings and tailings water. In this study, we determined concentrations of PAHs in sediments, insect larvae and adult insects collected in or adjacent to three groups of wetlands: experimental wetlands to which tailings or tailings water had been purposely added, oil sands wetlands that were located on the mine leases but which had not been experimentally manipulated and reference wetlands located near the mine leases. Alkylated PAHs dominated the PAH profile in all types of samples in the three categories of wetlands. Median and maximum PAH concentrations, especially alkylated PAH concentrations, tended to be higher in sediments and insect larvae in experimental wetlands than in the other types of wetlands. Such was not the case for adult insects, which contained higher than expected levels of PAHs in the three types of ponds. Overlap in PAH concentrations in larvae among pond types suggests that any increase in PAH levels resulting from the addition of tailings and tailings water to wetlands would be modest. Biota-sediment accumulation factors were higher for alkylated PAHs than for their parent counterparts and were lower in experimental wetlands than in oil sands and reference wetlands. Research is needed to examine factors that affect the bioavailability of PAHs in oil sands tailings- or tailings water-amended wetlands.     

Contamination of Oxygen-Consuming Organics in the Yellow River of China

Contamination of oxygen-consuming organics (OCOs) was one of the most serious problems in the Yellow River of China. This study was conducted to analyze monitoring of the data on OCOs contamination for the river in 1980 and during 1992–1999 as well as examining the effect of suspended solids (SS) on chemical oxygen demand (COD_Mn) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) of river water. Several significant results have arisen from the study. First, COD_Mn and BOD₅ of the river water showed an increasing trend from the upper to the lower reaches of the mainstream. BOD₅ values of river water in 1992 were significantly higher than those in 1980 and showed an increasing trend during 1992–1999. Second, OCOs in river water of the mainstream was attributed mainly to point sources; the ratio of point to non-point sources of BOD₅ was about 2.81. The load from point sources showed an increasing trend during 1992–1998. In contrast, the load from non-point sources manifested a decreasing trend during this period; this was caused by the decreasing trend of SS content in river water. The total load of BOD₅ from point and non-point sources displayed an increasing trend during 1992–1998. Third, as the humic substances in SS can hardly be biologically oxidized in natural conditions but can be oxidized by chemical oxidants such as potassium permanganate, COD_Mn was not suitable for being regarded as a parameter reflecting the pollution degree of OCOs in river water with a high SS content.     

Determination of arsenic content of some Romanian natural mineral groundwaters

Romania is one of the countries that have natural arsenic groundwater problems. This paper presents the results of a study of arsenic concentration monitoring in natural mineral waters collected from 23 sampling sites located in the northern, central, and western regions of Romania. The sampling sites are both natural springs and drilled wells. The graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was used for arsenic content determination. The Piper??s classification principle was applied in order to find out the hydrochemical type of the analyzed waters. Depending on the concentration of arsenic, the water analyzed can be classified into three main categories: (1) mineral natural waters containing less than 10???g/L arsenic, (2) mineral natural waters containing arsenic at concentrations several times higher than the limit of 10???g/L but less than 100???g/L, and (3) mineral natural waters containing arsenic at concentrations of ten to a hundred times higher than the allowed limit of 10???g/L. The last-mentioned waters are of bicarbonatate sodium type and were sampled from seven sources only, being prohibited for human and animal use.     

Perchlorate retention and mobility in soils

Adsorption and release of perchlorate in a variety of soils, minerals, and other media were studied when the solid media were exposed to low and high aqueous solutions of perchlorate salts. Low level ClO4- exposure was investigated by subjecting triplicate 5.0 g portions of a solid medium (38 different soils, minerals, or dusts) to 25 mL of an aqueous ammonium perchlorate (NH4ClO4) solution containing 670 ng mL(-1) (6.8 microM) perchlorate. This corresponds to a perchlorate-to-soil ratio of 3.4 microg g(-1) (34 nmol g(-1)). At this level of exposure, more than 90% of the perchlorate was recovered in the aqueous phase, as determined by ion chromatography. In some cases, more than 99% of the perchlorate remained in the aqueous phase. In some cases, the apparent loss of aqueous perchlorate was not clearly distinguishable from the variation due to experimental error. The forced perchlorate anion exchange capacities (PAECs) were studied by soaking triplicate 5.0 g portions of the solid media in 250 mL of 0.20 M sodium perchlorate (NaClO4) followed by repeated deionized water rinses (overnight soaks with mixing) until perchlorate concentrations fell below 20 ng mL(-1) in the rinse solutions. The dried residua were leached with 15.0 mL of 0.10 M sodium hydroxide. The leachates were analyzed by ion chromatography and the perchlorate concentrations thus found were subsequently used to calculate the PAECs. The measurable PAECs of the insoluble and settleable residua ranged from 4 to 150 nmol g(-1) (micromol kg(-1)), with most in the 20-50 nmol g(-1) range. In some soils or minerals, no sorption was detectable. The mineral bentonite was problematic, however. Overall, the findings support the widely accepted idea that perchlorate does not appreciably sorb to soils and that its mobility and fate are largely influenced by hydrologic and biologic factors. They also generally support the idea that intrasoil perchlorate content is depositional rather than sorptive. On the other hand, sorption (anion replacement) of perchlorate appears to occur in some soils. Therefore, the measurement of perchlorate in soils requires accounting for ion exchange phenomena; leaching with water alone may give inaccurate results. If perchlorate anion exchange is confirmed to be negligible, then leaching procedures may be simplified accordingly.     

Hydro-chemical Survey of Groundwater of Hisar City and Assessment of Defluoridation Methods Used in India

Ground water quality of Hisar city was assessed for its suitability for drinking purposes. Samples collected from the Bore-wells (forms a part of municipal water supply) and handpumps (direct consumption) were analyzed for the various physico-chemical parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved salts, total hardness, total alkalinity, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride and sulfate. The concentrations of magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfate and especially of chloride were found moderately higher than the WHO standards for the drinking water. Further a comparison of fluoride (F⁻) levels in groundwater of various cities and towns of Haryana state was performed. The relatively higher concentrations of F⁻ in groundwater of Haryana raise the risk of fluorosis and hence groundwater must be used with proper treatment. Promising defluoridation methods using locally available materials and technologies are discussed for the prevention and control of fluorosis. Data were assessed statistically to find the suitable markers of ground water quality as an aid to monitoring groundwater quality.     

A hydrochemical profile for assessing the groundwater quality of Jaipur City

A study was conducted to evaluate the water quality of Jaipur City. Groundwater samples from hand pumps and tube wells of eleven sampling stations were analyzed during monsoon session with the help of standard methods of APHA. The analytical results shows higher concentration of total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, total hardness and nitrate, which indicate signs of deterioration but values of pH, calcium, magnesium, sulphate and fluoride are within permissible limit as per WHO standards. From the Hill-Piper trilinear diagram, it is observed that the majority of ground water from sampling stations are calcium-magnesium-chloride-sulphate type water. The values of sodium absorption ratio and electrical conductivity of the ground water were plotted in the US salinity laboratory diagram for irrigation water. Most of the samples fall in C3S1 quality with high salinity hazard and low sodium hazard. Chemical analysis of groundwater shows that mean concentration of cation (in meq/l) is in order magnesium > sodium > calcium > potassium while for the anion (in meq/l) it is chloride > bicarbonate > sulphate > nitrate > carbonate > fluoride.     

The landscape pattern characteristics of coastal wetlands in Jiaozhou Bay Under The Impact Of Human Activities

In this study, we interpreted coastal wetland types from an ASTER satellite image in 2002, and then compared the results with the land-use status of coastal wetlands in 1952 to determine the wetland loss and degradation around Jiaozhou Bay. Seven types of wetland landscape were classified, namely: shallow open water, inter-tidal flats, estuarine water, brackish marshes, salt ponds, fishery ponds and ports. Several landscape pattern indices were analysed: the results indicate that the coastal wetlands have been seriously degraded. More and more natural wetlands have been transformed into artificial wetlands, which covered about 33.7% of the total wetlands in 2002. In addition, we used a defined model to assess the impacts of human activities on coastal wetlands. The results obtained show that the coastal wetlands of Jiaozhou Bay have suffered severe human disturbance. Effective coastal management and control is therefore needed to solve the issues of the coastal wetland loss and degradation existing in this area.     

运用热带爪蟾胚胎测定工业废水的发育毒性

采用热带爪蟾胚胎测定江苏省常州市8家典型行业工业废水的发育毒性，结果显示：各行业工业废水对爪蟾胚胎的发育均有不同程度的影响，而印染、啤酒、电镀和化工行业出水的发育毒性更强。试验表明，理化指标并不能完全反映工业废水的综合毒性，而热带爪蟾胚胎可有效地表征其发育毒性。比较各行业工业废水的毒性，初步探讨热带爪蟾胚胎用于工业废水毒性检测的可行性。     

The Occurrence and Impact of Sedimentation in Central Pennsylvania Wetlands

Sedimentation rates and deposited sediment characteristics in twenty-five wetlands in central Pennsylvania were measured during the period Fall 1994 to Fall 1995. Wetlands were located primarily in five watersheds, and represented a variety of hydrogeomorphic (HGM) subclasses and surrounding land use. Sedimentation rates were measured via the placement of 135 Plexiglas disks. Annual organic and inorganic loadings were determined. Sedimentation rates ranged from 0 to 8 cm/year, with sedimentation rates significantly correlated with surrounding land use and HGM subclass. Overall mean mineral and organic accretion rates were 778 g m2 yr-1 (+/- 1417) and 550 g m2 yr-1 (+/- 589), respectively. Mean mineral and organic accretion rates were significantly different by HGM subclass. The highest mineral accretion rates were for headwater floodplains, followed by impoundments, riparian depressions, mainstem floodplains, and slopes. The highest organic accretion rates were for riparian depressions, followed by impoundments, slopes, headwater floodplains, and mainstem floodplains. The potential effects of landscape disturbance on these sedimentation rates was also investigated, in order to develop a conceptual model to predict sedimentation rates for a given wetland in a variety of landscape settings. Different HGM subclasses exhibited significantly different mineral and organic accumulation rates, and varied in their responses to landscape disturbance and spatial variability in sedimentation patterns. Characterization of wetland plant communities in these same wetlands showed clear associations between individual plant species and ability to tolerate sediment. Species were categorized as very tolerant, moderately tolerant, slightly tolerant, and intolerant based on their association with environments of varying sedimentation magnitude. In general, species that were categorized as very tolerant or moderately tolerant increased their percent cover (dominance) over the sedimentation gradient. These observations were supported by greenhouse germination trials of eight species of wetland plants under a variety of sediment depths, ranging from 0 to 2 cm.     

Chemical monitoring and evaluation of the water quality of the Douro River at the Crestuma-Lever dam

Water taken from the Crestuma-Lever dam on the Douro River was evaluated considering the Portuguese Decree-law no. 236/98 of 1st August, 1998. This paper presents the metrological characteristics, validation of analytical methodologies and the data obtained from seasonal samplings. The test parameters selected are: temperature, pH, chloride, conductivity, carbon dioxide, alkalinity, hardness, oxidability, dissolved oxygen, BOD5, total suspended solids, sulfide, phosphate, silica, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, sulfate, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc. From data analysis we can conclude that the water presented the following characteristics: a pH situated in the neutral zone; a median mineralization; a medium hardness; well oxygenated water; and a carbonate hardness exclusively due to bicarbonates. The temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, chlorides, sulfates, copper, zinc and BOD5 were compared with the legal limits presented in annexes XXI and I of Decree-law 236/98. The results relating to total hardness, nitrites, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, aluminium, sulfides and oxidability were compared with the legal values in annex VI as there are no limits relating to these parameters in annexes XXI and I.     

Use of zeolite to neutralise nickel in a soil environment

Nickel is a heavy metal which is a stable soil pollutant which is difficult to remediate. An attempt to reduce its impact on the environment can be made by changing its solubility. The right level of hydrogen ions and the content of mineral and organic colloids are crucial in this regard. Therefore, methods to neutralise heavy metals in soil are sought. There are no reports in the literature on the possibility of using minerals in the detoxication of a soil environment contaminated with metals. It is important to fill the gap in research on the effect of zeolites on the microbiological, biochemical and physicochemical properties of soils under pressure from heavy metals. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted on two soils which examined the effect of various levels of contamination of soil with nickel on the activity of soil enzymes, physical and chemical properties and growth and development of plants. An alleviating effect of zeolite Bio.Zeo.S.01 on the negative impact of nickel on the soil and a plant (oats) was examined. The enzyme activity and the oat yield were found to be significantly and negatively affected by an excess of nickel in the soil, regardless of the soil type. The metal was accumulated more in the oat roots than in the above-ground parts. An addition of zeolite decreased the level of accumulation of nickel in oats grown only on sandy-silty loam. Zeolite Bio.Zeo.S.01 used in the study only slightly alleviated the negative effect of nickel on the biochemical properties of soil. Therefore, its usability in the remediation of soil contaminated with nickel is small.     

Determination of 226Ra at ultratrace level in mineral water samples by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An analytical procedure has been proposed for the determination of (226)Ra at the low femtogram per ml concentration level in mineral water samples using double focusing sector field ICP-MS (ICP-SFMS). For the pre-concentration and separation of radium from the matrix elements in water a tandem of a laboratory-prepared filter, based on MnO(2), and Eichrom "Sr-specific" resin was used. The recovery of the method was determined to be 70.5%. The limit of detection for (226)Ra determination was 0.02 fg ml(-1), including a pre-concentration factor of 10. In addition, uranium concentration and uranium isotope ratios were measured by ICP-SFMS. In several mineral water samples with a relatively high uranium content, (226)Ra concentrations were found between 0.7-15 fg ml(-1). The effective dose of the contribution was calculated using the radionuclide concentration and dose conversion factors from the World Health Organization, WHO (1993). Assuming a mineral water consumption of 2 l d(-1), a slightly higher calculated dose than the suggested limit for drinking water (0.1 mSv y(-1)) was found in some samples.