Mineral content of drinking water in lowland papua

This study presents concentration of nine minerals (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Cl, Mn, Zn, Cd, Pb) in 31 drinking water samples collected in the Papua New Guinea lowland, where coastal villagers draw water from artificial wells blended with sea water, riverside villagers utilize brackish river water, and inland villagers fetch creek or swamp water whose chemical composition is close to rain water. During the dry season, the coastal well water contains 500 mgL⁻¹ of sodium and 50–90 μgL⁻¹ of lead. The inland creek or swamp water contains very small amount of minerals; on the average, for instance, 0.64 mgL⁻¹ of magnesium, 0.84 mgL⁻¹ of calcium, and 4.78 mgL⁻¹ of water hardness (as CaCO₃). From some epidemiological evidence in industrialized countries, these mineral concentrations are judged to be indicative of high risk of cardiovascular disorders.