Journal article
The evaluation of arsenic contamination potential, speciation and hydrogeochemical behaviour in aquifers of Punjab, Pakistan
Chemosphere, Vol.199, pp.737-746
2018
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Source: InCites
Abstract
<p>In this study, we tested 123 groundwater wells from five different areas of Punjab, Pakistan for arsenic (As) contamination level and species, as well as delineated hydrogeochemical behaviour of As in aquifers. Results revealed that 75% and 41% of the groundwater wells exceeded the safe As limit of World Health Organisation (WHO, 10 μg L−1) and Pakistan-EPA (50 μg L−1), respectively. Arsenite (As(III)) and arsenate(As(V)) spanned 0–80% and 20–100% of total As (1.2–206 μg L−1), respectively. The mean As content (5.2 μg L−1) of shallow wells at 9–40 m depth did not exceed the WHO safe limit, representing a safe aquifer zone for pumping of groundwater compared to deeper wells at 41–90 m (51 μg L−1) and >90 m (23 μg L−1) depths. Piper-plot elucidated that the aqueous chemistry was dominated with Na-SO4, Na-Ca-SO4, Na-Mg-SO4 type saline water. Principalcomponentanalysis grouped As concentration with well depth, pH, salinity, Fe and CO3, exhibiting that these hydrogeochemical factors could have potential role in controlling As release/sequestration into the aquifers of study area. Geochemical modeling showed positive saturation indices only for iron (Fe) oxide-phases, indicating Fe oxides as the major carriers of As. Overall, this study provides insights to tackle emerging As threat to the communities in Punjab, Pakistan, as well as help develop suitable management/mitigation strategies – based on the baseline knowledge of As levels/species and factors governing As contamination in the study area.</p>
Details
- Title
- The evaluation of arsenic contamination potential, speciation and hydrogeochemical behaviour in aquifers of Punjab, Pakistan
- Creators
- Muhammad B Shakoor - University of Agriculture FaisalabadIrshad Bibi - University of Agriculture FaisalabadNabeel Khan Niazi - Southern Cross UniversityMuhammad Shahid - COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, PakistanMuhammad F Nawaz - University of Agriculture FaisalabadAbida Farooqi - Quaid-i-Azam University, PakistanRavi Naidu - University of Newcastle - AustraliaMohammad M Rahman - University of Newcastle - AustraliaGhulam Murtaza - University of Agriculture FaisalabadAndreas Lüttge - University of Bremen
- Publication Details
- Chemosphere, Vol.199, pp.737-746
- Identifiers
- 1495; 991012820605902368
- Academic Unit
- Southern Cross GeoScience
- Resource Type
- Journal article