The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Inorganic constituents of well water in one acid and one alkaline area of south Sweden

På svenska

Author

Summary, in English

Acid precipitation may lead to loss of essential elements and increase the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in drinking water. In this study 46 private wells from acid regions (pH < 6.5) were compared with 43 private wells from alkaline areas in southern Sweden. The concentrations of about 30 elements were analysed especially by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The concentrations of essential elements such as calcium, chromium, selenium and potassium were significantly lower in acid than in alkaline well water. On the other hand, the levels of potentially toxic metals such as cadmium and lead were significantly higher in acid well water. High copper concentrations, observed at pH around 6 in contrast to earlier findings, is to be considered as an acidification problem, as should the high fluoride values. The highest concentrations of a number of metals and ions, for example calcium, chromium, titanium and sulphate, appeared at pH 7.0-8.0, where the peak in concentrations occur due to leaching of metals from soil particles in acid soils and precipitation of carbonates and sulphates in more alkaline soils. The low levels of especially calcium and magnesium ions, and some micronutrients in the acid water, in combination with high concentrations of acid ions and toxic microelements, may cause nutritional imbalances. This should be regarded as risk factors with relation to effects on human health.

Publishing year

2003

Language

English

Pages

261-277

Publication/Series

Water, Air and Soil Pollution

Volume

142

Issue

1-4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Environmental Health and Occupational Health

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1573-2932