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Water Air Soil Pollut (2015) 226: 32 DOI 10.1007/s11270-015-2315-8
Analysis of Trace Elements in Groundwater Using ICP-OES and TXRF Techniques and Its Compliance with Brazilian Protection Standards
Fernando R. Espinoza-Quiones &
Aparecido N. Mdenes & Aline Roberta de Pauli &
Soraya M. Palcio
Received: 10 October 2014 /Accepted: 19 January 2015 /Published online: 22 February 2015 # Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
Abstract In this work, an assessment of groundwater quality and its compliance with Brazilian environmental protection standards was carried out. Ground waters from the Serra Geral aquifer are currently used for human consumption at the western region of the Brazilian state of Paran. Ground water samples from 10 wells covering the entire Toledo municipality rural region were collected and analysed by two highly accurate and sensitive spectrometric techniques: inductively coupled plasmaoptical emission spectrometry (ICPOES) and total reflection X-ray spectrometry (TXRF). Among all detected elements, 18 elements (As, Ba, Br, Ca, Pb, Cl, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, P, S, Mn, Ni, K, Ti, Vand Zn) were measured by the TXRF technique while three elements (B, Mg and Na) were measured by ICP-OES. Trace element concentration levels were then compared with Brazilian environmental legislation (BEL). From the results obtained, concentrations of chromium, iron,
arsenic, selenium, manganese and barium were detectable in some wells at slightly above the maximum limits allowed by the BEL.
Keyword Ground water. Trace elements . Physico-chemical parameters . Statistical analysis
1 Introduction
Fresh water is being used in a great number of domestic and industrial anthropogenic activities and is in high demand due to the large increases in human populations in the last century. This heavy use also brings serious supply side problems and issues of environmental contamination around the world. As this natural resource is scarce and exhibits a non-uniform distribution on the Earths surface, exploration of the worlds groundwater reserves has become an actively pursued alternative to provide this essential resource to many populations lacking fresh water. An important characteristic of groundwater is its high quality, suitability for direct consumption by human beings, without the necessity of a potability process, and containing as it does just a few elements at very low concentrations derived from the decomposition of rocks forming the aquifer. Meanwhile, by increasing the superficial contamination of...