Hydrogeochemical analysis on Italian bottled mineral waters: Effects of geology

The use of bottled mineral waters use is increasingly becoming popular and the need for better knowledge of their chemical composition is a key issue for defining their quality, particularly for those elements that are not monitored on a regular basis. The link between geology and water chemistry is well known and can lead to extreme differences in element distribution and is an issue that needs to be addressed. Such an opportunity has been provided by a project of the EuroGeoSurvey Geochemistry Expert Group aimed at the characterization of groundwater geochemistry using bottled mineral waters purchased in supermarkets all over Europe. On these waters pH, conductivity and concentrations of 69 elements and ions were measured at the BGR geochemical laboratories. On a total of 1785 “samples”, 158 represent waters bottled in Italy in 126 different sites scattered throughout the country. Most of the purchased mineral water is packaged in PET bottles. In this paper, the dataset concerning Italy has been used to provide an overview on the relationship between natural concentration of the determined chemical elements in groundwater and geo-lithological features. These relationships have been investigated mostly taking into account the surface geology and other information available on water sources. Application of R-Mode factor analysis to the data set allowed the determination of the possible relationship between the distribution of individual elements and lithology or other surface enrichment phenomena. In particular waters draining through volcanic rocks are enriched in elements such as As, B, Br⁻, Cl⁻, Cs, I, K, Li, Na, NO₃⁻, PO₄³⁻, Rb, Sc, SiO₂, Sr, Te, Ti, and V up to 3 orders of magnitude higher than waters draining through other lithologies. REE and Y show significant difference in median concentration due to interaction of waters with plutonic rocks. Many elements have a large spread of concentrations, which reflects natural variations and interaction with particular lithologies. One of the five R-mode factor analysis associations, recognized as being representative of elements analysed shows high nitrate and V loadings along with As, PO₄³⁻ and Se. The latter association probably reflects a sign of anthropogenic contribution in some aquifers in volcano-sedimentary or silico-clastic deposits and in intensively cultivated areas.     

Determination of major and trace elements in European bottled mineral water — Analytical methods

A total of 1785 European bottled water samples were analyzed using standard laboratory methods. The bottled water samples were purchased in 2008 at supermarkets throughout 40 European countries. The samples were analyzed for 71 chemical parameters (As, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, Fe, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hf, Hg, Ho, I, K, La, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pr, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Tb, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, Tm, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zn, Zr, Br⁻, HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, F⁻, NH₄⁺, NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻, PO₄³⁻, SO₄²⁻, SiO₂, pH, and EC) by quadrupole inductively coupled emission spectroscopy (ICP-QMS, trace elements), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES, major elements), ion chromatography (IC, anions), atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS, Hg), titration (alkalinity), photometric methods (NH₄⁺), potentiometric methods (pH), and conductometric methods (specific electrical conductivity, EC). A very strict quality control procedure was followed by analysing blanks, international reference materials, an internal project standard, and duplicate analyses, as well as by analysing 23 elements by both ICP-QMS and ICP-AES. Analysis of marketed bottled water from springs, wells or boreholes, apart from the evaluation of its quality with respect to inorganic elements, it may provide a cheap alternative to obtain a first impression about groundwater chemistry at the European scale.     

General ground water geochemistry of Hellas using bottled water samples

Sixty-one still bottled water samples, representing 41 locations, were collected from Hellas for the purpose of studying the geochemistry of ground water. Since, the dominating lithology comprises limestone, dolomitic limestone, marble, and mafic–ultramafic rocks (ophiolites), the dominant major ions in Hellenic bottled waters are Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, CO₃²⁻ and HCO₃⁻, and are, thus, classified in the Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–HCO₃⁻ hydrochemical facies. The source aquifers of Hellenic bottled water are apparently continuously replenished by fresh water. Comparison of values of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, pH and electrical conductivity, displayed on bottle labels with those of this study, has shown that there is a fairly good correlation between the two data sets, suggesting that the geochemistry of source aquifers is relatively stable over time, at least from 1998 to 2008.     

Geochemical survey of Slovenian bottled waters

The geochemistry of the major components and trace elements in Slovenian bottled water available on the market in 2004 and 2008 was studied. The waters were predominantly from the Radenska and Rogaška Slatina mineral water source region. In this paper, a comparison of two data sets from two time periods was performed based on the Kolmogorov–Smirnov independent two-sample test. The bottled waters in the data sets were in agreement with drinking water and mineral water standards. Discrepancies were only present for B and Ni in highly mineralised waters. Analyses of the labels on the bottle packaging showed that the analytical results were in general agreement with the values reported on the labels. At the same time, the values reported on the labels by the producers showed that the chemical compositions of products available on the market for longer time periods vary. Slovenian bottled waters are predominantly controlled by a CaCO₃–CO₂–H₂O system where Na, Cl⁻ and SO₄²⁻ are present as the major components, in different combinations.     

The chemistry of bottled mineral and spring waters from Norway,Sweden, Finland and Iceland

Twenty-two bottled mineral and spring waters from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland have been analysed for 71 inorganic chemical parameters with low detection limits as a subset of a large European survey of bottled groundwater chemistry (N = 884). The Nordic bottled groundwaters comprise mainly Ca–Na–HCO₃–Cl water types, but more distinct Ca–HCO₃, Na HCO₃ and Na–Cl water types are also offered. The distributions for most elements fall between groundwater from Fennoscandian Quaternary unconsolidated aquifers and groundwater from Norwegian crystalline bedrock boreholes. Treated tap waters have slightly lower median values for many parameters, but elements associated with plumbing have significantly higher concentrations in tap waters than in bottled waters. The small dataset is able to show that excessive fluoride and uranium contents are potential drinking water problems in Fennoscandia. Nitrate and arsenic displayed low to moderate concentrations, but the number of samples from Finland and Northern Sweden was too low to detect that elevated concentrations of arsenic occur in bedrock boreholes in some regions. The data shows clearly that water sold in plastic bottles is contaminated with antimony. Antimony is toxic and suspected to be carcinogenic, but the levels are well below the EU drinking water limit. The study does not provide any health-based arguments for buying bottled mineral and spring waters for those who are served with drinking water from public waterworks. Drinking water from crystalline bedrock aquifers should be analysed. In case of elevated concentrations of fluoride, uranium or arsenic, most bottled waters, but not all, will be better alternatives when treatment of the well water is not practicable.     

Sicilian bottled natural waters: Major and trace inorganic components

Sixteen bottled waters of various Sicilian brands, 11 natural mineral waters and five normal drinking waters, were analyzed for major and trace inorganic components by ion chromatography (IC) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), respectively. The bottled waters represent a variety of water types with significantly different compositions in terms of salinity, major components and trace elements. Chemically, they range from Ca–HCO₃ and Ca–SO₄ to Na–HCO₃ types. Total dissolved solids ranges from 54 to 433 mg/L, total hardness from 25 to 238 mg/L CaCO₃, and measured Na content from 5.7 to 57 mg/L. According to total dissolved ions, all the bottled waters were classified as oligomineral (50 < TDS < 500 mg/L). All the bottled waters analyzed here had elemental concentrations which did not exceed the guideline and directive values, although a high concentration of Al was noted for one bottled water (O7, central Sicily) and high Rb and V in a bottled water (O1) from the Etna volcanic area. With regard to trace elements, the chemical quality of bottled waters was assessed by a metal index (MI). Chemical characteristics were compared with 10 tap water samples from private houses or public places, representative of the public water supply in Palermo, the largest and most densely populated city in Sicily. The municipal waters analyzed, belonging to HCO₃-alkaline earth and Cl–SO₄-alkaline earth waters, showed concentrations of chemical inorganic components well within drinking water limits. The data also indicated that the water supplied by the municipal authority is of fair quality, although fairly hard and high in Na concentration. Several considerations indicate that there is no sufficient reason to prefer bottled waters to tap waters.     

Hydrogeochemical characteristics of spring water in the Harz Mountains,Germany

Spring water samples of the Harz Mountains were taken in several seasons of 2010, 2011, and 2012. The samples have been analysed for main components (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, SO₄²⁻, Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻ and NO₃⁻), trace elements (Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Y and REE), DOC, δ¹⁸O and δ²H of water. Meteoric water is indicated as the main source of the springs sampled. High precipitation rates lead to a dilution of the measured elemental concentrations. Furthermore, regional differences of rock and water interactions were found. REE concentrations and patterns of the spring waters vary between the distinct geological units and reflect the geochemical characteristics of the surrounding rocks. The actual data compared to measured data from the seventies and nineties of the last century indicate a decrease of the sulphate concentrations in the spring waters which is typical of many European mountain catchments.     

Stable isotope composition of Hellenic bottled waters

Bottled waters are an increasingly significant product in the human diet. In this work, we present a dataset of stable isotope ratios for bottled waters sampled in Greece. A total of 25 domestic brands of bottled still waters, collected on the Greek market in 2009, were analysed for δ¹⁸O and δ²H. The measured stable isotope ratios range from − 9.9‰ to − 6.9‰ for δ¹⁸O and from − 67.50‰ to − 46.5‰ for δ²H. Comparison of bottled water isotope ratios with natural spring water isotope ratios demonstrates that on average the isotopic composition of bottled water tends to be similar to the composition of naturally available local water sources, showing that bottled water isotope ratios preserve information about the water sources from which they were derived and suggesting that in many cases bottled water should not be considered as an isotopically distinct component of the human diet. This investigation also helped to determine the natural origin of bottled water, and to indicate differences between the natural and production processes. The production process may influence the isotopic composition of waters. No such modification was observed for sampled waters in this study. The isotopic methods applied can be used for the authentication of bottled waters and for use in the regulatory monitoring of water products.     

Benthic nitrogen cycling traversing the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone

Benthic nitrogen (N) cycling was investigated at six stations along a transect traversing the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) at 11°S. An extensive dataset including porewater concentration profiles and in situ benthic fluxes of nitrate (NO₃⁻), nitrite (NO₂⁻) and ammonium (NH₄⁺) was used to constrain a 1-D reaction-transport model designed to simulate and interpret the measured data at each station. Simulated rates of nitrification, denitrification, anammox and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) by filamentous large sulfur bacteria (e.g. Beggiatoa and Thioploca) were highly variable throughout the OMZ yet clear trends were discernible. On the shelf and upper slope (80-260 m water depth) where extensive areas of bacterial mats were present, DNRA dominated total N turnover (?2.9 mmol N m⁻² d⁻¹) and accounted for ?65% of NO₃⁻ + NO₂⁻ uptake by the sediments from the bottom water. Nonetheless, these sediments did not represent a major sink for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN = NO₃⁻ + NO₂⁻ + NH₄⁺) since DNRA reduces NO₃⁻ and, potentially NO₂⁻, to NH₄⁺. Consequently, the shelf and upper slope sediments were recycling sites for DIN due to relatively low rates of denitrification and high rates of ammonium release from DNRA and ammonification of organic matter. This finding contrasts with the current opinion that sediments underlying OMZs are a strong sink for DIN. Only at greater water depths (300-1000 m) did the sediments become a net sink for DIN. Here, denitrification was the major process (?2 mmol N m⁻² d⁻¹) and removed 55-73% of NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ taken up by the sediments, with DNRA and anammox accounting for the remaining fraction. Anammox was of minor importance on the shelf and upper slope yet contributed up to 62% to total N₂ production at the 1000 m station. The results indicate that the partitioning of oxidized N (NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻) into DNRA or denitrification is a key factor determining the role of marine sediments as DIN sinks or recycling sites. Consequently, high measured benthic uptake rates of oxidized N within OMZs do not necessarily indicate a loss of fixed N from the marine environment.     

The use of geochemical indicator elements in the exploration for hot water sources within geothermal fields

Soils, rocks, altered rocks, hot and cold waters, and hot spring precipitates were sampled within and on the outskirts of geothermal fields in China. The contents of thirty trace elements in soils and rocks show that Hg, As, Sb, Bi, Li, Rb, Cs, Au, Ag, B, W, Sn, Pb, Zn, Mn, Ni and Co can serve as direct and indirect indicators for geothermal field exploration. Large amounts of data indicate that Hg, As and Sb are the best indicators of hot water sources. Altered rocks contain higher Hg, As, Sb, Bi and Be than unaltered rocks. Based on their abundances in hot waters, it is suggested that the following elements may be used as hydrochemical indicators of high-temperature hot-water geothermal systems: K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, SO²⁻₄, HCO⁻₃, F⁻, Cl⁻, SiO₂, HBO₂, CO₂, pH, total dissolved solids and hydrochemical types, as well as Hg, As, Sb, Be, Li, Rb and Cs. Modern precipitates associated with hot springs have high contents of Ba, Be, Fe, Ti, Hg, As, Sb and Bi. Using these geochemical data, the authors have had much success in locating hot water drill sites within geothermal fields. Case histories are described for five geothermal areas.     

Groundwater nitrate contamination and risk assessment in an agricultural area,South Korea

The nitrate of groundwater in the Gimpo agricultural area, South Korea, was characterized by means of nitrate concentration, nitrogen-isotope analysis, and the risk assessment of nitrogen. The groundwaters belonging to Ca–(Cl + NO₃) and Na–(Cl + NO₃) types displayed a higher average NO₃ ⁻ concentration (79.4 mg/L), exceeding the Korean drinking water standard (<44.3 mg/L NO₃ ⁻). The relationship between δ¹⁸O–NO₃ ⁻ values and δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ values revealed that nearly all groundwater samples with δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ of +7.57 to +13.5‰ were affected by nitrate from manure/sewage as well as microbial nitrification and negligible denitrification. The risk assessment of nitrate for groundwater in the study area was carried out using the risk-based corrective action model since it was recognized that there is a necessity of a quantitative assessment of health hazard, as well as a simple estimation of nitrate concentration. All the groundwaters of higher nitrate concentration than the Korean drinking water standard (<44.3 mg/L NO₃ ⁻) belonged to the domain of the hazard index <1, indicating no health hazard by nitrate in groundwater in the study area. Further, the human exposure to the nitrate-contaminated soil was below the critical limit of non-carcinogenic risk.     

The dissolved Beryllium isotope composition of the Arctic Ocean

We present the first comprehensive set of dissolved ¹⁰Be and ⁹Be concentrations in surface waters and vertical profiles of all major sub-basins of the Arctic Ocean, which are complemented by data from the major Arctic rivers Mackenzie, Lena, Yenisey and Ob. The results show that ¹⁰Be and ⁹Be concentrations in waters below 150 m depth are low and only vary within a factor of 2 throughout the Arctic Basin (350-750 atoms/g and 9-15 pmol/kg, respectively). In marked contrast, Be isotope compositions in the upper 150 m are highly variable and show systematic variations. Cosmogenic ¹⁰Be concentrations range from 150 to 1000 atoms/g and concentrations of terrigenous ⁹Be range from 7 to 65 pmol/kg, resulting in ¹⁰Be/⁹Be ratios (atom/atom) between 0.5 and 14 × 10⁻⁸. Inflowing Atlantic water masses in the Eurasian Basin are characterized by a ¹⁰Be/⁹Be signature of 7 × 10⁻⁸. The inflow of Pacific water masses across the Bering Strait is characterized by lower ratios of 2-3 × 10⁻⁸, which can be traced into the central Arctic Ocean, possibly as far as the Fram Strait. A comparison of the high dissolved surface ¹⁰Be and ⁹Be concentrations (corresponding to low ¹⁰Be/⁹Be signatures of ∼2 × 10⁻⁸) in the Eurasian Basin with hydrographic parameters and river data documents efficient and rapid transport of Be with Siberian river waters across the Siberian Arctic shelves into the central Arctic Basin, although significant loss and exchange of Be on the shelves occurs. In contrast, fresh surface waters from the Canada Basin also show high cosmogenic ¹⁰Be contents, but are not enriched in terrigenous ⁹Be (resulting in high ¹⁰Be/⁹Be signatures of up to 14 × 10⁻⁸). This is explained by a combination of efficient scavenging of Be in the Mackenzie River estuary and the shelves and additional supply of cosmogenic ¹⁰Be via atmospheric fallout and melting of old sea ice. The residence time of Be in the deep Arctic Ocean estimated from our data is 800 years and thus similar to the average Be residence time in the global ocean.     

Geochemical behavior and speciation modeling of rare earth elements in acid drainages at Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper deposit,Kerman Province,Iran

Acid mine drainage is a major source of water pollution in the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper mine area. The concentrations of heavy metals and rare earth elements (REEs) in the host rocks, natural waters and acid mine drainage (AMD) associated with mining and tailing impoundments are determined. Contrary to the solid samples, AMDs and impacted stream waters are enriched in middle rare earth elements (MREEs) and heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) relative to light rare earth elements (LREEs). This behavior suggests that REE probably fractionate during sulfide oxidation and acid generation and subsequent transport, so that MREE and HREE are preferentially enriched. Speciation modeling predict that the dominant dissolved REE inorganic species are Ln³⁺, Ln(SO₄)₂⁻, LnSO₄⁺, LnHCO₃²⁺, Ln(CO₃)₂⁻ and LnCO₃⁺. Compared to natural waters, Sarcheshmeh AMD is enriched in REEs and SO₄²⁻. High concentrations of SO₄²⁻ lead to the formation of stable LnSO₄⁺, thereby resulting in higher concentrations of REEs in AMD samples. The model indicates that LnSO₄⁺ is the dissolved form of REE in acid waters, while carbonate and dicarbonate complexes are the most abundant dissolved REE species in alkaline waters. The speciation calculations indicate that other factors besides complexation of the REE's, such as release of MREE from dissolution and/or desorption processes in soluble salts and poorly crystalline iron oxyhydroxy sulfates as well as dissolution of host rock MREE-bearing minerals control the dissolved REE concentrations and, hence, the MREE-enriched patterns of acid mine waters.     

The study of environmental effects of chemical fertilizers and domestic sewage on water quality of Taft region, Central Iran

One of the important indicators to show the quality of water for drinking and irrigation is nitrate values in water and soil. Nitrate enters surface water and groundwater through degradation and decomposition of human and animal wastes, industrial productions, and agricultural runoff. The present paper focuses on the concentration of nitrite (NO₂ ^?1) and nitrate (NO₃ ^?1) of the groundwater in Taft region, Central Iran. Sixty-one samples of the region’s aqueducts, wells, and springs were collected in September 2008 and May 2009 and analyzed by ICP-MS method. However, distribution maps of nitrate and nitrite and their frequency diagram in the pertinent samples have been generated. Then, they were compared to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and WHO international standards. The mean of nitrate content measured in the samples was 18.52 mg/l, maximum was 115 mg/l which is higher than the EPA standard (i.e., 10 mg/l), and the mean of nitrite content was about 0.06 mg/l. According to the distribution maps, concentration of these anions is high in the downstream of settlements and farmlands of Taft region. With respect to the penetration of agricultural wastes, flooding irrigation, thin layer of alluvium, sandy texture, and the amount of fertilizer consumed in the region, and also absence of any natural source for these anions and absence of the major industrial activities in the region to produce sewage, it seems that nitrate and nitrite originated from the agricultural sewage and human waste. As the content of nitrate in drinking water in the region is higher than WHO and EPA standards, so there is the risk of methemoglobinemia disease in infants. In addition, nitrate content within the stomach and lungs interacts with amine and nitrosamines are made up which are potentially the initial cause of all cancers in human.     

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation by nitrite (anammox): Implications for N2 production in coastal marine sediments

The respiratory reduction of nitrate (denitrification) is acknowledged as the most important process that converts biologically available nitrogen to gaseous dinitrogen (N₂) in marine ecosystems. Recent findings, however, indicate that anaerobic ammonium oxidation by nitrite (anammox) may be an important pathway for N₂ formation and N removal in coastal marine sediments and in anoxic water columns of the oceans. In the present study, we explored this novel mechanism during N mineralization by ¹⁵N amendments (single and coupled additions of ¹⁵NH₄⁺, ¹⁴NO₃⁻ and ¹⁵NO₃⁻) to surface sediments with a wide range of characteristics and overall reactivity. Patterns of ^29/30N₂ production in the pore water during closed sediment incubations demonstrated anammox at all 7 of the investigated sites. Stoichiometric calculations revealed that 4% to 79% of total N₂ production was due to this novel route. The relative importance of anammox for N₂ release was inversely correlated with remineralized solute production, benthic O₂ consumption, and surface sediment Chl a. The observed correlations indicate competition between reductants for pore water nitrite during early diagenesis and that additional factors (e.g. availability of Mn-oxides), superimposed on overall patterns of diagenetic activity, are important for determining absolute and relative rates of anammox in coastal marine sediments.     

Major and trace elements in German bottled water,their regional distribution,and accordance with national and international standards

The market for mineral water has been growing steadily over the last few years. Germany is the country with the highest number of bottled mineral water brands (908 bottled water samples from 502 wells/brands were analyzed). The per capita consumption of mineral water in Germany in 2003 was 129 L. A wide range of values of one to seven orders of magnitude was determined for 71 elements in the bottled water samples analyzed by ICP-QMS, ICP-AES, IC, titration, photometric, conductometric and potentiometric methods. A comparison of the element concentrations and the legal limits for both bottled and tap water (EU, Germany, US EPA, WHO) shows that only 70% of the 908 mineral water samples fulfill the German and EU drinking water (i.e., tap water) regulations for all parameters (not including pH) for which action levels are defined. Nearly 5% of the bottled water samples not fulfill the German and EU regulations for mineral and table water. Comparison of our results with the current German and European action levels for mineral and table water shows that only 42 of the bottled water samples exceed the limits for one or more of the following elements: arsenic, nitrate, nitrite, manganese, nickel and barium concentrations. Ten of the bottled water samples contain uranium concentrations above the 10 μg/L recommended limit.     

Tracing the sources of nitrate in karstic groundwater in Zunyi,Southwest China: a combined nitrogen isotope and water chemistry approach

Nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) is major pollutant in groundwater worldwide. Karst aquifers are particularly vulnerable to nitrate contamination from anthropogenic sources due to the rapid movement of water in their conduit networks. In this study, the isotopic compositions (δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻, δ¹⁵N–NH₄ ⁺) and chemical compositions(e.g., NO₃ ⁻, NH₄ ⁺, NO₂ ⁻, K⁺) were measured in groundwater in the Zunyi area of Southwest China during summer and winter to identify the primary sources of contamination and characterize the processes affecting nitrate in the groundwater. It was found that nitrate was the dominant species of nitrogen in most of the water samples. In addition, the δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ values of water samples collected in summer were lower than those collected in winter, suggesting that the groundwater received a significant contribution of NO₃ ⁻ from agricultural fertilizer during the summer. Furthermore, the spatial variation in the concentration of nitrate and the δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ value indicated that some of the urban groundwater was contaminated with pollution from point sources. In addition, the distribution of δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ values and the relationship between ions in the groundwater indicated that synthetic and organic fertilizers (cattle manure) were the two primary sources of nitrate in the study area, except in a few cases where the water had been contaminated by urban anthropogenic inputs. Finally, the temporal and spatial variation of the water chemistry and isotopic data indicated that denitrification has no significant effect on the nitrogen isotopic values in Zunyi groundwater.     

A survey of the inorganic chemistry of bottled mineral waters from the British Isles

The inorganic chemistry of 85 samples of bottled natural mineral waters and spring waters has been investigated from 67 sources across the British Isles (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland). Sources include boreholes, springs and wells. Waters are from a diverse range of aquifer lithologies and are disproportionately derived from comparatively minor aquifers, the most represented being Lower Palaeozoic (10 sources), Devonian Sandstone (10 sources) and Carboniferous Limestone (9 sources). The waters show correspondingly variable major-ion compositions, ranging from Ca–HCO₃, through mixed-cation–mixed-anion to Na–HCO₃ types. Concentrations of total dissolved solids are mostly low to very low (range 58–800 mg/L). All samples analysed in the study had concentrations of inorganic constituents well within the limits for compliance with European and national standards for bottled waters. Concentrations of NO₃–N reached up to half the limit of 11.3 mg/L, although 62% of samples had concentrations <1 mg/L. Concentrations of Ba were high (up to 1010 μg/L) in two spring water samples. Such concentrations would have been non-compliant had they been classed as natural mineral waters, although no limit exists for Ba in European bottled spring water. In addition, though no European limit exists for U in bottled water, should a limit commensurate with the current WHO provisional guideline value for U in drinking water (15 μg/L) be introduced in the future, a small number of groundwater sources would have concentrations close to this value. Two sources had groundwater U concentrations > 10 μg/L, both being from the Welsh Devonian Sandstone. The highest observed U concentration was 13.6 μg/L.     

Simultaneous application of iron and aluminum anodes for nitrate removal: a comprehensive parametric study

Exposure to high concentration of nitrate through drinking water poses a threat to human health and environment. Electrocoagulation (EC) is an alternative water treatment process that involves electrogeneration of coagulant agents. In the present study, EC was exerted for the nitrate removal in a batch reactor using aluminum and iron anodes simultaneously. The effects of the main parameters including electrical current, initial pH, NaCl dosage, initial nitrate concentration and presence of turbidity on NO₃ ^? removal were investigated. NO₂ ^? as a by-product was monitored during electrolysis, and nitrate–nitrite index was calculated. The results indicated that optimum condition was pH of 5, 300 mA electrical current, 100 mg/L NaCl and electrolysis time of 40 min, under which removal efficiency was 81.5 %. Nitrite anion was generated during electrolysis of nitrate solution which increases nitrate–nitrite index at the first reaction time, and it was eliminated after 20-min electrolysis time. Reaction kinetic of nitrate removal in the absence and presence of turbidity was first-order and zero-order, respectively.     

Early oxidation of organic matter in pelagic sediments of the eastern equatorial Atlantic: suboxic diagenesis

Pore water profiles of total-CO₂, pH, PO^3?₄, NO^?₃ plus NO^?₂, SO^2?₄, S^2?, Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺ have been obtained in cores from pelagic sediments of the eastern equatorial Atlantic under waters of moderate to high productivity. These profiles reveal that oxidants are consumed in order of decreasing energy production per mole of organic carbon oxidized (O₂ > manganese oxides ~ nitrate > iron oxides > sulfate). Total CO₂ concentrations reflect organic regeneration and calcite dissolution. Phosphate profiles are consistent with organic regeneration and with the effects of release and uptake during inorganic reactions. Nitrate profiles reflect organic regeneration and nitrate reduction, while dissolved iron and manganese profiles suggest reduction of the solid oxide phases, upward fluxes of dissolved metals and subsequent entrapment in the sediment column. Sulfate values are constant and sulfide is absent, reflecting the absence of strongly anoxic conditions.