Investigation of the hydrogeochemistry of some bottled mineral waters in Hungary

Bottled drinking water constitutes a significant part of total water consumption in developed countries and national and EU legislation regulates their market production. In the framework of an international project carried out by the EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group 36 bottled waters were obtained from public markets in Hungary in order to determine their hydrogeochemical composition. The objective of this study is to investigate the possible relationship between groundwater aquifer lithology and the processed and marketed bottled waters, and to develop a classification of bottled waters, based on their dissolved mineral content. Analytical results of this study are compared with the composition shown on bottle labels, and with archive hydrochemical data from the producing wells. Results show that, while processing of original groundwater, such as oxygen addition, iron or hydrogen-sulphide removal can significantly alter water composition, bottled water composition can be used for selection of sites for detailed hydrogeochemical and hydrogeological characterization. A simple and useful classification of bottled water quality is also presented that is based on natural groups of sampled waters derived by means of statistical data analysis methods.     

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.     

Classification of natural mineral and spring bottled waters of Portugal using Principal Component Analysis

Considering its area, Portugal is one of the world's richest countries in mineral and spring waters. There are 33 different types of bottled water, 18 of which are classified as natural mineral water and the remaining as spring water. The majority of these waters are of low mineralisation in comparison to most European bottled waters.     

Composition and variation of major and trace elements in Croatian bottled waters

Within the framework of the Pan-European project about the geochemistry of bottled mineral waters in Europe launched in 2007 by the European Geological Surveys (EGS) Geochemistry Expert Group fourteen brands of bottled natural waters from Croatia of both mineral and spring types were evaluated for getting more coherent spatial information about the natural variation of element concentration in bottled waters found at the European market. Results of chemical analysis show that not a single one out of fourteen analyzed bottled waters from Croatia exceeds the Croatian water standards sanctioning thereby their suitability for human consumption. Also, statistical tests performed for 41 analytes (including pH and EC) clearly show that the water chemistry is in a high degree of conformity with regional geology, depending on structural, stratigraphic and, above all, lithological diversity of aquifers. Thus Dinaric and Pannonian parts of Croatia differ largely with regard to their water types: Dinaric region is completely lacking mineral water types while, on the other side, in the Pannonian region even the spring waters show stronger mineralization in comparison with their Dinaric counterparts. Typically, all natural waters from Croatia bear the bicarbonate (HCO₃) signature. However, Ca–Mg cation pair combination is characteristic of spring waters while Na–K dominates in the mineral waters.     

赣中变质岩带变质流体地球化学特征与流体来源

对赣中变质岩带的变质岩、混合岩及其中的长英质脉体包裹体的化学成分和C、H、O同位素进行了研究。结果表明：赣中变质岩带变质流体有多种来源,流体成分复杂,有互不混溶的流体水、CO2、有机物。水主要来源于古海水和大气降水,少部分来源于深部岩浆水;有机物来源于沉积岩成岩物质;CO2多数来源于碳酸盐岩,少数来源于有机质的氧化分解。这些流体受构造运动的驱动而活化迁移,成为成矿物质的运移介质,参与了本区岩石的变质改造,是形成本区长英质变质分异脉体、混合岩、混合花岗岩及伟晶岩的重要流体来源。     

Geochemistry of carbon dioxide mineral waters of the Choigan natural complex (northeastern Tuva)

The abundance of various chemical elements (including trace, rare-earth, and radioactive) in the carbon dioxide mineral waters of the Choigan complex has been investigated. Three groups of waters are recognized according to the geochemical conditions and chemical composition: groundwaters of regional-jointing zone with oxidizing conditions; CO₂-enriched groundwaters of regional-jointing zone with oxidizing conditions; and groundwaters of fault zones with reducing conditions. It is shown that water–rock interaction intensified by high temperature and carbon dioxide action is the main process determining the chemical composition of groundwaters.     

贵州省岩溶地区饮用天然矿泉水化学特征及其宏量组分来源分析

贵州省饮用天然矿泉水资源非常丰富,且水质优良,本文对贵州省岩溶地区饮用天然矿泉水进行了系统的水样采集、水质化验等工作。检测结果显示,贵州省岩溶区饮用天然矿泉水pH值7. 0～8. 1,为中性水;溶解性总固体(TDS)含量介于160. 64～925. 10 mg/L之间,平均含量为369. 70 mg/L,属淡水;总硬度(以CaCO_3计) 136. 8～740. 6 mg/L,平均硬度为293. 0 mg/L,属微硬-硬水;有益元素锶含量介于0. 11～6. 91 mg/L之间,平均含量为1. 28 mg/L,总体上,贵州省饮用天然矿泉水属中性微硬-硬富锶型淡水。Piper三线图显示其水化学类型以HCO~(3-)-Ca~(2+)(Mg~(2+))为主。基于前人研究成果,并结合多种地球化学图解分析,旨在剖析贵州省饮用天然矿泉水水化学特征,探讨其宏量组分来源。贵州省饮用天然矿泉水Gibbs图解显示,其水化学组分主要来源于岩石风化淋滤作用,部分受大气降雨影响较明显; Mg/Na-Ca/Na图解投点均落于碳酸盐岩和硅酸盐岩之间,且明显偏向于碳酸盐岩,指示其主要受控于碳酸盐岩的溶滤作用;HCO~(3-)-(Mg~(2+)/Ca~(2+))图解投点主要集中在方解石和白云石过渡区域,显示其主要来源于方解石的溶解,白云石溶解亦有一定贡献。通过宏量组分来源相关分析,对贵州省岩溶地区饮用天然矿泉水成因规律的认识有一定指导意义。     

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.     

莺歌海盆地D1-1底辟区天然气成藏过程与分布差异

通过对莺歌海盆地D1-1底辟区中深层高温超压带与浅层正常压力带、压力过渡带天然气的组成、碳同位素特征差异的对比分析,结合底辟活动特征,研究了天然气藏的形成过程和天然气组分的分布规律。研究结果表明：(1)D1-1底辟核部区和底辟波及区中深层天然气成藏过程有差异,主要受底辟活动影响程度的控制。底辟核部区中深层气藏的形成过程为早期成藏、后期破坏并再次充注;底辟波及区中深层气藏的形成则为早期成藏,后期改造较弱,成熟煤型原生气藏保存较好。(2)D1-1底辟核部区和底辟波及区中深层天然气组分、碳同位素分布有明显规律;随距底辟核部距离的增大,其甲烷含量升高,二氧化碳含量降低,甲烷碳同位素变轻(成熟度降低),二氧化碳碳同位素也变轻,底辟核部区富集无机成因CO₂,至底辟波及区则以有机成因CO₂为主。     

Distribution of uranium in German bottled and tap water

The results presented in this paper on uranium in bottled and tap water were determined within the scope of the project “European Groundwater Geochemistry: Bottled Water” of the Geochemistry Expert Group of EuroGeoSurveys. The analyses of bottled water provide an inexpensive approach to obtain information about European groundwater geochemistry. For this study, the uranium concentrations in 1785 European mineral water samples were analyzed by ICP–QMS in the BGR laboratories. The dataset is used to obtain a first impression about natural concentration levels and variation of uranium in groundwater (and bottled water) at the German and European scale.     

Mineral reactions during coke gasification with carbon dioxide

Coke degradation in the blast furnace is influenced by its inherent mineral matter. Coke gasification affects the composition of the inherent mineral matter and would therefore be expected to change its effect on coke degradation. Four cokes prepared in a laboratory oven were exposed to carbon dioxide (100%) at approximately 900 °C for different carbon conversion levels, namely 15% and 75%. The mineralogy of the raw and reacted cokes was qualitatively and quantitatively determined. Gas composition was found to have a more significant effect on mineralogy than temperature; the mineralogy (qualitative and quantitative) being dramatically affected by carbon dioxide, whereas treatment at 900 °C in the absence of carbon dioxide resulted in little change. During gasification the reduced phases underwent transformations due to oxidation by carbon dioxide. Oxidation of the reduced phases enabled their reaction with adjacent minerals. Also, as gasification proceeds, the carbon in contact with the mineral matter is consumed, diminishing the contact surface area between them.     

Some features of mineral waters in Russia

 The Russian Federation has many aquifers and these possess a wide range of chemical compositions. In Russia about 300 mineral water sources have been developed as spas and health resorts. More than 150 of them produce bottled mineral water. A brief historical revue is given. The study of mineral waters in Russia began as far back as the reign of Peter the Great (1682–1725). It has been prolonged by works of many Russian scientists. The details of the chemical composition of the different types of Russian mineral waters and some geological aquifer peculiarities are described. The most widely used classification of mineral waters in Russia is presented. The present condition of these waters and the government standards laid down for their use are described. Examples of different mineral waters are given. Received: 14 April 1998 / Accepted: 8 December 1998     

Hydrogeological conditions for the forming and quality of mineral waters in Serbia

In the past researches conducted on the territory of Serbia, 5 regional geotectonic units have been distinguished with registered occurrences of 230 mineral springs. Recent analyses of the bottled mineral waters quality have not included systematic examinations of micro-components present in these waters. Based on the analyses of the bottled mineral waters (EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group), it has been observed that the water quality is greatly influenced by the chemical composition of igneous intrusions, regardless of the fact that the analyzed waters have been taken from different aquifers (Neogene sediments, limestone, flysch, schist).     

Origin of fluorine in mineral waters of Bujanovac valley (Serbia, Europe)

This paper deals with mineral and thermomineral water occurrences of the Bujanovac valley in south eastern part of Serbia related to granitoides of the Bujanovac massif along both the margin and the floor of the valley. In past decades (1966–2010) numerous hydrogeological, hydrogeochemical and geophysical explorations were carried out. One of results of these explorations is the completion of test holes and exploratory—production wells. They provide groundwater for three water bottling factories: “Heba”, “Bivoda”, “Prohor” as well as the “Vrelo Bujanovac Banja Spa Centre” for rehabilitation, treatment, and prevention. All stated consumers use the same mineral water aquifer. The content of fluoride in the majority of examined mineral waters is higher than 4 mg/1, whereby they are singled out as typical fluoride waters. The content of calcium ions in them amounts 80 mg/1, and the values of the saturation index in relation to calcium fluoride (SI) range from 0.4 to 0.7 mg/1, which points to mineral waters saturated in relation to fluorite. However, in the study area, there are mineral water occurrences with the content of fluoride significantly lower than in the majority of analysed waters representing hydrochemical anomalies. These waters occur as hydrochemical anomalies in marl and sandstone wherein Secondary mineral water aquifers, originating from cracked granite of the Bujanovac massif, are formed. When mineral waters from granite (with the increased content of fluoride) reach these secondary aquifers, the content of fluoride ions lowers to about 1 mg/1, which is of great significance from the point of view of mineral water utilisation as table bottled water. In this paper, it is proved that, in addition to the presence of some minerals as basic fluorine bearers, the role of the lithological environment where the natural process of defluoridation occurs is significant, which is confirmed by the revitalization of the A-4 well. The paper deals with mineral water deposits of the Bujanovac valley, and the natural way of lowering of fluorine content in the given waters.     

福建省饮用天然矿泉水资源与评价

福建省饮用天然矿泉水资源丰富,但主要为偏硅酸型,水源地遍布全省,但规模一般较小,根据我省已鉴定的饮用天然矿泉水资源的基本概况,特点进行总结,并对福建省饮用天然矿泉水资源评价中存在的若干主要问题进行探讨,同时对资源评价,开发提出了建议。     

中酸性火山岩中造岩矿物含量的定量计算方法

主要造岩矿物的含量是火山岩分类定名的主要依据。对于基质为微晶质、隐晶质的火山岩，采用常规的薄片显微镜统计矿物含量几乎是不可行的。目前已有的利用岩石化学成分计算矿物含量的方法均不适用于中酸性火山岩。因此，本文基于岩石与矿物之间的化学成分质量平衡原理，提出了计算火山岩实际矿物含量的方法。该方法是利用实际矿物成分，采用最优化方法计算岩石中实际矿物的含量，在很大程度上避免了计算中的人为性。对中酸性火山岩实际样品计算表明，该方法使用简单方便，精度较高。     

煤岩及其主显微组份热解气碳同位素组成的演化

模拟实验是有机地球化学研究的重要组成部分 ,也是油气地球化学研究的重要手段。本文通过煤岩及其主要显微组分的热解成气模拟实验产物的组分和同位素组成分析 ,补充和完善了前人对煤岩热解气同位素组成分布的一些认识。同时 ,对比研究了煤型气与煤岩热解气的碳同位素分馏特征 ,结果表明两者具有良好的一致性 ,认为可以通过精细的热解模拟来提供不同含煤沉积盆地煤型气的判识指标 ,而模拟气与天然气碳同位素组成的对比 ,关键是对同位素分析资料的处理。在模拟系列产物碳同位素分析基础上 ,获得了单一成因来源天然气甲烷、乙烷碳同位素组成与演化程度之间的关系式以及演化过程中甲烷碳同位素之间的关系式 ,这些结果会对混源气的判识有重要意义。     

Natural selection of mineral species

The old issue of the limited number of mineral species is being brought up again and requires explanation. The review of successive calculations of the number of mineral species and their main varieties is given in this paper with allowance for the contemporary view on this problem. The natural selection of mineral species develops under the effect of geochemical differentiation of mineral matter, a multitude of chemical elements and their substitutions, and acid-alkali equilibria. It is noteworthy that water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other volatiles make a crucial contribution to the increase in the number of mineral species in the Earth’s crust.     

Chemical composition of bottled mineral waters in Estonia

Five commercially available in Estonia brands of bottled water have been analysed for 59 chemical elements by ICP-QMS and ICP-AES techniques to assess the quality of domestic mineral waters in scope of the European Groundwater Geochemistry Project initiated by the Geochemistry Expert Group of EuroGeoSurveys. Contents of 9 cations and anions, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured in the bottled mineral waters by IC, titration and photometric methods. The data showed a significant difference between natural undiluted mineral water (Värska Originaal) characterised by the highest values of pH, EC and majority of trace elements studied, and other domestic waters sold in Estonia.     

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.