Arsenic and Fluoride in Groundwater of the Sedimentary Aquifer in The Campus of The National University of Rio Cuarto, Cordoba, Argentina

GIACOBONE DANIELA; BLARASIN MONICA; MATTEODA EDEL ; CABRERA ADRIANA; LUTRI VERONICA; FELIZZIA JUAN

IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology

International Organization of Scientific Research

Año: 2018

2319-2399

Among the problems of groundwater in many countries worldwide, those related to high values of Arsenic and fluoride highlights. The objective of this work is to evaluate hydrogeological and geochemical aspects and the use aptitude of groundwater from the unconfined sedimentary aquifer of the UNRC Campus and its surroundings, with emphasis on the Arsenic and fluoride behavior. All the groundwater water samples are fresh and 64.28% are calcium bicarbonate type, aspect strongly related to the texture and mineralogy of the paleo-channels from which the groundwater is extracted. Arsenic and fluoride values (1 to 10 μg/L and 0.12 to 0.6 mg/L respectively) show a good correlation in the different hydrogeological units, which supports their similar behavior under given hydrogeological-geochemical conditions. The grouping and positive correlation between As and F with Na and HCO3- indicate that groundwater major ion chemistry plays a significant role in mobilizing these elements. In the studied zone the predominance of very low As and F values are related to the abundance of calcium groundwater whereas the little higher values appear in the eolian plain where sodium contents (as a result of cation exchange) and pH and HCO3- values (predominantly controlled by carbonate weathering reactions) are higher. The obtained results indicate a high aptitude of groundwater to be used for human consumption in the Campus.