Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentration in Arsenic Contaminated Groundwater of the Chaco Plain, Argentina

Abstract

The occurrence and distribution of arsenic and 23 other trace elements have been investigated in groundwater from Comandante Fernández Department in the Central region of Chaco Province, Northern Argentine. The arsenic concentrations samples ranged between 0.7 to 1990 µg L −1 ; 91% ( n = 45 ) exceeds the 10 µg L −1 World Health Organization (WHO) provisional standard limits for drinking water. Fluorine was detected in 31% of groundwater samples. Furthermore, there was found a significant correlation between As and F ( r 2 = 0.50 ), indicating an association in the prevalence of both elements. In addition, about 78%, 31%, 16%, 13%, and 4.5% of groundwater samples had, respectively, B, Fe, Al, Mn, and Sb exceeding Código Alimentario Argentino (CAA) guideline values. In contrast of the previously values descript, the corresponding to Cr, Be, Ni, Pb, Ag, Se, and Zn were found below the quantification limit. The presence of As and trace elements in groundwater represents an important issue because it can cause a public health problem.