Element concentrations in groundwater in the eastern phosphate area and southern volcanic area of Syria

Abstract

The concentration of the elements K, Ca, Mg, Na, Sr, Al, As, Ba, Br, Ce, Cr, Fe, Nb, Rb, Se, Sm, V, Zn, Co, Cs, U, Sb, Sc, Th, Eu and Hf in groundwater samples from the eastern phosphate and the southern volcanic area of Syria were investigated using INAA (instrumental neutron activation analysis) and γ-spectroscopy. The concentrations of first and second group elements are higher in the phosphate area than in the volcanic area. The concentrations of Fe, Co, Cr, Sc, Eu and Sm are high in some samples from the southern volcanic area. This can be explained by the occurrence of these elements in surrounding rocks and the solubility of their compounds. The results are compared with drinking water limits from different countries.