Assessment of the Status of Groundwater Arsenic at Singair Upazila, Manikganj Bangladesh; Exploring the Correlation with Other Metals and Ions

Abstract

Comparative study was conducted to correlate arsenic (As), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+), nitrate (NO3 −), phosphate (PO4 3−), and ammonia (NH3) by determining their concentration at different depths of the tube-wells in the selected study area at Singair, Manikganj Bangladesh. Total 99 tube-well water samples were collected from the study area. In most of the sampling points, the present concentrations of As were less than the previous concentrations. The correlation between As and Fe was positively significant. It can be suggested possible adsorption/co-precipitation of As with Fe in shallow aquifer. However, the relationship between As and Mn was not significantly observed. On the other hand, relationship between Cu and As showed a positive significant correlation. The correlation between As and PO4 3− was also significant, although the correlation between As and NO3 − was not significant. PO4 3− may come from phosphate fertilizers application and can be a contributor of As in the shallow aquifer. The PCA biplot also indicated the significant relationship between As, Cu, Fe and PO4 3−. Excessive withdrawal of tube-well water along with aquifer dynamics and ionic interference might be responsible for the mobilization of As in the study area.