Abstract
We collected and analysed 58 samples of groundwater from wells in the Barcellona-Milazzo Plain, one of the most important coastal aquifers of Sicily (Italy), to determine major, minor, and trace element concentrations. In this area, geogenic and anthropogenic sources of heavy metals and other pollutants co-act, making the individuation of the main pollution sources difficult. Our work was aimed at the application of geostatistical criteria for discriminating between these pollution sources. We used probability plots for separating anomalous values from background concentrations, which were plotted on maps and related to possible sources of pollutants. Our results indicate that hydrothermal fluid circulation and the water–rock interaction of country rocks that host mineralized ore deposits generate a significant flux of heavy metals to groundwater, as well as anthropogenic sources like intense agriculture and industrial activities. In particular, NO3, F, and Ni exceed the Maximum Admitted Concentrations (MACs) established by the WHO and Italian legislation for drinking-water. The spatial distributions of geogenic and anthropogenic sources were so deeply interlocked that their separation was not easy, also employing geostatistical tools. This complex scenario makes the implementation of human health risk mitigation actions difficult, since the flow of pollutants is in many cases controlled by simple water–rock interaction processes.
Highlights
IntroductionIs currently estimated to increase by about 1% per year, is a result of population growth, economic progress, and a change of the main uses of water [3]
As stated by the World Health Organization (WHO), “access to safe drinking-water is essential to health, a basic human right, and a component of effective policy for health protection” [1].Increasing global water demand, which has increased by a factor of six over the past 100 years [2]and is currently estimated to increase by about 1% per year, is a result of population growth, economic progress, and a change of the main uses of water [3]
With a specific focus on heavy metals, we present previously unpublished data acquired in that study related to the distribution and fate of major, minor, and trace elements in the main aquifer on the northern coast of Sicily (Italy)
Summary
Is currently estimated to increase by about 1% per year, is a result of population growth, economic progress, and a change of the main uses of water [3]. For both industrial (20%, 75% of which is for energy production) and domestic (10%) usage, water demand will continue to increase, agriculture water usage will remain the largest (70%) [3,4]. This growing demand will increase especially in countries with developing or emerging economies [3]. Public Health 2019, 16, 285; doi:10.3390/ijerph16020285 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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