Abstract
Abstract. Perchlorate (ClO4-) is an environmental contaminant of growing concern due to its potential human health effects and widespread occurrence in surface water and groundwater. Analyses carried out in France have highlighted the presence of ClO4- in drinking water of Champagne-Ardenne (NW of France), with two potential sources suspected: a military source related to the First World War and an agricultural source related to the past use of Chilean nitrates. To determine the sources of ClO4- in groundwater, major and trace elements, 2H and 18O, ClO3- and ClO4- ions and a list of 39 explosives were analyzed from 35 surface water and groundwater sampling points in the east of the city of Reims. ClO4- ions were found in almost all sampling points (32 out of 35) with a max value of 33 µg L−1. ClO4- concentrations were highest in groundwater ranging from 0.7 to 33 µg L−1 (average value of about 6.2 µg L−1) against from < 0.5 to 10.2 µg L−1 in surface water (average value of about 2.7 µg L−1). Most of the water samples showing high ClO4- levels (> 4 µg L−1) were collected near a military camp, where huge quantities of ammunitions have been used, stored and destroyed during and after the First World War.
Highlights
Perchlorate (ClO−4 ) is an inorganic anion and a powerful oxidizer with high solubility and mobility in water
The study area is located in the east of Reims (NE of France; Fig. 1) and covers approximately 600 km2 between the Suippe River and the Vesle River, where some water catchments intended for drinking water supply are significantly impacted by the presence of ClO−4 ions
Perchlorate ions were found in almost all the samples, and the mean ClO−4 concentrations in groundwater and surface water samples were 6.2 and 2.7 μg L−1, respectively. 15 among the 35 water points (43 %) present ClO−4 levels higher than 4 μg L−1 and 1 sampling point exhibits ClO−4 concentrations higher than 15 μg L−1 (US EPA reference dose)
Summary
Perchlorate (ClO−4 ) is an inorganic anion and a powerful oxidizer with high solubility and mobility in water. Stable under ambient conditions, perchlorate may persist for many years, possibly decades, under typical surface water and groundwater conditions (Sturchio et al, 2014). Perchlorate salts are widely used as oxidizer in solid rockets fuel and as component of fireworks, pyrotechnics, flares and explosives (Urbansky, 1998). Natural sources such as sodium nitrate deposits in Chile (Urbansky et al, 2001) and formation in the atmosphere have been reported (Dasgupta et al, 2005). Perchlorate is an environmental contaminant of concern in water because of its potential ability to inhibit iodide uptake and to impact neurodevelopment, especially for foetuses and infants (Leung et al, 2010).
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