Heavy Metal Contamination In Groundwater Research Articles

Seasonal variation in chromium hexavalent and copper contamination in groundwater of Jimeta-Yola Area, Northeastern Nigeria

Seasonal variation in heavy metal contamination of groundwater in the Jimeta- Yola area was investigated. The objectives of the study were to determine the seasonal variation in heavy metal contamination and to determine the influence of anthropogenic activities on heavy metal contamination. Groundwater samples were collected from hand-dug wells and boreholes between the dry season and rainy season periods. The water samples were analyzed using the DR/2010 spectrophotometer, TDS/conductivity meter and membrane filtration method. The results revealed that chromium hexavalent and copper enrichment occurred in the rainy season in the order of Cr+6KEY WORDS: Anthropogenic. Waste. Contamination. Groundwater. Heavy metals.

Acid mine drainage and heavy metal contamination in groundwater of metal sulfide mine at arid territory (BS mine, Western Australia)

The issues of acid mine drainage (AMD) and heavy metals contamination in the metal sulfide mine in the arid district were explored, through studying the acidification and the heavy metals distribution and evolution of groundwater in the black swan (BS) nickel sulfide mine (Western Australia). The groundwater samples were collected from the drilling holes situated in the vicinity of tailings storage facility (TSF) and in the background of the mine (away from TSF), respectively, and the pH and electric conductivity ( E c) were measured in site and the metal contents were analysed by ICP-MS and ICP-AES, quarterly in one hydrological year. The results disclose that the TSF groundwater is remarkably acidified (pH mean≈5, pH min=3), and the average contents of heavy metals (Co, Cu, Zn, Cd) and Al, Mn are of 1–2 orders of magnitude higher in TSF groundwater than in background groundwater. It may be due to the percolation of tailings waste water from mill process, which leads the tailings to oxidize and the deep groundwater to acidify and contaminate with heavy metals. Besides, the heavy metals concentration in groundwater may be controlled by pH mainly.

An investigation of heavy metal and migration through groundwater from the landfill area of Eskisehir in Turkey

This paper was conducted in order to determine the groundwater and soil pollution within and around the landfill of Eskisehir, Turkey. In this paper, mud, leachate and groundwater samples were collected seasonally a year from near Eskisehir landfill-site to investigate the possible impact of leachate which affects soil and groundwater quality. Concentrations of various heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co, Pb, Cr, Ni and Mo) were determined in mud, leachate and groundwater samples. In addition, the heavy metal transportation infiltrated from landfill through a porous medium into the groundwater was modelled in order to determine the potential groundwater pollution caused by the leachate of the landfill. The modelling of the contaminant transportation was carried out by using a multiflow computer programme which simulates the distribution of heavy metal concentrations. As a result of this study, the distribution of the contaminant concentration was modelled and determined with respect to time and distance. Hence, the contaminant concentrations were determined at any time interval according to distance. The heavy metal contamination in groundwater does not affect the wells found at far points from the source in a short time, e.g. 10, 20 and 30 days according to the obtained experimental results. When the time intervals extended more than 1 year, heavy metal concentrations decrease with distance but the concentration of the contamination increases when it gets closer to the pollution source. In this study, the potential contamination of groundwater was effectively estimated.

Heavy Metal Contamination of Groundwater in the Tea Garden Belt of Darrang District, Assam, India

A study has been carried out on heavy metal contamination of groundwater with respect to cadmium, manganese, zinc and copper in the tea garden belt of Darrang district, Assam, India. Heavy metals in groundwater are estimated by using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, Perkin Elmer AA 200. Univariate statistics along with skewness, kurtosis and ‘t’ test have been employed to test the distribution normality for each metal. The study reveals that the groundwater of the area is highly contaminated with cadmium. A good number of samples are also found to contain manganese at an alert level. The concentrations of copper and zinc in the groundwater of the area are within the guideline values of WHO. Statistical results show that all the metals under study exhibit an asymmetric distribution in the area with a long asymmetric tail on the right of the median. Keeping in view of the high concentrations of cadmium and manganese, it is suggested to test the potability of groundwater of the area before using it for drinking.

Heavy metal contamination in groundwater due to mining activities in Sukinda valley, Orissa - A case study

Sukinda Valley, Orissa is known for its chromite ore deposits. The open cast mining for chromium is being carried out since 1950. The extraction of chromite has mostly been carried out by open cast and at few places by under ground mining methods. The possibility of leaching contaminants from the ore material kept in the open ground or from the wastages or degraded ore material produced during the mining processes may contaminate the groundwater in the study area. There is also a high possibility that the contaminants will move to the aquifer system from the seepage of bottom floor of the mining quarry. In order to assess the chemical quality, groundwater samples from different part of the study area for post and pre-monsoon period have been collected and analyzed for various contaminants. This study showed that the groundwater in the study area was nearly neutral to mildly alkaline in pH (6.1 - 7.6) with low to moderate TDS (50 - 507 mg/l). High TSS (4 - 64 mg/l) indicates the influence of mine’s waste on the groundwater quality, because the TSS particles remains as suspended colloidal particles in groundwater and are hence toxic as far as the groundwater potability is concerned. TSS levels are higher than the normal permissible limits of potable water and require a proper filtration process before human consumption. Metallic trace elements such as Cu (0.01 - 1.8 mg/l) and Cr(VI) (0.01 to 0.45 mg/l) are more than the permissible limits at some places in different seasons and my cause health hazards. In general, good groundwater conditions as well as simultaneous dissolution and dilution restraint the chromite and other heavy metals in groundwater. Key words: Heavy metals, dissolution, dilution, ultramafic rocks.

Transport of heavy metals and cations in a fly ash amended soil

The potential for heavy metal contamination of groundwater in and around coal combustion residue disposal sites is one of the main areas of concern regarding proper disposal of these by-products. The use of fly ash as an amendment to agricultural soils has been investigated to explore its effects on corp growth and production. Precautions must be taken to prevent possible water contamination as a result of fly ash usage in agricultural soils. Positive correlations exist between the concentrations of either water or acid extractable B, F, Mo, and Se or acid extractable As in fly ash and those of the similar elements in effluent waters near a fly ash landfill.Solubility of fly ash in water is an important factor which determines the extent of water pollution from fly ash. This study investigates the transport of heavy metals and cations in a sandy soil amended with various rates of fly ash. 14 refs., 3 tabs.