Influence of geology on arsenic concentrations in ground and surface water in central Lesvos, Greece

Abstract

The occurrence of As was studied in groundwater used for human consumption and irrigation, in stream water and sediments and in water from thermal springs in the drainage basin of Kalloni Gulf, island of Lesvos, Greece, in order to investigate the potential influence of the geothermal field of Polichnitos-Lisvori on the ground and surface water systems of the area. Total dissolved As varied in the range <0.7-88.3 microg L(-1) in groundwater, 41.1-90.7 microg L(-1) in thermal spring water and 0.4-13.2 microg L(-1) in stream water, whereas As concentrations in stream sediments varied between 2.0-21.9 mg kg(-1). Four out of 31 groundwater samples exceeded the EC standard of 10 microg L(-1). The survey revealed an enrichment in both surface and groundwater hydrological systems in the northern part of the area (average concentrations of As in groundwater, stream water and stream sediment: 8.0 microg L(-1), 8.8 microg L(-1) and 15.0 mg kg(-1) respectively), in association with the volcanic bedrocks, while lower As concentrations were found in the eastern part (average concentrations in groundwater, stream water and stream sediment: 2.9 microg L(-1), 1.7 microg L(-1) and 5.9 mg kg(-1) respectively), which is dominated by ophiolitic ultramafic formations. The variation of As levels between the different parts of the study area suggests that local geology exerts a determinant influence on As geochemical behaviour. On the other hand, the geothermal activity manifested in the area of Polichnitos-Lisvori does not affect the presence of As in groundwater and streams.

An Integrated Approach to Identify Water Resources for Human Consumption in an Area Affected by High Natural Arsenic Content

“…The same problems also affect other areas of the world characterized by groundwater flow interacting with volcanic rocks (e.g., [19,20]). …”

Medical geochemical investigations in taking precautionary measures against diseases. Protection and human health

“…Research in regard to the presence of Mn and other metals in the environment in relation to human health were carried out in Greece (Kondakis et al, 1989, Leotsinidis andKondakis, 1990). Similarly the levels of As in waters and sediments were investigated (Varnavas and Cronan, 1988;1991;Aloupi et al, 2009). …”

Dissolved arsenic in the shallow alluvial aquifers in North Brahmaputra Plain, India: a case study in and around lower Jia Bharali River basin

“…The anthropogenic contributions of As results from industrial or agricultural activities: the smelting of arsenic bearing minerals, the burning of fossil fuels, the glass industry, arsenical pesticides, herbicides, and crop desiccants (Smedley and Kinniburgh 2002). The usual concentration of arsenic in groundwater varies between 1 and 10 lg/L (Bissen and Frimmel 2003;Sharma and Sohn 2009) and geochemical conditions of the aquifers that favor the mobilization and the accumulation of the anionic species of As are considered to be mainly responsible (Matin et al 2004;Aloupi et al 2009). Inorganic arsenic species are highly toxic, and various diseases, including lung cancer, liver cancer, renal cancer, and skin cancer or perturbations of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, nervous, and hematopoietic systems, were associated with drinking water that is high in arsenic (Smith et al 2002;Ali and Aboul-Enein 2002;Ali 2012).…”