Can arsenic occurrence rates in bedrock aquifers be predicted?

Environ Sci Technol. 2012 Feb 21;46(4):2080-7. doi: 10.1021/es203793x. Epub 2012 Feb 9.

Abstract

A high percentage (31%) of groundwater samples from bedrock aquifers in the greater Augusta area, Maine was found to contain greater than 10 μg L(-1) of arsenic. Elevated arsenic concentrations are associated with bedrock geology, and more frequently observed in samples with high pH, low dissolved oxygen, and low nitrate. These associations were quantitatively compared by statistical analysis. Stepwise logistic regression models using bedrock geology and/or water chemistry parameters are developed and tested with external data sets to explore the feasibility of predicting groundwater arsenic occurrence rates (the percentages of arsenic concentrations higher than 10 μg L(-1)) in bedrock aquifers. Despite the under-prediction of high arsenic occurrence rates, models including groundwater geochemistry parameters predict arsenic occurrence rates better than those with bedrock geology only. Such simple models with very few parameters can be applied to obtain a preliminary arsenic risk assessment in bedrock aquifers at local to intermediate scales at other localities with similar geology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic / analysis*
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Forecasting
  • Groundwater / analysis*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Logistic Models*
  • Maine
  • Nitrates / analysis
  • Oxygen / analysis
  • Sulfates / analysis
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

  • Nitrates
  • Sulfates
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Arsenic
  • Oxygen