Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1007/s12665-013-3029-0
Volltext Shareable Link
Titel (primär) Investigating arsenic (As) occurrence and sources in ground, surface, waste and drinking water in northern Mongolia
Autor Pfeiffer, M.; Batbayar, G.; Hofmann, J.; Siegfried, K.; Karthe, D.; Hahn-Tomer, S.
Quelle Environmental Earth Sciences
Erscheinungsjahr 2015
Department ASAM; UMB
Band/Volume 73
Heft 2
Seite von 649
Seite bis 662
Sprache englisch
Supplements https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1007%2Fs12665-013-3029-0/MediaObjects/12665_2013_3029_MOESM1_ESM.pdf
https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1007%2Fs12665-013-3029-0/MediaObjects/12665_2013_3029_MOESM2_ESM.pdf
Keywords Arsenic pollution; Drinking water; Gold mining; Mongolia; Upper Selenga River Basin
UFZ Querschnittsthemen RU2;
Abstract Elevated levels of arsenic in drinking water are found in several parts of Asia. Prolonged intakes of even low concentrations typically have serious health effects. This research paper integrates results of various studies on arsenic contamination of ground, surface, waste and drinking water in north-central Mongolia. Samples were analyzed with the ARSOlux biosensor and the Arsenator field test kit as well as different spectrometric methods (ICP-MS, ICP-OES). Altogether 309 samples were tested for their arsenic concentration, 44 of them with more than one technique. In the study region, the enrichment of heavy metals in surface waters is often linked to mining and coal combustion. The highest concentration of arsenic (As) was detected in the effluent of a gold mine (up to 2,820 μg L−1) and in the ash basin of a thermal power plant (up to 1,170 μg L−1). Five of 54 drinking water samples and 16 of 184 river samples were found to contain As levels above the World Health Organization (WHO) maximum permissible limit (10 μg L−1), with a maximum of 300 μg L−1 As. In addition, elevated levels of uranium were detected. The degree and extent of As concentrations exceeding WHO standards were previously unknown and demonstrate the necessity for a more intensive screening as well as possible interventions concerning the intake of arsenic-contaminated drinking water. Preliminary results indicate that the ARSOlux biosensor technology is well suited for a precise quantification of arsenic content at low detection limits in regions where access to central laboratories is difficult.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=14615
Pfeiffer, M., Batbayar, G., Hofmann, J., Siegfried, K., Karthe, D., Hahn-Tomer, S. (2015):
Investigating arsenic (As) occurrence and sources in ground, surface, waste and drinking water in northern Mongolia
Environ. Earth Sci. 73 (2), 649 - 662 10.1007/s12665-013-3029-0