This study aimed to evaluate the potential of handpump tubewell platform color as a low-cost, quick and convenient screening tool for As and Mn in drinking water tubewells. For this study, groundwater samples and corresponding tubewell platform pictures were collected from 272 shallow tubewells in Matlab Upazila of South-Eastern Bangladesh. The result shows that arsenic concentration within the surveyed (n = 272) tubewells, 99% (n = 269) exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value of 10 µg/L, and 98% (n = 267) exceeded the Bangladesh drinking water standards (BDWS) of 50 µg/L. In relation to the platform color concept, within 233 (total 272) red colored platform tubewells, 230 (99%) exceeded the WHO guideline value of 10 µg/L, and 229 (98%) tubewells exceeded BDWS of 50 µg/L. This result shows a strong correlation between the development of red color stain on tubewell platform and As concentrations in the corresponding tubewell water. This study suggests that red-colored platform can be used for primary identification of tubewells with an elevated level of As and thus could prioritize sustainable As mitigation management in developing countries where water comes from reductive shallow aquifers. This study did not confirm the potential for Mn screening, as red discoloration by Fe oxides was found to mask the black discoloration of Mn oxides. It is recommended to further investigate this screening tool in regions with a higher well-to-well variability of As contaminations, as in the presented study As was found >10ug/L in 99% of the tubewells.

Development, monitoring and management of drinking water resources, especially groundwater, are essential for sustainable water extraction. The present study aimed to explore suitable locations and depths for installing tubewells for safe drinking water. Tala upazila of Satkhira district, in the coastal area of Bangladesh, was selected as the study area. Groundwater samples were collected from 632 shallow tubewells (STW) and deep tubewells (DTW). In-situ measurements were done for seven important water quality parameters, such as arsenic (As), iron (Fe), electrical conductivity (EC), temperature (T), Total Coliform-TC, E. coli and Faecal Coliform (FC). Weighted arithmetic water quality index (WQI) was used to calculate the suitability of drinking water collected from tubewells. Experimental value based maps for each parameter were prepared and safe aquifer sites were identified using WQI and geo-statistical as well as geo-spatial analysis. Range of As, Fe and EC were found to be 0–500 µg/L, 0–18 mg/L and 165–8715 µS/cm, respectively and for STW, 88%, 99% and 100% and for DTW, 64%, 71% and 100% exceeded WHO drinking water standards. Comparatively high proportion of STW (TC-41%, E. coli−24% and FC-49%) contained coliform bacteria than DTW (TC-23%, E. coli−15% and FC-28%). Only small proportional areas, such as 24 km2 for As, 27 km2 for Fe, 113 km2 for TC, 132 km2 for E. coli and 102 km2 for FC were found safe in DTW. Multiple patches of safe aquifer were identified at greater depths in the northern, north-central, central and south-western part of the study area. According to WQI, overall 39 km2 area (12% of total area) was explored as suitable sites for installing tubewells where good to excellent quality water could be found in greater depth aquifers. The findings will help policy makers, practitioners and local communities to find out the suitable locations and depths for installation of tubewells in the study area for extracting safe drinking water.

The occurrence of radon (222Rn) in environment (groundwater and indoor air) from geogenic sources is receiving an growing attention due to its adverse impact on human health worldwide including Jordan. Highlighting the current status of radon in Jordan, the present study of radon concentrations in ground waters in the Amman-Zarqa basin (AZB) was investigated. Groundwater samples were collected from fifteen wells located in three main areas of Ras Al-Ain, Al-Rsaifeh and Al-Hashemite. Radon concentration was measure using Liquid scintillation counting (LSC) Tri- Carb 3110 with discriminator and the highest values for radon concentration in water were observed in Al-Rsaifeh area and ranged from 4.52 up to 30.70 Bq/l with an average of 11.22 Bq/l, which were attributed to the decay of naturally distributed uranium in phosphate rock from Al-Rsaifeh mines. In Ras Al-Ain area, the radon concentration were noted ranged from 0.6 to 5.55 Bq/l with an average of 2.82 Bq/l, and also in Al-Hashemite area were ranged from 0.77 to 5.37 Bq/l with an average of 4.04 Bq/l. The overall average concentration of tested samples was 5.77 Bq/l and found within the acceptable international levels. Ground water samples of Ras Al-Ain area showed good quality as was tested of low salinity. It recorded the lowest average radon concentration of 2.82 Bq/l. Also, Radon indoor and building materials was reviewed. In conclusion, this study presented an urged need for developing national regulations and standards as well as awareness program concerning the radon status in Jordan.Elsevier B.V.

This study is an investigation on spatio-chemical, contamination sources (using multivariate statistics), and health risk assessment arising from the consumption of groundwater contaminated with trace and toxic elements in the Chhaprola Industrial Area, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. In this study 33 tubewell water samples were analyzed for 28 elements using ICP-OES. Concentration of some trace and toxic elements such as Al, As, B, Cd, Cr, Mn, Pb and U exceeded their corresponding WHO (2011) guidelines and BIS (2012) standards while the other analyzed elements remain below than those values. Background γ and β radiation levels were observed and found to be within their acceptable limits. Multivariate statistics PCA (explains 82.07 cumulative percent for total 6 of factors) and CA indicated (mixed origin) that natural and anthropogenic activities like industrial effluent and agricultural runoff are responsible for the degrading of groundwater quality in the research area. In this study area, an adult consumes 3.0 L (median value) of water therefore consuming 39, 1.94, 1461, 0.14, 11.1, 292.6, 13.6, 23.5 μg of Al, As, B, Cd, Cr, Mn, Pb and U from drinking water per day respectively. The hazard quotient (HQ) value exceeded the safe limit of 1 which for As, B, Al, Cr, Mn, Cd, Pb and U at few locations while hazard index (HI) > 5 was observed in about 30% of the samples which indicated potential health risk from these tubewells for the local population if the groundwater is consumed.

The groundwater of Ambagarh Chouki, Rajnandgaon, India, shows elevated levels of As and F-, frequently above the WHO guidelines. In this work, the concentrations of As, F-, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl-, SO42-, HCO3-, Fe, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the groundwater of Ambagarh Chouki are described. The sources of dissolved components in the groundwater are investigated using the cluster and factor analysis. Five factors have been identified and linked to processes responsible for the formation of groundwater chemistry. High concentrations of dissolved As seems to be linked to high concentrations of DOC, suggesting reductive dissolution of ferric oxyhydroxides as arsenic mobilization process. Fluoride is found in shallow depth water, presumably as a consequence of evaporation of water and removal of Ca2+ by precipitation of carbonates.

Hydrothermal activity creates geo-hydro-chemical interactions between hot water/fluid and the host rocks, which changes the hydro-chemical composition of the geothermal water/fluid and enriches trace elements. Existence of arsenic (As) is reported from different hydrothermal systems as well as several region in groundwater system at elevated concentration globally, compared to 10 μg/L WHO (World health Organization) guideline. The distribution of dissolved major and minor elements, including arsenic (As) was studied in hydrothermal systems of Taiwan. For the first time in Taiwan As(V) and As(III) species were researched from the three principal geological settings of Taiwan. Aim was to understand the cycling, fate and transport and potential impact of As on the surficial hydrological systems. Water samples were collected from sixteen hydrothermal springs of 3 different geological settings. Three groups of hydrothermal spring water samples could be distinguished: (i) strongly acidic (pH<3), sulfate-enriched waters of H-SO4-type (Yangmingshan, and Taipu, Beitou), (ii) slightly alkaline waters (pH: 8–8.95) (Jiben, Antung and Kung-Tzu-Ling), and (iii) circum-neutral waters (pH 6.47–7.41) of Na-HCO3/Na-Cl-HCO3-type (Wulai, Hongye, Rueisuei, Chung-Lun and Biolai). The waters are enriched with alkali and alkali earth metals compared to drinking water. Similarly, the water of most of the geothermal springs were found to be enriched with As (highest concentration at Beitou: 1.456 mg/L) with As(III) being the principal As species. Arsenic concentrations of hydrothermal spring waters in igneous rock terrains exhibit highest concentrations (0.69±0.71 mg/L) followed by those of sedimentary (0.16±0.14 mg/L) and metamorphic (0.06±0.02 mg/L) terrains. The discharged geothermal springs water contaminate the surface and groundwater (including drinking and irrigation water resources), where significant levels of arsenic and other toxic element have detected and hence being a significant risk for human health and environmental.

Exposure to geogenic contaminants (GCs) such as metal(loid)s, radioactive metals and isotopes as well as transuraniums occurring naturally in geogenic sources (rocks, minerals) can negatively impact on environmental and human health. The GCs are released into the environment by natural biogeochemical processes within the near-surface environments and/or by anthropogenic activities such as mining and hydrocarbon exploitation as well as exploitation of geothermal resources. They can contaminate soil, water, air and biota and subsequently enter the food chain with often serious health impacts which are mostly underestimated and poorly recognized. Global population explosion and economic growth and the associated increase in demand for water, energy, food, and mineral resources result in accelerated release of GCs globally. The emerging science of "medical geology" assesses the complex relationships between geo-environmental factors and their impacts on humans and environments and is related to the majority of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations for Sustainable Development. In this paper, we identify multiple lines of evidence for the role of GCs in the incidence of diseases with as yet unknown etiology (causation). Integrated medical geology promises a more holistic understanding of the occurrence, mobility, bioavailability, bio-accessibility, exposure and transfer mechanisms of GCs to the food-chain and humans, and the related ecotoxicological impacts and health effects. Scientific evidence based on this approach will support adaptive solutions for prevention, preparedness and response regarding human and environmental health impacts originating from exposure to GCs.

Very limited efforts have been directed to determine the degree of Arsenic (As) and other trace elements contamination in food grains and understanding the associated risk to human through consumption of food in middle Gangetic plain of Bihar, India. Arsenic concentration in groundwater (>80%) samples found above BIS and WHO permissible limit, while 28% samples exceeded the previous WHO drinking water guideline (400 μg/L) for manganese (Mn). In dietary food grains As followed the sequence as rice > wheat > maize. The estimated daily intake by individual of As, Mn, Ni, Cd, Co, Pb, Zn and Cr from drinking water and dietary food grains were 169,14582, 474, 19, 26, 1449, 12955 and 882 μg/ kg. The Health Risk Index (HRI) were >1 for As in drinking water, vegetables and rice indicated the potential health risk to the residents of the study area. However, HRI <1 for wheat and maize indicate a relative absence of health risks associated with their ingestion. © 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

Groundwaters from the Bengal Delta Plain (BDP) are now significantly enriched with natural arsenic (As), frequently exceeding the WHO guideline value (10 μg/L). The contaminated ground-water is often derived from geologically young sediments (Holocene), low-lying areas and flat terrain where groundwater movement is slow (poorly flushed aquifers). The As content of the aquifer material is not regularly high (3–18 mg/kg), however, the groundwater As content is often exceptionally high (up to 3200 μg/L). The most notable feature of the tubewell groundwater is their predominantly reducing conditions at near-neutral pH values (6.5–7.5) with high redox sensitive species. The issue of deeper aquifer (safe and unsafe) is most challenging in terms of both geological and public health point of view. In this context, deeper aquifer is possibly the most reliable source where remediation technologies are in many cases incapable of yielding As-safe water.