Monitoring arsenic contamination in Latin America
In 2007 Cornwall College joined with partners from Spain, Argentina and Chile in a two year EU funded programme of research into the sustainable management of arsenic contaminated water and soil in the rural areas of Latin America. Leo Salter reports.
The Universities Buenos Aires and Valladolid together with Cornwall College, the CICITEM (Centro de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica para la Minería) and the Castille and Leon Agrarian Institute, are being supported via Framework Six International Co-operation funding to examine one target zone in Argentina (SE Cordoba province) and one in Chile (Calama and San Pedro de Atacama) in relation to the impacts, monitoring and possible remediation of arsenic contaminated groundwater.
In both locations the phreatic waters have high concentrations of arsenic and this in turn has caused diseases such as HACRE (El Hidroarsenicismo Crónico Regional Endémico; Chronic Endemic Regional Hydroarsenism). The extensive area of arsenic contaminated land in Cornwall and the need for cheap and effective remediation methods for it, together with the current interest in arsenic at Cornwall College, made the College a natural partner in the programme and an initial meeting took place in Buenos Aires in late February 2006.
The Universities Buenos Aires and Valladolid together with Cornwall College, the CICITEM (Centro de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica para la Minería) and the Castille and Leon Agrarian Institute, are being supported via Framework Six International Co-operation funding to examine one target zone in Argentina (SE Cordoba province) and one in Chile (Calama and San Pedro de Atacama) in relation to the impacts, monitoring and possible remediation of arsenic contaminated groundwater.
In both locations the phreatic waters have high concentrations of arsenic and this in turn has caused diseases such as HACRE (El Hidroarsenicismo Crónico Regional Endémico; Chronic Endemic Regional Hydroarsenism). The extensive area of arsenic contaminated land in Cornwall and the need for cheap and effective remediation methods for it, together with the current interest in arsenic at Cornwall College, made the College a natural partner in the programme and an initial meeting took place in Buenos Aires in late February 2006.
In general, in both Chile and Argentina, arsenic in water and soils is of geochemical origin – though there is some environmental arsenic associated with the mining and smelting operations to the east of the Chilean zone. Arsenic concentrations in the range 0.006 - 11.5 mg dm-3 were present in groundwater in Cordoba though concentrations in soil and sediment were low (2.1 - 8.2 mg kg-1). For Chile total arsenic concentrations of up to 2.5 mg dm-3 in river waters were found.
The project will focus on the impacts of arsenic on agriculture and husbandry. Carrots, Swiss chard, onions and garlic are sold in the cities close to the Chilean zone and wheat, corn, soy bean and sunflower are the main Argentinean crops. Arsenic has been found in wheat (1850 µg kg-1) and potatoes (860 µg kg-1) in Chile and several studies have been carried out in Argentina to assess the transfer of arsenic to milk (Cordoba province supplies 35% of the milk in Argentina).
The project will focus on the impacts of arsenic on agriculture and husbandry. Carrots, Swiss chard, onions and garlic are sold in the cities close to the Chilean zone and wheat, corn, soy bean and sunflower are the main Argentinean crops. Arsenic has been found in wheat (1850 µg kg-1) and potatoes (860 µg kg-1) in Chile and several studies have been carried out in Argentina to assess the transfer of arsenic to milk (Cordoba province supplies 35% of the milk in Argentina).
The initial part of the programme will focus on mapping the existing data from the two regions with attempts being made to map epidemiology, farm type and extent, catchments, soil arsenic concentrations and water arsenic concentrations (and other water chemistry parameters) via GIS.
Using this mapped database a monitoring plan will be proposed to provide robust chemical information from remote river systems in the catchments – part of this process will include recommendations concerning the appropriate monitoring devices. A broad range of water quality indicators will be monitored.
Subsequently the target zones’ agricultural practices will be reviewed and gateways for the entry of arsenic into the population identified. An evaluation will then be made of the next suitable changes to practices for the improvement of food safety. Finally, simple and appropriate techniques for water and soil remediation will be suggested.
Dr LEO SALTER
Cornwall College,
Pool, Redruth, Cornwall
[email protected]
Using this mapped database a monitoring plan will be proposed to provide robust chemical information from remote river systems in the catchments – part of this process will include recommendations concerning the appropriate monitoring devices. A broad range of water quality indicators will be monitored.
Subsequently the target zones’ agricultural practices will be reviewed and gateways for the entry of arsenic into the population identified. An evaluation will then be made of the next suitable changes to practices for the improvement of food safety. Finally, simple and appropriate techniques for water and soil remediation will be suggested.
Dr LEO SALTER
Cornwall College,
Pool, Redruth, Cornwall
[email protected]
