Tracing the relative distribution of arsenic species in groundwater and its association with soil arsenic levels in the Simav Graben area, Turkey

Abstract

A comprehensive hydrogeochemical assessment was conducted in the Simav Plain, Turkey where major health concerns were reported and elevated arsenic (As) levels were previously found. Boreholes drilled in the plain were used to take core samples from the alluvial aquifer from which most groundwater was extracted. The results of core analyses revealed several orders of magnitude higher values than global average. Groundwater samples were later collected from these boreholes and analyzed for arsenic and its species as well as other related hydrochemical parameters. The results of groundwater quality assessment revealed that the groundwater in the plain was enriched with arsenic that exceed 1 mg/L level and was mostly under reducing conditions. The dominant arsenic specie in groundwater was arsenite in more than 70% of all samples.