Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentration in Arsenic Contaminated Groundwater of the Chaco Plain, Argentina
Table 4
Risk-based drinking water criteria and the percentage of groundwater samples exceeding these criteria.
Element
Risk-based drinking water criteria
Percentage of groundwater samples exceeding these criteria
WHO*
CAA**
WHO
CAA
As (µg L−1)
10***
50
91
73
Al (µg L−1)
not established
200
NA
16
B (µg L−1)
2400
500
78
78
Ba (µg L−1)
700
None
2
NA
Cd (µg L−1)
3
5
13
2
Cr (µg L−1)
50***
50
0
0
Cu (µg L−1)
2000
1000
0
0
Fe total (µg L−1)
not established
300
NA
31
F (mg L−1)
1.50
1.00
31
47
Mn (µg L−1)
not established
100
NA
16
Ni (µg L−1)
70
20
0
0
Pb (µg L−1)
10***
50
0
0
Sb (µg L−1)
20
20
4.5
4.5
Se (µg L−1)
10***
10
0
0
Zn (µg L−1)
not established
5000
NA
0
NA: not applicable.
*WHO: World Health Organization, have not established risk-based drinking water criteria for Al, Ag, Be, Bi, Co, Fe, Mn, Mo, Si, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn.
**CAA: Código Alimentario Argentino.
***Provisional guideline value.
