Total arsenic, lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc in some salt rivers in the northern Andes of Antofagasta, Chile.
The pre-Andes water in the region of Antofagasta is the main drinking and irrigation water source for approximately 3000 Atacameña (indigenous) people. The concentration for soluble elements (filtration in field through a 0.45-microm filter) was: Cd < 0.1 ng/ml; Pb < 0.5 ng/ml; and Zn and Cu between 1 and 10 ng/ml. In particulate material the concentrations were: for Cd < 0.1 ng/ml; for Pb < 0.3 ng/ml; and for Zn and Cu less than 1 ng/ml. The total content of these elements is far below the international recommendations (WHO) and the national standards (N. Ch. 1333 mod. 1987 and 409-1 of 1984). On the other hand, in some rivers a very high arsenic concentration was found (up to 3000 ng/ml) which exceed more than 50 times the national standard. In order to verify the analytical results, inter-laboratory and comparison with different determination methods have been done.
Queirolo
F
F
Department of Chemistry, Universidad Catolica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
Stegen
S
S
Mondaca
J
J
Cortés
R
R
Rojas
R
R
Contreras
C
C
Munoz
L
L
Schwuger
M J
MJ
Ostapczuk
P
P
D002677:Chile; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements