Chemometric analysis of groundwater quality data around municipal landfill and paper factory and their potential influence on population's health.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the level of 15 groundwater quality parameters in groundwater samples collected around municipal landfill and paper factory in order to evaluate usefulness of the groundwater and its possible implication on the human health.


METHODS
Obtained data have been analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) technique, in order to differentiate the groundwater samples on the basis of their compositional differences and origin.


RESULTS
Wastes and effluents from municipal landfill did not contribute significantly to the pollution of the aquatic medium. Groundwater degradation caused by high contents of nitrate, mineral oils, organic and inorganic matters was particularly expressed in the narrow area of the city centre, near the paper factory and most likely it has occurred over a long period of time. The results have shown that the concentrations of the most measured parameters (NO3-N, NH4-N, oils, organic matter, Fe, Pb, Ni and Cr) were above allowed limits for drinking and domestic purposes.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has provided important information on ecological status of the groundwater systems and for identification of groundwater quality parameters with concentrations above allowable limits for human consumption. The results generally revealed that groundwater assessed in this study mainly does not satisfy safe limits for drinking water and domestic use. As a consequence, contaminated groundwater becomes a large hygienic and toxicological problem, since it considerably impedes groundwater utilization. Even though, all of these contaminants have not yet reached toxic levels, they still represent long term risk for health of the population.
Department of Chemistry, University JJ Strossmayer Osijek, Croatia. vlatka.gvozdic@kemija.unios.hr
Vlatka
V
Gvozdić
Ljiljana
L
Cačić
Josip
J
Brana
Dinko
D
Puntarić
Domagoj
D
Vidosavljević
D017523:Croatia; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis; D010209:Paper; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007220:Industrial Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical