title: Elevated levels of iron in groundwater in Prey Veng province in Cambodia: a possible factor contributing to high iron stores in women.
abstract: Iron is a natural element found in food, water and soil and is essential for human health. Our aim was to determine the levels of iron and 25 other metals and trace elements in groundwater from 22 households in Prey Veng, Cambodia. Water analyses were conducted using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and optical emission spectrometry. Compared to the 2011 World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water quality, aluminum, iron and manganese exceeded maximum levels (in 4.5, 72.7 and 40.9% of samples, respectively). Compared to the 2004 Cambodian drinking water quality standards, iron and manganese exceeded maximum levels (in 59.1 and 36.4% of samples, respectively). We found no evidence of arsenic contamination. Guidelines for iron were established primarily for esthetic reasons (e.g. taste), whereas other metals and elements have adverse effects associated with toxicity. Iron in groundwater ranged from 134 to 5,200 μg/L (mean ∼1,422 μg/L). Based on a daily consumption of 3 L groundwater, this equates to ∼0.4-15.6 mg iron (mean ∼4.3 mg/day), which may be contributing to high iron stores and the low prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in Prey Veng women. Elevated levels of manganese in groundwater are a concern and warrant further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada E-mail: crystal.karakochuk@alumni.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Crystal D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Karakochuk
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada E-mail: crystal.karakochuk@alumni.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Kyly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Whitfield
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada E-mail: crystal.karakochuk@alumni.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Susan I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematopathology, Children and Women's Health Centre of British Columbia, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Vercauteren
authors.affiliation: Helen Keller International, Cambodia Country Office, House # 43Z43, Street 466, P.O. Box 168, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: Aminuzzaman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talukder
authors.affiliation: Helen Keller International, Cambodia Country Office, House # 43Z43, Street 466, P.O. Box 168, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.affiliation: Helen Keller International, Cambodia Country Office, House # 43Z43, Street 466, P.O. Box 168, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: Hou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kroeun
authors.affiliation: Helen Keller International, Cambodia Country Office, House # 43Z43, Street 466, P.O. Box 168, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: Many
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eath
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada E-mail: crystal.karakochuk@alumni.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada E-mail: crystal.karakochuk@alumni.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D002160:Cambodia; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014131:Trace Elements; D007501:Iron