scholarly journals eNaBLe, an On-Line Tool to Evaluate Natural Background Levels in Groundwater Bodies

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Daniele Parrone ◽  
Eleonora Frollini ◽  
Elisabetta Preziosi ◽  
Stefano Ghergo
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Inorganic Compounds ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Selection Method ◽  
Database Management System ◽  
Natural Background ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Background Levels ◽  
On Line ◽  
Groundwater Body

Inorganic compounds in groundwater may derive from both natural processes and anthropogenic activities. The assessment of natural background levels (NBLs) is often useful to distinguish these sources. The approaches for the NBLs assessment can be classified as geochemical (e.g., the well-known pre-selection method) or statistical, the latter involving the application of statistical procedures to separate natural and anthropogenic populations. National Guidelines for the NBLs assessment in groundwater have been published in Italy (ISPRA 155/2017), based mainly on the pre-selection method. The Guidelines propose different assessment paths according to the sample size in spatial/temporal dimension and the type of the distribution of the pre-selected dataset, taking also into account the redox conditions of the groundwater body. The obtained NBLs are labelled with a different confidence level in function of number of total observations/monitoring sites, extension of groundwater body and aquifer type (confined or unconfined). To support the implementation of the Guidelines, the on-line tool evaluation of natural background levels (eNaBLe), written in PHP and using MySQL as DBMS (DataBase Management System), has been developed. The main goal of this paper is to describe the functioning of eNaBLe and test the tool on a case study in central Italy. We calculated the NBLs of As, F, Fe and Mn in the southern portion of the Mounts Vulsini groundwater body, within the volcanic province of Latium (Central Italy), also separating the reducing and oxidizing facies. Specific results aside, this study allowed to verify the functioning and possible improvements of the online tool and to identify some criticalities in the procedure NBLs assessment at the groundwater body scale

scholarly journals Natural Background Levels of Potentially Toxic Elements in Groundwater from a Former Asbestos Mine in Serpentinite (Balangero, North Italy)

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 735
Author(s):  
Elisa Sacchi ◽  
Massimo Bergamini ◽  
Elisa Lazzari ◽  
Arianna Musacchio ◽  
Jordi-René Mor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Statistical Evaluation ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Contaminated Site ◽  
Natural Background ◽  
Background Levels ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Real Challenge

The definition of natural background levels (NBLs) for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in groundwater from mining environments is a real challenge, as anthropogenic activities boost water–rock interactions, further increasing the naturally high concentrations. This study illustrates the procedure followed to derive PTE concentration values that can be adopted as NBLs for the former Balangero asbestos mine, a “Contaminated Site of National Interest”. A full hydrogeochemical characterisation allowed for defining the dominant Mg-HCO3 facies, tending towards the Mg-SO4 facies with increasing mineralisation. PTE concentrations are high, and often exceed the groundwater quality thresholds for Cr VI, Ni, Mn and Fe (5, 20, 50 and 200 µg/L, respectively). The Italian guidelines for NBL assessment recommend using the median as a representative concentration for each monitoring station. However, this involves discarding half of the measurements and in particular the higher concentrations, thus resulting in too conservative estimates. Using instead all the available measurements and the recommended statistical evaluation, the derived NBLs were: Cr = 39.3, Cr VI = 38.1, Ni = 84, Mn = 71.36, Fe = 58.4, Zn = 232.2 µg/L. These values are compared to literature data from similar hydrogeochemical settings, to support the conclusion on their natural origin. Results highlight the need for a partial rethink of the guidelines for the assessment of NBLs in naturally enriched environmental settings.

scholarly journals Natural Background Levels in Groundwater

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 2770
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Preziosi ◽  
Marco Rotiroti ◽  
M. Teresa Condesso de Melo ◽  
Klaus Hinsby
Keyword(s):  
Inorganic Compounds ◽  
Significant Problem ◽  
Natural Background ◽  
Background Levels ◽  
The World

High levels of inorganic compounds in groundwater represent a significant problem in many parts of the world, with major economic, social and environmental drawbacks [...]

scholarly journals Assessing Natural Background Levels in the Groundwater Bodies of the Apulia Region (Southern Italy)

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 958
Author(s):  
Rita Masciale ◽  
Stefano Amalfitano ◽  
Eleonora Frollini ◽  
Stefano Ghergo ◽  
Marco Melita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inorganic Compounds ◽  
Monitoring Network ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Natural Background ◽  
Apulia Region ◽  
Background Levels ◽  
Geochemical Parameters ◽  
Iron Manganese

Defining natural background levels (NBL) of geochemical parameters in groundwater is a key element for establishing threshold values and assessing the environmental state of groundwater bodies (GWBs). In the Apulia region (Italy), carbonate sequences and clastic sediments host the 29 regional GWBs. In this study, we applied the Italian guidelines for the assessment of the NBLs, implementing the EU Water Framework Directive, in a south-European region characterized by the typical Mediterranean climatic and hydrologic features. Inorganic compounds were analyzed at GWB scale using groundwater quality data measured half-yearly from 1995 to 2018 in the regional groundwater monitoring network (341 wells and 20 springs). Nitrates, chloride, sulfate, boron, iron, manganese and sporadically fluorides, boron, selenium, arsenic, exceed the national standards, likely due to salt contamination along the coast, agricultural practices or natural reasons. Monitoring sites impacted by evident anthropic activities were excluded from the dataset prior to NBL calculation using a web-based software tool implemented to automate the procedure. The NBLs resulted larger than the law limits for iron, manganese, chlorides, and sulfates. This methodology is suitable to be applied in Mediterranean coastal areas with high anthropic impact and overexploitation of groundwater for agricultural needs. The NBL definition can be considered one of the pillars for sustainable and long-term groundwater management by tracing a clear boundary between natural and anthropic impacts.

The VIOLA project: geochemical characterization and natural background levels in a coastal groundwater body of the Apulia Region (southern Italy)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Parrone ◽  
Eleonora Frollini ◽  
Stefano Amalfitano ◽  
Stefano Ghergo ◽  
Rita Masciale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Chloride Concentration ◽  
Critical Parameters ◽  
Irrigation Season ◽  
Saline Intrusion ◽  
Natural Background ◽  
Geochemical Characterization ◽  
Background Values ◽  
Background Levels ◽  
Groundwater Body

<p>Coastal areas worldwide are often highly impacted due to the concurrence of aquifer exploitation for irrigation, human consumption exacerbated during touristic seasons and industrial activities. In order to meet the objectives of the GWD, European groundwater bodies’ status (chemical and quantitative) is evaluated every 6 years. Criteria for good status include chemicals exceeding standards and threshold values, saline intrusion and others. Apulian region features a very high ratio coastline/area (44 m/km<sup>2</sup>, for Italy is 25 m/km<sup>2</sup>) thus seawater intrusion is a very common phenomenon, due to both natural and anthropogenic drivers.</p><p>In this contribution, the first results of the VIOLA project (Natural Background Values for the Apulian groundwater bodies) are presented, supplying a preliminary geochemical characterization of the coastal Murgia groundwater body. This is part of a fractured and karstified calcareous-dolomitic aquifer with groundwater naturally flowing to the Adriatic sea. Exceedances were reported for nitrates, as well as for EC, Cl, SO<sub>4</sub>, Fe, Mn. The main objective for this groundwater body is to assess the natural background levels for the aforementioned parameters, and discriminate between the natural and anthropogenic origin of saline intrusion. Four sampling campaigns have been planned, and we present here the result of the first two sampling rounds carried out in spring and fall 2019.</p><p>Groundwater sampling was performed at 47 wells with submergible pumps or with a water depth sampler. Field parameters (T, EC, pH, DO, ORP) were measured with a multiparametric probe in a flow through cell. Ammonia, cyanides and nitrites were measured in the field (UV-VIS). Laboratory analysis were performed for major anions, major cations, minor and trace elements, environmental isotopes, DOC and microbial parameters.</p><p>Natural background values (NBLs) for the critical parameters have been provisionally assessed using the preselection method. Sampled waters show neutral/weakly alkaline and mostly oxidizing conditions, with conductivity values between about 700 and 20.000 µS/cm. The high salinity detected in some water points (chlorides up to 10 g/L, sulphates up to 1 g/L) is clearly linked to mixing with seawater. On a Piper diagram, the samples show a clear transition from earth alkaline-bicarbonate water towards mean seawater composition. A clear trend from coastline to inland can be recognized, with the most extended contamination in the northern and southern sectors. Trace elements (B, Sr, Ba), show a similar pattern. From spring (beginning of the irrigation season) to fall (end of the irrigation season) only a slight increase in salinity/chloride concentration can be observed. Nitrates are widespread in the study area, as well as the agricultural pressures, with values even higher than 100 mg/L without a specific spatial pattern.</p><p>As for the NBLs derivation, classic indicators of anthropogenic contamination (e.g. nitrates, ammonia, NaCl) for the pre-selection of uninfluenced samples failed, due to the extensive distribution of saline groundwaters in the study area. Thus, new solutions, including environmental isotope analysis, for discriminating the anthropogenic and natural origin of the salinity are under evaluation.</p>

On-line Tropical Epidemiology -A Case-Study from The Gambia

1987 ◽  
Vol 26 (02) ◽  
pp. 73-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Rowan ◽  
P. Byass ◽  
R. W. Snow
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Field Trial ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Database Management System ◽  
Bed Nets ◽  
Completion Rates ◽  
On Line ◽  
Access To Data ◽  
Rapid Processing

SummaryThis paper reports on a computerised approach to the management of an epidemiological field trial, which aimed at determining the effects of insecticide-impregnated bed nets on the incidence of malaria in children. The development of a data system satisfying the requirements of the project and its implementation using a database management system are discussed. The advantages of this method of management in terms of rapid processing of and access to data from the study are described, together with the completion rates and error rates observed in data collection.

scholarly journals Measurement of the 36Cl deposition flux in central Japan: natural background levels and seasonal variability

2012 ◽  
Vol 106 ◽  
pp. 73-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuki Tosaki ◽  
Norio Tase ◽  
Kimikazu Sasa ◽  
Tsutomu Takahashi ◽  
Yasuo Nagashima
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variability ◽  
Deposition Flux ◽  
Natural Background ◽  
Central Japan ◽  
Background Levels
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document