Abstract

BLANES, Patricia S  and  GIMENEZ, María C. Evaluation of Iron and Arsenic Levels in Natural Groundwater of the Central-west Region of the Provinceof Chaco - Argentina. Inf. tecnol. [online]. 2006, vol.17, n.3, pp.3-8. ISSN 0718-0764.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-07642006000300002.

Analysis of the iron and arsenic content of 56 samples of underground water of the west-central region ChacoProvince in Argentina. were carried out. Analysis was done using colorimetric methods and UV-Vis detection. The study gave mean values for iron of 0.44 mg.L^-1 with a range between 0.02 and 1.62 mg.L^-1; 37.5% of the samples were above 0.30 mg.L^-1 which is the upper limit for iron recommended by the World Organization of the Health (WHO) and the Argentine Food Code (CAA). The average concentration of arsenic found was 0.05 mg.L^-1 with a wide range in variation reaching a maximum of 0.25 mg.L^-1. The moderate positive correlation among the metals could indicate that the concentration of arsenic in the wells is regulated by adsorption-desorption phenomena of oxides and oxi-hydroxides of iron, responsible for the solubilization or retention of arsenic

Keywords : arsenic; iron; underground waters; adsorption-desorption; chemical analysis.