Arsenic content in drinking-water supplies of an important volcanic aquifer in central Italy

摘要

In this study, we have investigated arsenic occurrence and distribution in ground waters of a large volcanic area in the central part of Italy. Samples were collected from 100 springs and wells currently supplying drinking water to the province of Viterbo. A complete chemical and physicochemical characterization of the samples was carried out. The concentration of the target element was greater than 10 µg L−1 in 37% of the analyzed samples and greater than three times the legal limit in 12% of the sites (in the south-east area of the Vico lake). A 48% of the concentration values were in the range 0.0-5.0 µg L−1. The presence of arsenic is most likely due to the volcanic origin of the monitored area. Cluster analysis of the whole data set showed the existence of a significant correlation between arsenic and fluoride concentrations.