Regional occurrence of aqueous tungsten and relations with antimony, arsenic and molybdenum concentrations (Sardinia, Italy)

摘要

Tungsten (W) is rarely found in natural waters, yet it can be introduced into the food chain and cause potentially toxic effects. Uptake of W by plants and vegetables, or trace presence of W in drinking water are possible vectors for ingestion of W by humans. The latter is recognized as a possible cause of lymphatic leukemia. Increased uses of W might result in a degradation of water resources, with attendant adverse effects on biota and human health. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating regional occurrence and speciation of W in aquatic systems in Sardinia, Italy, factors affecting W mobility and possible relations with other oxyanion-forming trace elements such as Sb, As and Mo. Although our results are specifically from Sardinia, the implications are broader and should prompt future studies in other areas with known high W concentrations.