Natural Background Levels of Potentially Toxic Elements in Groundwater from a Former Asbestos Mine in Serpentinite (Balangero, North Italy)
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...
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/5/735 |
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| author | Elisa Sacchi Massimo Bergamini Elisa Lazzari Arianna Musacchio Jordi-René Mor Elisa Pugliaro |
| author_facet | Elisa Sacchi Massimo Bergamini Elisa Lazzari Arianna Musacchio Jordi-René Mor Elisa Pugliaro |
| author_sort | Elisa Sacchi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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-HCO<sub>3</sub> facies, tending towards the Mg-SO<sub>4</sub> 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:26:27Z |
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| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:26:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-c46d6c3ad8984ebe93f779e55d69ff592023-11-21T09:39:19ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-03-0113573510.3390/w13050735Natural Background Levels of Potentially Toxic Elements in Groundwater from a Former Asbestos Mine in Serpentinite (Balangero, North Italy)Elisa Sacchi0Massimo Bergamini1Elisa Lazzari2Arianna Musacchio3Jordi-René Mor4Elisa Pugliaro5Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, I-27100 Pavia, PV, ItalyR.S.A. Srl, Viale Copperi 15, I-10070 Balangero, TO, ItalyR.S.A. Srl, Viale Copperi 15, I-10070 Balangero, TO, ItalyDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, I-27100 Pavia, PV, ItalyDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, I-27100 Pavia, PV, ItalyR.S.A. Srl, Viale Copperi 15, I-10070 Balangero, TO, ItalyThe 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-HCO<sub>3</sub> facies, tending towards the Mg-SO<sub>4</sub> 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/5/735trace metalsLanzo Massifultramafic rocksophioliteschromiumhexavalent chromium |
| spellingShingle | Elisa Sacchi Massimo Bergamini Elisa Lazzari Arianna Musacchio Jordi-René Mor Elisa Pugliaro Natural Background Levels of Potentially Toxic Elements in Groundwater from a Former Asbestos Mine in Serpentinite (Balangero, North Italy) Water trace metals Lanzo Massif ultramafic rocks ophiolites chromium hexavalent chromium |
| title | Natural Background Levels of Potentially Toxic Elements in Groundwater from a Former Asbestos Mine in Serpentinite (Balangero, North Italy) |
| title_full | Natural Background Levels of Potentially Toxic Elements in Groundwater from a Former Asbestos Mine in Serpentinite (Balangero, North Italy) |
| title_fullStr | Natural Background Levels of Potentially Toxic Elements in Groundwater from a Former Asbestos Mine in Serpentinite (Balangero, North Italy) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Natural Background Levels of Potentially Toxic Elements in Groundwater from a Former Asbestos Mine in Serpentinite (Balangero, North Italy) |
| title_short | Natural Background Levels of Potentially Toxic Elements in Groundwater from a Former Asbestos Mine in Serpentinite (Balangero, North Italy) |
| title_sort | natural background levels of potentially toxic elements in groundwater from a former asbestos mine in serpentinite balangero north italy |
| topic | trace metals Lanzo Massif ultramafic rocks ophiolites chromium hexavalent chromium |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/5/735 |
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