Geochemistry of drinking water salt deposits and its application in environmental studies

Numerous research works reveal that quality of drinking water is defined by its chemical composition. One of the important public health value of water is its hardness that causes process of limescaling. In our opinion such... [ view full abstract ]

Numerous research works reveal that quality of drinking water is defined by its chemical composition. One of the important public health value of water is its hardness that causes process of limescaling. In our opinion such deposits contain information concerning water quality and could be useful in environmental studies.
We processed a database (> 700 samples) on chemical elements content in drinking water salt deposits in Siberia, Urals and Kazakhstan differing by natural and anthropogenic conditions. Methods used include NAA, ICP-MS, XRD, SEM, fission radiography for element and mineral composition analysis.
Results show that limescale inherits chemical composition of water. Chemical elements in the limescale common for all regions are Zn, Fe, Ag, which concentration coefficients (respectively to limescale of Lake Baikal water) range within wide limits. Moreover, Zn takes the leading role in all geochemical series.Thus each territory has its geochemical specialization depending on geological structure and metallogeny (e.g. ore deposits, rifting processes). It is clearly seen in mountain-folded territories such as Altai or Baikal region.
Anthropogenic development also finds its reflection in chemical composition of the limescale, especially in the vicinity of industrial plants (e.g. nuclear reactors) or tailings (e.g. Dzhida W-Mo district, Novo-Ursk Ag-Au deposit, Komsomolsk Au deposit).
High rates of chemical elements content in the limescale are in correlation with general and specific incidence. It means that we could use such correlations for water quality assessment and forecast of diseases.

The research was supported by grant from Russian Science Foundation (project № 15-17-10011)