Elevated levels of iron in groundwater in Prey Veng province in Cambodia : a possible factor contributing to high iron stores in women

Date

2015

Authors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

IWA Publishing

Abstract

Iron is a natural element found in food, water and soil and is essential for human health. Our aim was to determine the levels of iron and 25 other metals and trace elements in groundwater from 22 households in Prey Veng, Cambodia. Water analyses were conducted using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and optical emission spectrometry. Compared to the 2011 World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water quality, aluminum, iron and manganese exceeded maximum levels (in 4.5, 72.7 and 40.9% of samples, respectively). Compared to the 2004 Cambodian drinking water quality standards, iron and manganese exceeded maximum levels (in 59.1 and 36.4% of samples, respectively). We found no evidence of arsenic contamination. Guidelines for iron were established primarily for esthetic reasons (e.g. taste), whereas other metals and elements have adverse effects associated with toxicity. Iron in groundwater ranged from 134 to 5,200 μg/L (mean ∼1,422 μg/L). Based on a daily consumption of 3 L groundwater, this equates to ∼0.4–15.6 mg iron (mean ∼4.3 mg/day), which may be contributing to high iron stores and the low prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in Prey Veng women. Elevated levels of manganese in groundwater are a concern and warrant further investigation.

Description

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)

Keywords

CAMBODIA, WATER QUALITY, WATER CHEMISTRY, IRON, GROUNDWATER, TOXICOLOGY, MANGANESE, CONTAMINATION, WATER FILTERS, WOMEN'S HEALTH, ANAEMIA

Citation

Karakochuk, C.D., Murphy, H.M., Whitfield, K.C., Barr, S.I., Vercauteren, S.M., et al. (2015). Elevated levels of iron in groundwater in Prey Veng province in Cambodia: a possible factor contributing to high iron stores in women. Journal of Water and Health, 13.2, S75-S86. doi:10.2166/wh.2014.297

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10625/54854

DOI

Collections

IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2010-2019 / Années 2010-2019
Research Results (AFS) / Résultats de recherche (ASA)
Research Results (CIFSRF) / Résultats de recherches (FCRSAI)