Professional paper
Published in: Holistic Approach Environ. 8(2018) 1, pp. 22 – 35
Paper reference number: HAE-142
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THE ORIGIN OF ARSENIC IN SOILS AND GROUNDWATER OF THE PANNONIAN PART OF CROATIA

Ivica Kisić^*, Jasna Nemčić-Jurec^**, Ferdo Bašić^***, Željka Zgorelec^*

^* University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, Croatia

^** Public Health Institute of Koprivnica-Križevci county, Koprivnica, Croatia

^*** Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Zagreb, Croatia

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ABSTRACT

Arsenic content in surface layer (0-25 cm) varies from 0.9 mg/kg soil to almost implausible 490 mg/kg. The reason for the highest content in hydromorphic soils should probably be sought in recent history. It is less probable that the reason for the increased arsenic content in hydromorphic soils is the geological origin of rocks in river valleys. It is more probable that the reason for the increased arsenic content is river flooding and changes in river flows in the recent past. Based on 208 groundwater samples from 12 locations of Koprivnica-križevci county during 2009-2012, the range of arsenic concentration from <0.1 µg/l to 25.4 µg/l was determined. The concentrations are, generally, very low (<0.1-6.9 µg/l) on the most of locations. The values in Vratno and Kolarec locations indicate an increase in arsenic concentration above the permitted values. Groundwater that is rich with arsenic is result of the natural mineral weathering of rocks.

Keywords: origin of arsenic, soil, groundwater
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