Skip to main content
Log in

Levels of major and trace elements, including rare earth elements, and 238U in Croatian tap waters

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Concentrations of 46 elements, including major, trace, and rare earth elements, and 238U in Croatian tap waters were investigated. Selected sampling locations include tap waters from various hydrogeological regions, i.e., different types of aquifers, providing insight into the range of concentrations of studied elements and 238U activity concentrations in Croatian tap waters. Obtained concentrations were compared with the Croatian maximum contaminant levels for trace elements in water intended for human consumption, as well as WHO and EPA drinking water standards. Concentrations in all analyzed tap waters were found in accordance with Croatian regulations, except tap water from Šibenik in which manganese in concentration above maximum permissible concentration (MPC) was measured. Furthermore, in tap water from Osijek, levels of arsenic exceeded the WHO guidelines and EPA regulations. In general, investigated tap waters were found to vary considerably in concentrations of studied elements, including 238U activity concentrations. Causes of variability were further explored using statistical methods. Composition of studied tap waters was found to be predominately influenced by hydrogeological characteristics of the aquifer, at regional and local level, the existing redox conditions, and the household plumbing system. Rare earth element data, including abundances and fractionation patterns, complemented the characterization and facilitated the interpretation of factors affecting the composition of the analyzed tap waters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al-Saleh I, Al-Doush I (1998) Survey of trace elements in household and bottled drinking water samples collected in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sci Total Environ 216:181–192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andersson PS, Wasseerburg GJ, Ingri J, Stordal MC (1994) Strontium, dissolved particulate loads in fresh and brackish waters: the Baltic Sea and Mississippi Delta. Earth Planet Sci Lett 124:195–210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banks D, Hall G, Reimanna C, Siewers U (1999) Distribution of rare earth elements in crystalline bedrock groundwaters: Oslo and Bergen regions, Norway. Appl Geochem 14:27–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bau M (1999) Scavenging of dissolved yttrium and rare earths by precipitating iron hydroxide: experimental evidence for Ce oxidation, Y–Ho fractionation, and lanthanide tetrad effect. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 63:67–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Biondić B, Biondić R, Dukarić F (1998) Protection of karst aquifers in the Dinarides in Croatia. Environ Geol 34(4):309–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braun, J-J, Pagel M, Muller J-P, Bilong P, Michard A, Guillet B (1990) Cerium anomalies in lateritic profiles. Geoch Cosmochim Acta 54: 781–795

  • Brkić Ž, Larva O, Urumović K (2010) The quantitative status of groundwater in alluvial aquifers in norther Croatia. Geol Croat 63(3):283–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Ćavar S, Klapec T, Jurišić Grubešić R, Valik M (2005) High exposure to arsenic from drinking water at several localities in eastern Croatia. Sci Total Environ 339:227–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Chabaux F, Bourdon B, Riotte J (2008) U-Series geochemistry in weathering profiles, river waters and lakes. In: Krishnaswami S, Cochran JK (eds) Radioactivity in the Environment: U-Th Series Nuclides in Aquatic Systems, 1st ed, vol 13. Elsevier, pp 49–104

  • Chalupnik S, Michalik B, Wysocka M, Skubacz K, Mielnikow A (2001) Contamination of settling ponds and rivers as a result of discharge of radium-bearing waters from Polish coal mines. J Environ Radioact 54:85–98

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen TH, Bjerg PL, Banwart SA, Jakobsen R, Heron G, Albrechtsen H-J (2000) Characterization of redox conditions in groundwater contaminant plumes. J Contam Hydrol 45:165–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Currie LA (1968) Limits for qualitative detection and quantitative determination, application to radiochemistry. Anal Chem 40:586–593

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Boer JLM, Verweij W, Van der Velde-Koerts T, Mennes W (1996) Levels of rare earth elements in Dutch drinking water and its sources. Determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and toxicological implications. A pilot study. Water Res 30:190–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eichrom Technologies Inc. (2001) Analytical Procedures-Uranium and Thorium in Water-ACW03 Ver 1.7

  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2012) 2012 Edition of the Drinking water standards and Health Advisories. Office of Water. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • EU Directive 1980/778/EEC (1980) Council directive 1980/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption. Off J Eur Union L 229:11–29

    Google Scholar 

  • EU Directive 1998/83/EC (1998) Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption. Off J Eur Union L 330:32

    Google Scholar 

  • EU Directive 2003/40/EC (2003) Establishing the list, concentration limits and labeling requirements for the constituents of natural mineral waters and the conditions for using ozone-enriched air for the treatment of natural mineral waters and spring waters. Off J Eur Union L 126:34–39

    Google Scholar 

  • EU Directive 2013/51/EURATOM (2013) Council Directive of 22 October 2013 laying down requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption

  • Fiket Ž, Roje V, Mikac N, Kniewald G (2007) Determination of arsenic and other trace elements in bottled waters by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Croat Chem Acta 80:91–100

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gromet PL, Dymek PF, Haskin LA, Korotev RL (1984) The North American shale composite: its composition, major and minor element characteristics. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 48(12):2469–2482

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo H, Zhang B, Wang G, Shen Z (2010) Geochemical controls on arsenic and rare earth elements approximately along a groundwater flow path in the shallow aquifer of the Hetao Basin, Inner Mongolia. Chem Geol 270:117–125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hindman FD (1983) Neodymium fluoride mounting for alpha spectrometric determination of uranium, plutonium and americium. Anal Chem 55:2460–2461

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ISO 5667–5:2006 (2006) Water quality—sampling—Part 5: guidance on sampling of drinking water from treatment works and piped distribution systems

  • Janssen RPT, Verweij W (2003) Geochemistry of some rare earth elements in groundwater, Vierlingsbeek, Neth. Water Res 37:1320–1350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johannesson KH, Hendry MJ (2000) Rare earth element geochemistry of ground-waters from a thick till and clay-rich aquitard sequence, Saskatchewan, Canada. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 64(9):1493–1509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johannesson KH, Zhou X, Guo C, Stetzenbach KJ, Hodge VF (2000) Origin of rare earth element signatures in groundwaters of circumneutral pH from southern Nevada and eastern California, USA. Chem Geol 164:239–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kharitonov NA, Chelnokov GA, Karabtsov AA, Kiselev VI (2007) Geochemistry of Na–HCO3 groundwater and sedimentary bedrocks from the central part of the Sikhote–Alin mountain region (Far East of Russia). Appl Geochem 22:1764–1776

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee SG, Lee DH, Kim Y, Chae BG, Kim WY, Woo NC (2003) Rare earth elements as indicators of groundwater environment changes in a fractured rock system: evidence from fracture-filling calcite. Appl Geochem 18:135–143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leybourne MI, Johannesson KH (2008) Rare earth elements (REE) and yttrium in stream waters, stream sediments, and Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides: fractionation, speciation, and controls over REE + Y patterns in the surface environment. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 72:5962–5983

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NN 56/2013 (2013) The law on water for human consumption. Leg Bull, 56

  • NN 125/2013 (2013) Regulations on parameters of conformity and methods of analysis of water for human consumption Leg Bull, 125

  • Nozaki Y, Alibo DS (2003) Importance of vertical geochemical processes in controlling the oceanic pro¢les of dissolved rare earth elements in the northeastern Indian Ocean. Earth Planet Sc Lett 205:155–172

  • Perianez R (2005) Measuring and modeling temporal trends of Ra-226 in waters of a Spanish estuary affected by the phosphate industry. Mar Environ Res 60:35–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Porcelli D (2008) Investigating groundwater processes using U- and Th-series nuclides. In: Radioactivity in the Environment: U-Th Series Nuclides in Aquatic Systems (pp. 105–153) 1st ed, vol 13. Edited by Krishnaswami S, Cochran J K: Elsevier

  • Rim KT, Koo KH, Park JS (2013) Toxicological evaluations of rare earths and their health impacts to workers: a literature review. Saf Health Work 4:12–26

  • Romić Ž, Habuda-Stanić M, Kalajdžić B, Kuleš M (2011) Arsenic distribution, concentration and speciation in groundwater of the Osijek area, eastern Croatia. Appl Geochem 26:37–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saleh MA, Ewane E, Wilson BL (2001) Chemical evaluation of drinking tap water and bottled water from Egypt. J Food comp Anal 14:127–152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sill CW, Williams RL (1981) Preparation of actinides for alpha spectrometry without electrodeposition. Anal Chem 53:421–415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skoulikidis NT, Amaxidis Y, Bertahas I, Laschou S, Gritzalis K (2006) Analysis of factors driving stream water composition and synthesis of managenment tools—a case study on small/medium Greek catchments. Sci Total Environ 362:205–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ujević M, Duić Ž, Casiot C, Sipos L, Santo V, Dadić Ž, Halamić J (2010) Occurrence and geochemistry of arsenic in the groundwater of Eastern Croatia. Appl Geochem 25:1017–1029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varsányi I, Kovács LO (2006) Arsenic, iron and organic matter in sediments and groundwater in the Pannonian Basin, Hungary. Appl Geochem 21:949–963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organisation WHO (2011) Guidelines for drinking water quality 4th edition. Geneva, Switzerland

  • Wrenn ME, Durbin PW, Howard B, Lipsztein J, Rundo J, Still ET, Willis DL (1985) Metabolism of ingested U and Ra. Health Phys 48(5):601–633

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia (bilateral project “Radiochemical methods for determination of radionuclides in water samples” and project 098-0982934-2715 ) and Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia (bilateral project BI-RH/10-11-007).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Željka Fiket.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fiket, Ž., Rožmarić, M., Krmpotić, M. et al. Levels of major and trace elements, including rare earth elements, and 238U in Croatian tap waters. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 6789–6799 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3869-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3869-5

Keywords

Navigation