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Evaluation of Metal Contamination in the Groundwater of the Aosta Valley Region, Italy

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Abstract

One hundred and sixty-two groundwater samples were collected from eighteen locations of the Aosta Valley region during the years 2007–2015 to determine the concentrations of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn. A heavy pollution index (HPI) model was used to evaluate the metal contamination status in the groundwater of the study area. Spatial distribution maps of the HPI values were prepared using a geographic information system (GIS) technique so that the groundwater quality status of the area could easily be recognized. The concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn did not exceed the drinking water permissible limits for years considered. However, the concentrations of Al, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Se were above the drinking water permissible limits established by the World Health Organization (WHO 2006). The HPI values were above the critical pollution index of 100 during the years 2011 and 2012. The groundwater in this study area was contaminated with some metals and urgently requires treatment to control current and future contamination problems.

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Acknowledgements

The data were collected as part of a project drawn up between Politecnico di Torino and the Aosta Valley regional authority. The authors are grateful to the Department of Environment and Territory and the Department of Public work, Soil conservation and Public housing of the Aosta Valley regional authority for their support and assistance during the field survey and for allowing publication of the data. The authors convey their hearty thanks to the editor and anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DIATI-Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Turin, Italy

    Ashwani Kumar Tiwari, Marina De Maio & Gianpiero Amanzio

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  1. Ashwani Kumar Tiwari
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  2. Marina De Maio
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  3. Gianpiero Amanzio
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Correspondence to Ashwani Kumar Tiwari.

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Tiwari, A.K., De Maio, M. & Amanzio, G. Evaluation of Metal Contamination in the Groundwater of the Aosta Valley Region, Italy. Int J Environ Res 11, 291–300 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-017-0027-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-017-0027-1

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