Fluorine (F) and arsenic (As) are inorganic elements present in the subsurface depending on the geology of the region. These compounds are found in high concentrations in the underground strata of Guadiana Valley of Durango affecting water quality for human consumption (NOM-127-SSA-1994). In the present research the main objective was to assess the behavior in time and space of fluoride (F - ) and arsenic concentration, from 1996 to date, in the groundwater of the city of Durango and some wells of the rural area as a reference. The highest concentration of arsenic was found in a rural well, Colonia Hidalgo (0.149 mg/L or ppm), 6 times the maximum permissible limit (MPL); within the city well 54 located in the western sector had the highest value (0.076 ppm), 3 times the MPL, 67% of the wells in the city and 60% of the Guadiana Valley had levels that exceeded the MPL (0.025 ppm), the concentration in the city ranged from 0.009 to 0.149 ppm and from 0.08 to 0.15 ppm for the rural zone. With respect to F - , the highest value was also found in the Colonia Hidalgo well (17.8 mg/L), 12 times the MPL; within the city the highest value was recorded in well 16 in the eastern sector with 7.6 ppm (5 times the MPL) 97% of the wells in the city and 100% of the wells in the Guadiana Valley rural area had concentrations greater than MPL (1.5 ppm), the concentration in the city ranged from 1.1 to 7.6 ppm, while in the Guadiana Valley from 1.7 to 17.8 ppm. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference for fluoride concentration over time (1996-2013); whereas the concentration of arsenic decreased, probably due to the degree of precision required for such small concentrations in groundwater and different analysts ran the samples.
KeywordsAquiferArsenicFluorideGroundwater QualityGuadiana Valley
Secretariat of Natural Resources and Environment, Government of the State of Durango, “Environmental and Ecological Management of Durango State and Annex of Ecological Management Model,” 2009. SRNyMA, Secretaría de Recursos Naturales y Medio Ambiente, Gobierno del Estado de Durango, “Ordenamiento Ecológico del Estado de Durango y Anexo Modelo de Ordenamiento Ecológico,” 2009. http://www.semarnat.gob.mx/temas/ordenamientoecologico/Paginas/ODecretados.aspx
Official Journal Federation, “Agreement for Technical Studies of Aquifer 1003 Guadiana Valley, in the State of Durango,” 2010. Diario Oficial de la Federación. “Acuerdo por el que se Dan a Conocer los Estudios Técnicos del Acuífero 1003 Valle del Guadiana, en el Estado de Durango,” 7 de Julio del 2010. http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5150942&fecha=07/07/2010
Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, “Modification to the NOM-127-SSA1-1994. Environmental Health. Water for Use and Human Consumption. Quality Permissible Limits and Treatments for Water Potabilization,” Official Journal Federation, 2000. SEMARNAT, Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, “Modificación a la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-127-SSA1-1994. Salud Ambiental. Agua para Uso y Consumo Humano. Límites Permisibles de Calidad y Tratamientos a que Debe Someterse el Agua para su Potabilización,” Diario Oficial de la Federación, 22 de Noviembre del 2000. http://www.salud.gob.mx/unidades/cdi/nom/m127ssa14.html
I. Flores-Montenegro, “Evaluation of Fluoride and Arsenic Concentrations in Guadiana Valley Drinking Water and Removal Alternatives,” M.Sc. Thesis, Technological Institute of Durango, Durango, 1998. “Evaluación de las Concentraciones de Flúor y Arsénico en el Agua Potable del Valle del Guadiana y Alternativas de Remoción,” Tesis de Maestría, Instituto Tecnológico de Durango, México, 1998.
National Water Commission, General Technical Groundwater Management, “Determination of Water Availability in the Guadiana Valley Aquifer, State of Durango,” 2002. CNA, Comisión Nacional del Agua. Subdirección General Técnica Gerencia de Aguas Subterráneas, “Determinación de la Disponibilidad de Agua en el Acuífero Valle del Guadiana, Estado de Durango,” 30 de Abril del 2002. ftp://ftp.conagua.gob.mx/SISI1610100117809/DR_1003-guadiana.pdf
C. C. González-Nevarez, “Concentration Change of Arsenic and Fluoride in the Guadiana Valley Aquifer and Its Relationship to Static Level,” M.Sc. Thesis, Technological Institute of Durango, Durango, 2007. “Cambio de la Concentración de Arsénico y Flúor, en el Acuífero Valle del Guadiana, y su Relación con el Nivel Estático,” Tesis de Maestría, Instituto Tecnológico de Durango, México, 2007.
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Gonzalo Río Arronte, I.A.P., “Water Pollution, Present in 17 States” Virtual Center Information on Water, Mexico City. Fundación Gonzalo Río Arronte, I.A.P., “Contaminación del Agua, Presente en 17 Estados,” Centro Virtual de Información Sobre el Agua, Ciudad de México. http://www.agua.org.mx/h2o/index.php?option=com_content&id=1540:-contaminacion-del-agua-presente-en-17-estados&Itemid=146
L. M. Del Razo, M. A. Arellano and M. E. Cebrián, “The oxidation Status of Arsenic in Well Water from a Chronic Arsenicism Area of Northern Mexico,” Environmental Pollution, Vol. 64, No. 2, 1990, pp. 143-153. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0269-7491(90)90111-O
G. A. Wasserman, et al., “Water Arsenic Exposure and Children’s Intellectual Function in Araihazar, Bangladesh,” Environmental Health Perspective, Vol. 112, No. 13, 2004, pp. 1329-1333. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.6964
A. Albores, M. E. Cebrian, I. Tellez and B. Valdez, “Comparative Study of Chronic Hydroarsenicism in Two Rural Communities in the Region Lagunera of Mexico,” Boletín de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana, Vol. 86, No. 3, 1979, pp. 196-205.
ATSDR, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, “Toxicological Profile for Arsenic (Update),” US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington DC, 2007. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp2.pdf
E. Astolfi, A. Maccagno, J. C. García, R. Vaccaro and R. Stímola, “Relation between Arsenic in Drinking Water and Skin Cancer,” Biological Trace Element Research Vol. 3, No. 2, 1981, pp. 133-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02990453
M. E. Cebrian, A. Albores, M. Aguilar and E. Blakely, “Chronic Arsenic Poisoning in the North of Mexico,” Human Toxicology, Vol. 2, No. 1, 1983, pp. 121-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/096032718300200110
M. E. Cebrián, M. A. Albores, G. García-Vargas, L. M. Del Razo and P. Ostrosky-Wegman, “Chronic Arsenic Poisoning in Humans,” In: J. O. Nriagu, Ed., Arsenic in the Environment, Part II: Human Health and Ecosystem Effects, John Wiley, New York, 1994, pp. 93-107.
A. H. Smith, E. O. Lingas and M. Rahman, “Contamination of Drinking-Water by Arsenic in Bangladesh: A Public Health Emergency,” The Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Vol. 78, No. 9, 2000, pp. 1093-1103.
M. J. Chávez-Soto, “Risk Assessment of Contaminants Present in Water for Use and Human Consumption of Guadiana Valley Aquifer,” M.Sc. Thesis, CIIDIR-IPNDURANGO, Mexico, 2010. “Evaluación del Riesgo por la Presencia de Contaminantes en Agua Destinada al Uso y Consumo Humano del Acuífero del Valle del Guadiana,” Tesis de Maestría, CIIDIR-IPN-DURANGO, Mexico, 2010.
M. Bocanegra-Salazar, “Health Risk Assessment for Exposure to Fluoride and Arsenic in Well Water for Consumption in High, Media, and Center Plateau Areas in the State of San Luis Potosi,” M.Sc. Thesis, San Luis Potosi University, Mexico, 2006. “Evaluación de Riesgo en Salud por la Exposición a Fluoruro y Arsénico en Agua de Pozo para Consumo de las Zonas Altiplano, Centro y Media del Estado de San Luis Potosí,” Tesis de Maestría, Universidad de San Luis Potosí, México, 2006.
M. T. Alarcón-Herrera, A. Martín-Domínguez and I. R. Martín-Domínguez, “Fluoride Concentration in Drinking Water: Its Relationship to Dental Fluorosis,” Proceedings of the 28th Inter-American Conference of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Cancun, 27-31 October 2002, pp. 1-5. “Concentración de Flúor en el Agua Potable: Su Relación con la Fluorosis Dental,” Memorias del XXVIII Congreso Interamericano de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental, Cancún, México, 27-31 Octubre 2002, pp. 1-5.
S. Rivera, S. Godorecci, L. Orgel, E. Diaz, T. Fichs and M. I. Martin, “Fluorine: Potential Adverse Effects,” Revista Chilena de Pediatría, Vol. 64, No. 4, 1993, pp. 279-283. “Flúor: Potenciales Efectos Adversos”. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0370-41061993000400007
ATSDR, Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, “Toxicological Profile for Fluorides, Hydrogen Fluoride, and Fluorine,” US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington DC, 2003. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp11.pdf
L. E. Landin-Rodriguez, “Physicochemical Parameters and Concentration of Fluoride and Arsenic in Water from Wells in the City of San Luis Potosi and Conurbated Area. Alternative Treatment: Fluoride and Arsenic Adsorption on Al2O3 Activated Interphase/Aqueous Solution,” M.Sc. Thesis, San Luis Potosi University, San Luis Potosi, 2006. “Parámetros Fisicoquímicos y Concentración de Flúor y Arsénico en el agua de los Pozos de la ciudad de San Luis Potosí y Zona Conurbada. Alternativa de Tratamiento: Adsorción de Flúor y Arsénico en la Interfase Al2O3 Activada/Solución Acuosa,” Tesis de Maestría, Universidad de San Luis Potosí, México, 2006.
S. C. Freni, “Exposure to High Fluoride Concentrations in Drinking Water is Associated with Decreased Birth Rates,” Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Vol. 42, No. 1, 1994, pp. 109-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15287399409531866
APHA, “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,” 21st Edition, American Public Health Association, Washington DC, EUA, 2005.
Secretariat of Economy, “NOM-AA-077-SCFI-2001. Water Analysis—Determination of Fluoride in Natural, Sewage and Treated Waste (Cancels: NMX-AA-077-1982),” 2001. SE, Secretaría de Economía, “NOM-AA-077-SCFI-2001. Análisis de Aguas—Determinación de Fluoruros en Aguas Naturales, Residuales y Residuales Tratadas (Cancela NMXAA-077-1982),” 2001. http://www.imta.gob.mx/cotennser/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94&Itemid=84
National Water Commission, “Study of Geohydrological Prospection and Hydrogeochemical Characterization in the Guadiana Valley Aquifer, Durango,” Final Report, Groundwater Management, Durango State Management, Engineering and Support, Department of Groundwater, 2005, pp. 3-5, 38-44. CNA, Comisión Nacional del Agua, “Estudio de Prospección Geohidrológica y Caracterización Hidrogeoquímica en el Acuífero del Valle del Guadiana, Durango,” Informe final. Gerencia de Aguas Subterráneas. Gerencia Estatal Durango. Subgerencia de Ingeniería y apoyo. Departamento de Aguas Subterráneas, 2005, pp. 3-5, 38-44. http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5150942&fecha=07/07/2010
P. L. Smedley, “Arsenic Occurrence in Mexican Groundwater: Towards a Better Understanding and Mitigation,” Report OMM/PROMA No. 17 for the World Meteorological Organization & CONAGUA, 2003.
M. A. Martínez-Prado, M. E. Pérez-López, M. G. Vicenciode la Rosa and C. C. González-Nevarez, “Concentration of Fluoride and Arsenic in Bottled Drinking Water in Durango City, Mexico,” Journal of Environmental Protection Vol. 4, No. 12, 2013. Special Issue on Groundwater Pollution, in Press.