Modelling of the dissolution and reprecipitation of uranium under oxidising conditions in the zone of shallow groundwater circulation.

Generic hydrochemical modelling of a grantoid-groundwater system, using the Russian software "HydroGeo", has been carried out with an emphasis on simulating the accumulation of uranium in the aqueous phase. The baseline model run simulates shallow granitoid aquifers (U content 5 ppm) under conditions broadly representative of southern Norway and southwestern Siberia: i.e.

White HDPE bottles as source of serious contamination of water samples with Ba and Zn.

During a recent study of surface water quality factory new white high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles were used for collecting the water samples. According to the established field protocol of the Geological Survey of Norway the bottles were twice carefully rinsed with water in the field prior to sampling. Several blank samples using milli-Q (ELGA) water (>18.

Groundwater contamination from well points -- an experience from the Norwegian groundwater monitoring network.

Until 2005 the observation wells of the Norwegian Groundwater Monitoring Network in Quaternary aquifers were equipped with metal well points with brass lining. A laboratory leaching test using a new well point demonstrated that the well point material (galvanized iron pipe), the brass lining and the solder used to fix the lining could cause substantial contamination of the collected well water with a long list of chemical elements (Sn, Zn, Pb, Sb, Cd, Fe, Cu, Mn and Al), depending on well capacity, contact time water/well point and pH. Because groundwater chemistry is receiving increased attention in groundwater monitoring all wells were equipped with high density polyethylene (HDPE) points during the years 2004-2005.

Drinking water quality in the Ethiopian section of the East African Rift Valley I--data and health aspects.

Drinking water samples were collected throughout the Ethiopian part of the Rift Valley, separated into water drawn from deep wells (deeper than 60 m), shallow wells (<60 m deep), hot springs (T>36 degrees C), springs (T<32 degrees C) and rivers. A total of 138 samples were analysed for 70 parameters (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, F, Fe, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hf, Hg, Ho, I, In, K, La, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Nd, Ni, NO(2), NO(3), Pb, Pr, Rb, Sb, Se, Si, Sm, Sn, SO(4), Sr, Ta, Tb, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, Tm, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zn, Zr, temperature, pH, conductivity and alkalinity) with ion chromatography (anions), spectrometry (ICP-OES and ICP-MS, cations) and parameter-specific (e.g.

Comparison of the element composition in several plant species and their substrate from a 1500000-km2 area in Northern Europe.

Leaves of 9 different plant species (terrestrial moss represented by: Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi; and 7 species of vascular plants: blueberry, Vaccinium myrtillus; cowberry, Vaccinium titis-idaea; crowberry, Empetrum nigrum; birch, Betula pubescens; willow, Salix spp.; pine, Pinus sylvestris and spruce, Picea abies) have been collected from up to 9 catchments (size 14-50 km2) spread over a 1500000 km2 area in Northern Europe. Soil samples were taken of the O-horizon and of the C-horizon at each plant sample site.

The chemistry of Norwegian groundwaters: IV. The pH-dependence of element concentrations in crystalline bedrock groundwaters.

A total of 1604 samples of crystalline bedrock groundwaters in Norway have been analysed for pH, major and minor elements. A subset of 476 samples were also analysed for a wide range of trace elements by ICP-MS. The pH of the samples ranges from 5.

The chemistry of Norwegian groundwaters: III. The distribution of trace elements in 476 crystalline bedrock groundwaters, as analysed by ICP-MS techniques.

Four hundred and seventy-six groundwater samples from boreholes in Norwegian crystalline bedrock have been analysed by ICP-MS techniques. The results for 53 trace elements are presented as cumulative frequency distribution diagrams and are compared with relevant international drinking water norms. A range of trace elements appear to be enriched in granitic waters and depleted in anorthositic waters which is to be expected as generally granitic rocks are enriched in trace elements above those in anorthosites.

Variation of 66 elements in European bottled mineral waters.

Fifty-six bottled mineral waters bought at random all over Europe were analysed for 66 chemical elements by ICP-AES, ICP-MS and IC-techniques. Results show that there is a wide spread in the chemical composition of mineral waters. The EEC drinking water safeguard values for chemical constituents do not apply to mineral water, although mineral water is increasingly used for general drinking water purposes.

The chemistry of Norwegian groundwaters: II. The chemistry of 72 groundwaters from Quaternary sedimentary aquifers.

Seventy-two samples of groundwater derived from Norwegian Quaternary (largely glaciofluvial or glacial) aquifers were analysed for a wide range of major and minor hydrochemical parameters. The waters exhibit a relatively uncomplex evolution from Na-Cl dominated, immature waters (which reflect marine salts in precipitation) to Ca-HCO3 dominated waters via calcite dissolution. The median pH of these waters is 7.

The chemistry of Norwegian groundwaters: I. The distribution of radon, major and minor elements in 1604 crystalline bedrock groundwaters.

A quality-controlled hydrogeochemical dataset of 1604 groundwater samples from Norwegian crystalline bedrock aquifers has been obtained and subject to analyses of radon (scintillation counting), major and minor elements (ion chromatography and ICP-AES), pH and alkalinity. Cumulative probability curves may be constructed to assess the risk of given parameters violating drinking water norms. Parameters such as radon and fluoride show clear lithological correlation, occurring at high concentrations in granites and low concentrations in anorthosites.