August 2020

Conference Paper

Heavy metals and trace elements in the groundwater in El Paso, Texas

By:
Marquez B, Elia; Patrick L, Gurian; Arregui Mena, Jose' D
Journal Name:
X Congreso Interncional de Docencia E ingestigacion en quimica
Page Number:
1
Issue Number:
-
Book Title:
X Congreso Internacional de Docencia e Ingestigacion en Quimica
Publication Date:
August 2020
Conference Name:
X Congreso Internacional de Docencia e Ingestigacion en Quimica
Conference Location:
Mexico City, Mexico
Conference Sponsor:
None

Abstract

The chemical elements studied here (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Hg, Ni, Se, Ag, Zn, Li, B) include toxic heavy metals and non-toxic elements which have occurred at high levels in El Paso, TX groundwater (Fe, Cu, Mn, As, Pb; up to 24,000, 17,000, 3200, 95, and 1000 ppb respectively). The objective of this study is to investigate the origins of these heavy metals in the groundwater. Previous works found some of these metals in the rocks of the mountains that recharge the watershed, and sufficient evidence for natural origins of arsenic in the groundwater. Statistical analyses in this report are consistent with natural origin also for the heavy metals studied but cannot dismiss human activity as a contributing factor. Interesting correlations with R-value>0.60, p-value<0.01 warrant further analysis.


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