Geochemical characteristics and groundwater quality in the Vientiane Plain, Laos

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cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Water Management Instituteen
cg.contributor.crpWater, Land and Ecosystems
cg.coverage.countryLaos
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2LA
cg.coverage.regionSouth-eastern Asia
cg.creator.identifierPaul Pavelic: 0000-0003-0975-9884
cg.creator.identifierSomphasith Douangsavanh: 0009-0002-4377-9571
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0224-8en
cg.issn2451-9766en
cg.issn2451-9685en
cg.issue2en
cg.journalExposure and Healthen
cg.volume9en
dc.contributor.authorBrindha, Karthikeyanen
dc.contributor.authorPavelic, Paulen
dc.contributor.authorSotoukee, Touleeloren
dc.contributor.authorDouangsavanh, Somphasithen
dc.contributor.authorElango, L.en
dc.date.accessioned2016-11-22T04:51:41Zen
dc.date.available2016-11-22T04:51:41Zen
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/77803
dc.titleGeochemical characteristics and groundwater quality in the Vientiane Plain, Laosen
dcterms.abstractGroundwater from the shallow aquifers of the Vientiane Plain, Laos is used for domestic needs including to some extent for drinking and for household gardening. The objective of this study is to assess the groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation activities and to determine the processes that lead to the presence of major ions in groundwater. Twenty groundwater samples were collected from a village on the Plain in December 2014, January 2015, and May 2015, and analysed for major ions and selected suite of minor ions and heavy metals. Groundwater is largely acidic, fresh and soft in nature. Geochemistry showed dominant Ca–Mg–HCO3 and mixed Ca–Na–HCO3 groundwater. Sodium impacts the suitability of water for irrigation to some extent. Hydrogeochemical processes identified and verified through factor analysis indicate weathering, carbonate dissolution, ion exchange, and anthropogenic sources including salinisation, due to irrigation and use of fertilizers as sources for the occurrence of major ions at such concentrations in this area. Only concentrations of lead and iron were above the permissible limits with arsenic, copper, zinc, mercury, and uranium found to be within safe limits. Background sample (groundwater) collected 5 km from the study area and the bottled water sample were all within suitable limits for drinking. This study is the first to provide a local-level assessment of geochemical processes in groundwater of this area indicating that the groundwater does not pose any threat to human health if used for drinking based on major ions, minor ions and a suite heavy metals except for iron and lead.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.available2016-07-11
dcterms.bibliographicCitationBrindha, Karthikeyan; Pavelic, Paul; Sotoukee, Touleelor; Douangsavanh, Somphasith; Elango, L. 2016. Geochemical characteristics and groundwater quality in the Vientiane Plain, Laos. Exposure and Health, 18p. (Online first) doi: 10.1007/s12403-016-0224-8en
dcterms.extentp. 89-104en
dcterms.issued2017-06
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCopyrighted; all rights reserved
dcterms.publisherSpringeren
dcterms.subjectgeologyen
dcterms.subjectchemical compositionen
dcterms.subjecttoxicityen
dcterms.subjectgroundwateren
dcterms.subjectwater qualityen
dcterms.subjectwater levelen
dcterms.subjectdrinking wateren
dcterms.subjectdomestic wateren
dcterms.subjectirrigation wateren
dcterms.subjectaquifersen
dcterms.subjectplainsen
dcterms.subjectheavy metalsen
dcterms.subjectpollutantsen
dcterms.subjectironen
dcterms.subjectarsenicen
dcterms.subjectcopperen
dcterms.subjectzincen
dcterms.subjectmercuryen
dcterms.subjecthealth hazardsen
dcterms.typeJournal Article

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