Heavy Metals in Groundwater of Southern Italy: Occurrence and Potential Adverse Effects on the Environment and Human Health

Maria Triassi, Pellegrino Cerino, Paolo Montuori, Antonio Pizzolante, Ugo Trama, Federico Nicodemo, Jacopo Luigi D’Auria, Sabato De Vita, Elvira De Rosa () and Antonio Limone
Additional contact information
Maria Triassi: Department of Public Health, “Federico II” University, Via Sergio Pansini nº 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Pellegrino Cerino: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute nº 2, 80055 Portici, Italy
Paolo Montuori: Department of Public Health, “Federico II” University, Via Sergio Pansini nº 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Antonio Pizzolante: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute nº 2, 80055 Portici, Italy
Ugo Trama: General Directorate of Health, Campania Region, Centro Direzionale is. C3, 80143 Naples, Italy
Federico Nicodemo: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute nº 2, 80055 Portici, Italy
Jacopo Luigi D’Auria: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute nº 2, 80055 Portici, Italy
Sabato De Vita: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute nº 2, 80055 Portici, Italy
Elvira De Rosa: Department of Public Health, “Federico II” University, Via Sergio Pansini nº 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Antonio Limone: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute nº 2, 80055 Portici, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: This study reports the data on the contamination caused by heavy metals in the groundwater of the Campania Plain (CP) in Southern Italy. A total of 1093 groundwater samples were obtained from the following aquifers: coastal plains (GAR, VCP, VES, SAR, and SEL), volcanic districts (PHLE and VES), and carbonate massifs (MAS and LAT). In this study, the investigation depth ranged from 5 m (GAR) to 200 m (PHLE). The sequence of heavy metal content in groundwater samples was B > Fe > Al > Mn > Zn > Ba > Ni > As > Cu > V > Se > Pb > Cd. The heavy metal pollution index (HPI) and heavy metal evaluation (HEI) demonstrated that the study areas in which groundwater samples were sampled are not risk zones. Moreover, health risk assessment shows that hazard index (HI) values for heavy metals were found to be significantly low in groundwater samples. In non-carcinogenic risk evaluation for the adult group, the risk was low, whereas for children and infants, the risk was >1 for arsenic alone. Carcinogenic risk assessment (CR) was found lower for adults, children, and infants. The Jenks optimization method was used to evaluate the distribution of heavy metals in the groundwater of CP, and the principal component analysis technique (PCA) was employed to determine the source of heavy metals, and it was found that mixed sources (natural and anthropogenic) may be responsible for heavy metals presence.

Keywords: groundwater; heavy metals; risk assessment; contaminant loads; Jenks methods; principal component analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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