Trace element composition of drinking water in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Overview

This study characterizes the trace element composition of drinking water in Almaty, Kazakhstan (78 samples, 24 elements) using ICP-MS, with seasonal sampling in 2023. Elements measured include As, Cd, Pb, Ni, U, Hg, Al, Cr, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu, among others. The study provides baseline concentration data for a Central Asian metropolitan area and compares measured values against WHO and Kazakh national drinking water standards.

Key numbers

n = 78 samples. 24 elements analyzed by ICP-MS. Seasonal sampling design (2023). Specific concentrations for As, Cd, Pb, Ni, U, and Hg are reported with comparisons to WHO drinking water guidelines (As: 10 µg/L; Pb: 10 µg/L; Cd: 3 µg/L; Ni: 20 µg/L). Most measured values were within WHO guideline ranges; the study provides the full concentration range and seasonal variation for Almaty municipal supply.

Methods (brief)

ICP-MS analysis. 78 samples collected from municipal tap water and bottled water in Almaty, 2023. Seasonal comparisons made. Compliance assessment against WHO 2017 drinking water quality guidelines and Kazakhstan national standards.

Implications

Certification: Drinking water heavy metal data supports supply-chain risk assessment for food manufacturers using municipal water in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Courses: Illustrates the geographic variation in drinking water metal profiles and the importance of regional baseline data for exposure assessment. App: Drinking water As and Pb data are inputs to cumulative exposure models, particularly relevant for rice cooking (which concentrates dissolved As) and formula preparation from tap water.

Wiki pages updated on ingest

• Arsenic
• Lead
• Uranium
• drinking-water

Update history

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