Environmental Boron Contamination In Waters Of Eastern Sicily Area

Full Title

Environmental Boron Contamination In Waters Of Eastern Sicily Area 

Event

IWA World Water Congress 2010

Authors and Affiliations

Maria Fiore, Marine Castaing, Roberto Furnari Roberto Fallico, Salvatore Sciacca, Margherita Ferrante

Department “G.F. Ingrassia” Hygiene and Public Health, Catania University, 87 Santa Sofia Avenue, Sector 10, Building C - Catania, Sicily, Italy

E-mail: mfiore@unict.it

Abstract

Introduction

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The boron dissolved in Mediterranean region groundwater is generally geogenic, being related to hydrothermal or saline water sources, water-rock interaction and sea water intrusion. Anthropogenic factors can also lead to the release of boron into air, water, or soil as it is used in a variety of products including glass and glass products, leather, cleaning products, cosmetics, agrochemicals, insecticides and corrosion inhibitors. As a result boron contamination of the environment and related health hazards is growing. Based on the short- and long-term oral exposures to boric acid or borax, it was demonstrated that the male reproductive tract was a consistent target of boron toxicity in laboratory animals. A recent investigation on boron workers showed that boron exposure might cause the spouses of male workers had a delay in pregnancy and a decrease in live birth. Sexual chromosomes test (FISH test) showed that chromosome ratio of Y:X significantly decreased due to boron exposure. In view of the accurate assessment of human health under long-term exposure of boron, the investigation on the environment boron levels is much of significance. In humans, boron exposure occurs primarily through oral intake of food and drinking water. Intakes of boron for humans are expected to be 0.44 mg/day from ambient air, 0.2-0.6 mg/day from drinking water and 1.2 mg/day from the diet. Previous studies indicated that over 90% of boric acid and borax administrated could be absorbed through the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts of the experimental animals. Levels of boron in drinking water vary in wide ranges, 0.1-0.3 mg/L. The limit values suggested for boron in drinking water from WHO and UE are  0.5 and 1 mg/L respectively. The purpose of our research was to investigate on boron level in drinking water sources of Eastern Sicily and to address the extensive uncertainty concerning the definition of its potential causes.

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