Author(s)

I. S. I. Torres & H. Ishiga

Abstract

Assessment of the geochemical conditions for the release of arsenic, iron and copper into groundwater in the coastal aquifer at Yumigahama, western Japan I. S. I. Torres & H. Ishiga Department of Geosciences, Shimane University, Japan. Abstract Arsenic contamination in groundwater is a hazard worldwide, and Japan is no exception. Arsenic has been detected in perched groundwater in the Holocene Yumigahama sandbar, where such water should be As-free due to prevailing oxidizing conditions. Groundwater drawn from shallow hand-pump wells is used for agriculture in the area. This study aims to evaluate the geochemical conditions of the Yumigahama aquifer by examining mobilization of As, Fe and Cu in soil under extreme pH conditions, and also the influence of fermentation. Soil samples were eluted with 1M HCl and 0.5M NaOH, and fermented with 0.28M glucose. Groundwater and treated samples were analysed for As, Fe and Cu by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Bulk soils were analysed by X-ray fluore

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