Selenium concentration in drinking water in Central Region Mongolia
- VernacularTitle:Монгол орны төвийн бүсийн ундны усан дахь селений агууламж
- Author:
Erdentsogt E
1
;
Tsegmed S
1
;
Tuvshinbayar B
1
;
Sindireva A B
2
;
Golubkina N A
3
Author Information
1. National Center for Public Health
2. University of Tumen, Russia
3. Research Institute of Vegetable Seed Selection, Russia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Drinking water;
Pollution;
Poly-microelementoses;
Selenium
- From:Mongolian Medical Sciences
2020;194(4):46-56
- CountryMongolia
- Language:Mongolian
-
Abstract:
Background:Mongolia is characterized by restricted sources of drinking water and intensive water pollution due
to high rates of urbanization, mining industry development, enormous amount of livestock, and ever-growing attempts in domestic production of cereals and vegetables. Among others, Se is the least
studied element in Mongolian water resources.
Goal:To assess the selenium content of Mongolia’s drinking water depending on its geographical location
and to identify areas of environmental risk associated with the chemical composition of the water.
Materials and Methods:In the summer of 2017, water samples were collected from 5 aimags (Dornogovi, Tuv, Selenge,
Umnugovi, Arkhangai) and Ulaanbaatar city and sent to Moscow, Russia for analysis. Of the collected
samples, 19 were groundwater (wells, wells, springs) and 2 were surface water (Tuul River, Selenge
River).
Results:Based on fluorimetric method of analysis, the first results on Se levels in drinking water of five aimags,
Ulaanbaatar, and Erdenet were obtained. Uneven distribution of Se in Mongolia was manifested,
the highest Se concentrations being typical for the southern resources (up to 18,600 μg/L) and the
lowest, for the Northern ones (up to 0.022 μg/L). ICP-MS data of Al, As, B, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg,
I, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Si, Sn, Sr, V, and Zn contents indicate poly-microelementosis existence
in the South of Mongolia (Dorno-Gobi aimag) where ground water is characterized by elevated
levels of As and extremely high levels of Se, Li, Na, F, Cl, B, and nitrates ions, exceeding maximum
permissible levels by 1.86; 4.3; 3.1; 3.1; 2.7; 3.4; and 1.8 times respectively. Toxic concentrations of
Se in groundwater of Dorno-Gobi aimag contradict with the published low human serum Se and low
content of the element in horseflesh that suggests the possible effect of the above pollutants on Se
bioavailability.
Conclusion:Revealed phenomenon and mosaic distribution of heavy metals in areas with high and low Se content
in water resources indicate the need of direct search for Se and other pollutant transfer in food chain
in various ecological loading conditions, creation of a map of Se distribution in water resources of
other Mongolian regions, and large-scale evaluation of the human poly-elemental status.
- Full text:2020-194(4)-46-56.pdf
