[High aluminum concentrations in well water of southern Lower Saxony sandy soil areas caused by acid precipitation--evaluation from the public health and ecologic viewpoint]

Abstract

Decades of acid precipitation have caused soil acidification in regions with low neutralizing capacity of industrial countries, thus mobilizing aluminium from clay minerals into soil solution and ground water. In the southern sandy heath-land of Lower Saxony all the wells with pH values lower than 4.5 showed aluminium contents higher than 2.0 mg/l. 66.7% of the specimens within the pH-range 4.5 to 5.0 and 20% of the specimens within the pH-range 5.0 to 5.5 had aluminium levels of more than 0.2 mg/l, that is the maximum permissible limit value of the drinking water regulation. High contents of aluminium in drinking water are objectionable from the hygienic point of view, as they may cause intoxications in infants and patients with impaired renal function. In addition to this, the involvement of aluminium in the pathogenesis of severe degenerative disorders of the central nervous system cannot be excluded, such as Alzheimers disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinsons dementia.