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. 2024 Oct 9:18:11786302241285391.
doi: 10.1177/11786302241285391. eCollection 2024.

Dynamics of Spatiotemporal Variation of Groundwater Arsenic in Central Rift Vally of Ethiopia: A Serial Cross-Sectional Study

Solomon Demissie  1 , Seblework Mekonen  1 , Tadesse Awoke  2 , Bezatu Mengistie  1
Affiliations

Dynamics of Spatiotemporal Variation of Groundwater Arsenic in Central Rift Vally of Ethiopia: A Serial Cross-Sectional Study

Solomon Demissie et al. Environ Health Insights. .

Abstract

Background: Arsenic is a well-known, highly poisonous metalloid that affects human health and ecosystems and is widely distributed in the environment. Nevertheless, data on the spatiotemporal distribution of arsenic in groundwater sources in Ethiopia are scarce.

Objective: The principal aim of this study was to assess the extent of arsenic in groundwater sources and analyze the spatiotemporal variations in the central rift valley of Ethiopia.

Methods: The study employed a serial cross-sectional study design and census sampling methods. The concentrations of arsenic in the groundwater samples were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) at the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority laboratory. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 29 software. Additionally, ArcGIS software was utilized to map the spatiotemporal distribution of arsenic. Furthermore, Minitab statistical software version 21.4 was employed to assess the correlation between spatiotemporal variations of arsenic concentrations in groundwater sources.

Results: The mean values of arsenic in the groundwater samples were 11.2 µg/L during the dry season and 10.7 µg/L during the rainy season. The study results showed that 18 wells (42.2%) and 22 wells (48.8%) had higher arsenic concentrations (>10 µg/L) during the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Thus, arsenic levels in 42.2% and 48.8% of the samples exceeded the maximum threshold limit set by WHO, USEPA, and Ethiopian standards (10 µg/L), respectively, during the dry and rainy seasons. Furthermore, our analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between arsenic in groundwater and well depth (r = .75, P < .001), indicating a strong association between higher arsenic concentrations and deeper wells. Similarly, we observed a substantial positive correlation between arsenic concentration in groundwater and season (r = .9, P < .001), suggesting notable variations in arsenic levels between dry and rainy seasons.

Conclusions: The majority of the groundwater sources in the studied area are unfit for human consumption because they contain high amounts of arsenic, which poses a significant risk to human health. Moreover, the arsenic concentration varied spatially and temporally. Therefore, special attention is needed to reduce arsenic exposure and associated health risks.

Keywords: Arsenic; Ethiopia; ICP-MS; cross-sectional studies; groundwater; spatiotemporal variation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha District.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Water sample collection points.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Arsenic concentration in shallow and deep wells during dry and wet seasons in Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha District, Ethiopia, 2022.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Spatial distribution of As concentration during dry and wet seasons in Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha District, Ethiopia, 2022.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Correlations between arsenic concentration and well-depth in Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha District, Ethiopia, 2022.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Seasonal variability of As in groundwater sources in Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha District, Ethiopia, 2022.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Seasonal As variation among sampled wells during dry and rainy seasons in Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha District, Ethiopia, 2022.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Correlations between arsenic concentration in dry and wet seasons in Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha District, Ethiopia, 2022.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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