Distribution and mobility of selenium and other trace elements in shallow groundwater of the western San Joaquin Valley, California

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00171a013· OSTI ID:6606618

Deverel, S J; Millard, S P

Samples of shallow groundwater that underlies much of the irrigated area in the western San Joaquin Valley, CA, were analyzed for various major ions and trace elements, including selenium. Concentrations of the major ions generally were similar for groundwater collected in the two primary geologic zones-the alluvial fan and basin trough. Selenium concentrations are significantly higher in the groundwater of the alluvial-fan zone than in that of the basin-trough zone. The concentrations of oxyanion trace elements were significantly correlated with groundwater salinity, but the correlations between selenium and salinity and between molybdenum and salinity were significantly different in the alluvial-fan geologic zone compared with those in the basin-trough geologic zone. The evidence suggests that the main factors affecting selenium concentrations in the shallow groundwater are the degree of groundwater salinity and the geologic source of the alluvial soil material.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Sacramento, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6606618
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 22:6; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CALIFORNIA
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MOLYBDENUM
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SALINITY
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WATER
WATER POLLUTION