Trace metal contamination of mineral spring water in an historical mining area in regional Victoria, Australia

摘要: Significant global consumption of spring and mineral water is fuelled by perceived therapeutic medicinal qualities, cultural habits taste. The Central Victorian Mineral Springs Region, Australia comprises approximately 100 naturally effervescent, cold, high CO2 content springs with distinctive tastes linked to a specific or pump. area has rich settlement history. It was first settled miners in the 1840s closely followed commercial operations health resort 1895. landscape clearly affected gold mining geographically proximal mine waste, mullock heaps tailings. Repeated sampling since 1985 revealed elevated arsenic concentrations. In an concentration five times current Australian Drinking Water Guideline recorded at popular tourist site. Recent analyses have confirmed levels heavy metals/metalloids, higher concentrations occurring during periods low rainfall. Despite levels, source points remain accessible public some actively promoting benefits waters. light our analysis, risk consumers (some whom are likely be negatively health-affected health-compromised) needs considered view appropriate verified made available public.