The Estimation Of Calcium And Magnesium In Natural Waters

Can calcium and magnesium ("hardness") in drinking water contribute to preventing disease? This book documents the outputs of an unprecedented group of experts assembled by the World Health Organization to address this question. It includes their comprehensive consensus view on what is known and what is not about the role and possible health benefit of calcium and magnesium in drinking-water. Also included is a series of chapters each authored by internationally renowned experts reviewing the state of the art in different aspects including: global dietary calcium and magnesium intakes; the contribution of drinking water to calcium and magnesium intake; health significance of calcium and magnesium; role of drinking-water in relation to bone metabolism; epidemiological studies and the association of cardiovascular disease risks with water hardness and magnesium in particular; water production; technical issues and economics. In both developed and developing countries, typical diets are often deficient in calcium and magnesium--essential minerals which are necessary for the development of strong bones and teeth, and for cardiovascular function. At the same time, there is evidence that consuming "hard" drinking-water may be associated with reduced risks for some diseases. Climate change and other ongoing changes will increase the use of high tech treatments--for example desalination and reclamation of polluted waters and mean that the issue will be of increasing future importance.

Determination of Metals in Natural Waters, Sediments and Soils provides analytic labs with a comprehensive overview of the various methods available for analysis of metals and serves as a manual to determine metal concentrations in different media such as natural waters, waste waters, sediments and soils. The book begins with a discussion of sampling techniques and preservation and then covers metals in rivers, surface ground and mineral waters and metals in aqueous precipitation. It concludes with detailed information on analysis of metals in sediments. Determination of Metals in Natural Waters, Sediments and Soils provides a foundation for informed action by environmental interest groups and regulators and a starting point for further study by graduate students, professionals, and researchers. Includes all of the methods currently available to assess metals in water, sediments and soils Covers metals in surface ground and mineral waters Summarizes the strengths, weakness and precautions of different methods and provides a table summarizing the methods with reference citations

Determination of Metals in Natural and Treated Waters draws together all the available literature and presents in a systematic fashion the latest analytical techniques for detecting metals in non-saline and saline natural and treated water. Broad outlines of different methods and their applicability in certain situations are given allowing the chemist to choose appropriate test methods. This volume is an essential reference for environmental analytical chemists, toxicologists and the medical community in the water, agrochemistry, fisheries and waste management industries and the public sector, including enforcement and public health.

Calcium and magnesium are abundant in groundwater, but the role of groundwater as the essential source of these important nutrients is very often neglected. Hydrogeochemical studies have focused mainly on the distribution and behaviour of constituents that cause deterioration of water quality, such as: nitrate, nitrite or iron and manganese. Therefore, most recent books and papers concentrate mainly on these constituents and only a small number of papers describe the results of groundwater studies on other important water components such as calcium or magnesium. Calcium and magnesium are of great importance to human wellbeing and inadequate intake of either nutrient can impair health. The main objective of this book is to present a selection of studies on calcium and magnesium in groundwater and to highlight their importance for human health. The chapters in this book are written by hydrogeologists and hydrochemists as well as medical doctors and include: methods of investigation of calcium and magnesium in groundwaters, distribution and behaviour of calcium and magnesium in different aquifers, calcium and magnesium in bottled mineral and spring waters, and the significance of calcium and magnesium in waters for human health.