A preliminary study on the determination and availability of aluminum in drinking water supplies of Sakarya province, Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to determine the level of aluminum in Sakarya province and to discuss possible links of aluminum to the Alzheimer's disease. A method for the direct determination of aluminum in drinking water supplies is proposed. The method uses a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer through an autosampler and addition of chemical modifier. Aluminum was determined in various drinking water supplies in Sakarya province, Turkey, at concentrations between 25.4 ng ml(-1) and 224.9 ng ml(-1). The measured aluminum concentrations are discussed based on the geological formation data. It is important to point out that in Sakarya province south districts have lower aluminum levels than north districts based on the results in connection with possible effects of geological formation. The study has also demonstrated that drinking water supplies in Sakarya province meet WHO, EU and TSE guidelines for most of the districts. Thus, there is no reason for Alzheimer's disease because the bioavailability and intake of aluminum by human beings from drinking water is negligible.