Abstract

Arsenic, commonly found in natural environment, has become an important environmental problem after revealing its toxicological effects on human health. Arsenic concentration of the groundwater used for irrigation of pumpkins in Nevşehir and as well as of pumpkin seeds consumed as a snack have not been studied earlier. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the contamination of arsenic in irrigation water and pumpkin seeds in Nevşehir. The research was conducted by taking irrigation water samples from deep wells located in Gülşehir-Gülpınar, ÜrgüpSarıhıdır, Hacıbektaş-Killik villages and collecting seed samples of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) grown in these villages. Arsenic concentrations in irrigation water and seed samples were measured by ICP-MS device. The arsenic concentration levels in irrigation water were measured as 201.87 µg L-1 in Hacıbektaş-Killik village, 56.17 µg L-1 in Gülşehir-Gülpınar village and 10.15 µg L-1 in Ürgüp-Sarıhıdır village. The arsenic concentrations in all the pumpkin samples were determined at varying rates. The arsenic level was measured 669.23 µg L-1 in Hacıbektaş-Killik village, 282.51 µg L-1 in Gülşehir-Gülpinar village and 161.65 µg L-1 in Ürgüp-Sarıhıdır village. As a result, considering the geological structure of the region, the water resources should be monitored regularly regarding the risk of contamination with arsenic and it is essential that a plan be devised to reduce the arsenic level in the irrigation water.

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