Groundwater chemical pollution risk: Assessment through a soil attenuation index

Aquifer vulnerability is frequently estimated through methodologies that don't consider most physical and chemical soil parameters. A soil attenuation index is proposed to estimate groundwater chemical pollution risk, that takes into account organic carbon content, pH, cation exchange capacity, clay content, phreatic depth and landscape position. The attenuation index is constructed by a methodology similar to that developed for water quality index. P, Mn and Zn concentrations in groundwater from selected places were used to validate the proposed index. © 2007 Springer-Verlag.Fil: Heredia, Olga Susana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente. Cátedra de Edafología; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez Cirelli, Alicia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Centro de Estudios Transdisciplinarios del Agua; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin