Chemical composition of drinking water in Murmansk and Kola, element migration forms in waters and the human body, and comparison with the waters in Kirovsk

BACKGROUND: This study is a logical continuation of earlier work examining the chemical composition of drinking water in various areas of the Murmansk Region and assessing its potential impact on human health. The relevance of such research is underscored by the fact that several cities and districts of the Murmansk Region exhibit disease incidence rates exceeding national averages. Thermodynamic modeling enables the application of new approaches to examining potential migration forms of chemical elements in natural waters and the formation of secondary phases, depending on various parameters (water chemistry, pH, Eh, temperature, conditions of water formation, etc.). Investigating the transformation of element species upon entry into the human body makes it possible to predict pathological conditions and, consequently, to shift toward disease prevention. Among the analyzed chemical elements, special attention was given to rare and rare earth elements, whose biological properties have attracted increasing scientific interest both in Russia and internationally.

AIM: This work aimed to assess the complete chemical composition of drinking water from centralized water supply systems in the administrative districts of Murmansk and to compare it with the chemical composition of water from the Central water intake facility in Kirovsk with respect to maximum permissible concentrations, biologically significant concentrations, and the assessment of their potential health relevance.

METHODS: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, potentiometry, and titrimetry were employed. Thermodynamic calculations were performed using physico-chemical (thermodynamic) modeling implemented in the Selector software package.

RESULTS: Significant differences in chemical composition were identified among the three districts of Murmansk and Kola. The chemical composition of water from the Pervomaysky district was characterized by comparatively higher concentrations of Y, Zr, La, Ce, and U. Comparison of drinking water from Murmansk districts with water from the Central intake (Kirovsk) showed higher levels of Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, La, and Ce, and lower levels of F^-, Al, NO₃^-, Na⁺, HCO₃^-, U, and pH. Changes in the migration forms of elements and the formation of newly formed phases were demonstrated both in tap water and under gastric conditions.

CONCLUSION: Drinking water distributed across Murmansk districts is low-mineralized. Except for silicon, the concentrations of macroelements and essential elements do not reach the lower limits of biologically significant concentrations. The water contains rare and rare earth elements for which biologically significant concentration thresholds have not yet been established. Thermodynamic modeling showed that, upon entering the gastrointestinal tract, these elements change their migration forms and become more mobile. The work presents preliminary data on the migration forms of lanthanides under varying gastric conditions, whose chlorides may influence blood coagulation.