Determination of major and minor elements in the Malva sylvestris L. from Turkey using ICP-OES techniques.

In this work, Malva sylvestris var. mauritiana (L.) leaves were collected from different points in Muradiye region of Manisa-Turkey. The leaves were dissolved by wet digestion method using a mixture of mineral acid. Concentrations of Ag, Al, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sn, Sr, Sb, Si, Ti, U, Zn, and Zr in prepared solutions were determined by using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). High Ca (13,848 mg/kg) and Mg (1,936 mg/kg) concentrations were found at the leaves. Obtained values were compared with the internationally permitted (standard) values. The results of elements were analyzed statistically (analysis of variance test). For different leaf sizes, concentration factors were calculated.

An assessment of the quality of various bottled mineral water marketed in Turkey.

Fifteen bottled mineral waters purchased at random all over Turkey were analyzed for their chemical composition by OPTIMA-2000 ICP-AES Perkin Elmer techniques. Results show a wide spread in the chemical specification of these mineral waters, with differences in chemical composition observed in the regions being due to the geological environment and the majority of bottled mineral waters exceeding the pH limit of Turkish drinking water standards. When the concentrations of elements are evaluated, it can readily be seen that generally there are three types of mineral water in Turkey. The concentrations of Al, B, Ba, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn Pb and Zn in mineral water were compared with the limits established by the Turkish Standard for Natural Mineral Waters (Turkish Official Gazette 2004); water standards prepared by World Health Organization (2006) and the United States of America Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) drinking water standards (1993). Such a comparison shows that, except for Ba and Mn, the concentrations of the other heavy metals are lower than the limit of the US. EPA in Turkey. Some parameters examined were found to comprise strong correlations pair-wise.

Gross alpha-particle activities in the ground waters in Western Anatolia.

The purpose of this study is to present data on gross alpha-particle activity, pH and conductivity in the ground waters in Western Anatolia. The gross alpha-particle activities in 27 ground water samples were determined by radiochemical carrier-precipitation methods. The gross alpha-particle activities of water samples were measured by using a ZnS (Ag) detector system. Measurable alpha-particle activity is present in all ground water samples, with one ground water sample having a gross alpha-particle activity > 0.55 Bq/L.