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Order of appearence	Full citation	SRCosmos Link
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12	Long D, Icopini G, Ganev G, Petropoulos E, Havazov I, Voice T, Chou K, Spassov A, Stein A, (2001) Geochemical fingerprinting and the etiology of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy in the Bulgarian Environment. Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, Ermoupolis, Syros, Greece Volume B 541-546.	SRCosmos
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Keywords	Balkan endemic nephropathy, metals, nitrate, geochemical modeling, uranium speciation, ICP-MS, PHREEQC
Abstract	The environmental hypothesis for the cause of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN) suggests that the spatial distribution of BEN is related to the biogeochemistry of the environment (e.g., soils, water and food). Little is known about the hydrogeochemistry of groundwater from such regions. Therefore, samples of well, tap, and spring waters were collected from BEN and non-BEN areas in the Vratza region of Bulgaria. In the field, samples were 1) collected using clean techniques; 2) analyzed for alkalinity, pH, temperature, conductivity, redox, and nitrogen species; and 3) split into subsamples, filtered and preserved for further analyses. In the laboratory, major anions and nutrients were determined by ion chromatography and major, minor, and trace elements determined by either atomic absorption or HEX-ICP-MS. Graphical (e.g., x-y plots, Piper plots) and geochemical (thermodynamic models using PHREEQC) and general statistical techniques (e.g. Student t) were used to study the data. Selected results include: 1) the water for the region is a calcium-bicarbonate water, 2) most chemicals in both types of locations were not above recommended drinking water standards; 3) arsenic concentrations were typically higher in BEN samples than non-BEN samples; 4) uranium concentrations were above WHO suggested limits in many well and spring water samples, whether from a BEN or non-BEN village; 5) nitrate- levels were very high in well water from both BEN and non-Ben villages, were higher in springs from BEN villages than non-BEN villages, and may indicate possible pathways for contaminants to enter the groundwater system; and 6) Cl:Na ratios along with NO3 levels indicate possible human influences on the water supply The results show biogeochemical differences between BEN and non-BEN villages. However, these differences are not fully understood and therefore cannot be related to the cause or distribution of BEN at this time. This ambiguity is in part related to a lack of data on groundwater biogeochemistry and the hydrogeology of the area. More work needs to be done on water quality in the Balkans to address not only historical heath issues (e.g., BEN), but also new and immerging environmental and environmental health issues.
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Name	Affiliation	Home page	e-mail	Total pubs
Chou K				2
Ganev VS	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Sofia			6
Havezov I	Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria			2
Long DT	Department of Geological Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824		long@msu.edu	13
Mcelmurry SP	Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824			4
Niagolova ND	Institute of International Health and Department of Geological Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 and National Centre of Radiobiology & Radiation Protection, Bulgaria.			3
Petropoulos EA				6
Voice TC	Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 USA		voice@msu.edu	12