Organic compounds from sea to aquifers

2003/07/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

In Israel, in addition to water shortages, pollutants have been detected entering the sea.

In Israel there are two main aquifers that are being depleted as more water comes out than is being renewed. But, if that were not enough, the decrease in the water level of the aquifers has put in place a new process, on the coast the sea water affects even more in the balance with the water of the aquifers and salinizes the fresh water and disperses the organic compounds.

This effect has been quite surprising for scientists, as organic compounds do not dissolve in water. Therefore, researchers from the Weizmann Institute have worked in the laboratory and have reproduced the interface between aquifers and sea, made up of lands and sands.

The explanation for the effect is that salt dissolved in salt water further hinders the dissolution of organic compounds, so the gradient pushes them into fresh water. Waves and coastal currents seem to contribute to the process.