Journal of Environmental Hydrology

Journal of Environmental Hydrology

ISSN 1058-3912

Quarterly electronic journal of the International Association for Environmental Hydrology
On the World Wide Web at http://www.hydroweb.com
JEH VOLUME 4 (1996)
POLYPHENOLS POLLUTION BY OLIVE MILL WASTE WATERS

Roberto Spandre and G. Dellomonaco
University of Pisa, Italy
The study area, characterized by the activity of several olive mills, is located in the region of Tuscany in central Italy. The research objective was to evaluate groundwater pollution caused by olive mill waste water spreading on soil. The chemical and hydrogeological characteristics of the aquifer system were studied. Particular attention was given to the presence of phenols in water samples because of their high content in these waste waters. A connection between the waste water spreading areas and local high concentrations of phenolic compounds in groundwater was found and olive mill waste waters were recognized as being the source of local groundwater pollution by polyphenols.
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