Arsenic Contamination Of Groundwater

Having safe drinking water is important to all Americans. The Environmental Protection Agency's decision in the summer of 2001 to delay implementing a new, more stringent standard for the maximum allowable level for arsenic in drinking water generated a great deal of criticism and controversy. Ultimately at issue were newer data on arsenic beyond those that had been examined in a 1999 National Research Council report. EPA asked the National Research Council for an evaluation of the new data available. The committee's analyses and conclusions are presented in Arsenic in Drinking Water: 2001 Update. New epidemiological studies are critically evaluated, as are new experimental data that provide information on how and at what level arsenic in drinking water can lead to cancer. The report's findings are consistent with those of the 1999 report that found high risks of cancer at the previous federal standard of 50 parts per billion. In fact, the new report concludes that men and women who consume water containing 3 parts per billion of arsenic daily have about a 1 in 1,000 increased risk of developing bladder or lung cancer during their lifetime.

Arsenic-contaminated groundwater has created one of the world's largest environmental health crises. This book addresses the arsenic issue within a scientific and social science framework, with the context set by environmental and legal considerations. The text explores the methodological issues of spatial, quantitative, and qualitative enquiries on arsenic poisoning, for instance, using GIS to investigate the distribution of arsenic-laced water in space-time to uncover the pattern of variations over scales from meters to kilometers. The authors also include spatial risk maps that indicate the possible long-term strategies of mitigation.

Provides a viable reference, describing the state-of-knowledge on sources of arsenic contamination in ground water, which affects about 100 million people worldwide. With contributions from world-renowned experts in the field, this book explores developments in the transport kinetics, detection, measurement, seasonal cycling, accumulation, geochemistry, removal, and toxicology of arsenic. Includes compelling case studies describing how arsenic contamination occurs and the devastating effects on the people and environment affected by it.

Arsenic Pollution summarizes the most current research on the distribution and causes of arsenic pollution, its impact on health and agriculture, and solutions by way of water supply, treatment, and water resource management. Provides the first global and interdisciplinary account of arsenic pollution occurrences Integrates geochemistry, hydrology, agriculture, and water supply and treatment for the first time Options are highlighted for developing alternative water sources and methods for arsenic testing and removal Appeals to specialists in one discipline seeking an overview of the work being done in other disciplines

Interest in arsenic in ground water has greatly increased in the past decade because of the increased awareness of human health effects and the costs of avoidance or treatment of ground water supplies used for consumption. The goal of this book is to provide a description of the basic processes that affect arsenic occurrence and transport by providing sufficient background information on arsenic geochemistry and descriptions of hi- arsenic ground water, both affected and unaffected by human activity. An understanding of thermodynamics, adsorption, and the speciation of arsenic in solid phases, which are described in first three chapters, is needed to predict the fate of arsenic in ground water systems. Large-scale and deep movement of ground water can and has redistributed arsenic in the near surface environment, as described in the next two chapters. These large-scale systems can affect large volumes of both ground water and surface water, such as in the Yellowstone system, and can produce mineralised zones that subsequently release arsenic to ground water supplies. Regional identification of high-arsenic ground water and its consumption as described in the next three chapters clearly demonstrates a need for increased wat- quality monitoring, particularly in south and southeast Asia. Chapters 9-11 provide examples of high arsenic ground water associated with sulfide mineral oxidation and alkaline conditions. Finally, smaller scale studies of the effects of human activities that have produced high-arsenic ground water and methods for attenuation of ground water are presented.

Contamination of groundwater with arsenic is being considered a pervasive and critical issue in recent years. Large areas in India, Bangladesh, South East Asia, and other parts of the world are suffering from this problem. Arsenic Removal from Contaminated Groundwater presents a comprehensive discussion on various important issues, including state-of-the-art arsenic removal technologies, preparation and performance analysis of laterite, and scale-up issues and design of a household filter. It also expounds the potentiality of raw laterite and treated laterite as low-cost arsenic adsorbents. The efficiency of adsorbent capacity is evaluated using real arsenic contaminated groundwater collected from an affected area in West Bengal, India. The topic is an emerging area and most of the work presented has the potential of field application.

This edited volume brings together a diverse group of environmental science, sustainability and health researchers to address the challenges posed by global mass poisoning caused by arsenic water contamination. The book sheds light on this global environmental issue, and proposes solutions to aquatic contamination through a multi-disciplinary lens and case studies from Bangladesh and India. The book may serve as a reference to environment and sustainability researchers, students and policy makers. Part one of the book describes the issue of arsenic contamination in ground water and river basins, including its source and distribution in specific locations in India. Part two explains the routes of exposure to environmental arsenic, its transport in aquatic ecosystems, and the health risks linked to arsenic exposure in food and the environment. Part three addresses sustainable arsenic contamination mitigation strategies and policies, the socioeconomic, demographic, cultural and psychological aspects of arsenic contamination, and the potential applications of GIS and remote sensing in providing solutions. Part four concludes by discussing the role of local and regional institutions in water resources management for a variety of issues including but not limited to arsenic contamination, and presents a case study in the Indus river basin in Pakistan to propose future contamination mitigation strategies.

Throughout history, arsenic has been used as an effective and lethal poison. Today, arsenic continues to present a real threat to human health all over the world, as it contaminates groundwater and food supplies. Handbook of Arsenic Toxicology presents the latest findings on arsenic, its chemistry, its sources and its acute and chronic effects on the environment and human health. The book takes readings systematically through the target organs, before detailing current preventative and counter measures. This reference enables readers to effectively assess the risks related to arsenic, and provide a comprehensive look at arsenic exposure, toxicity and toxicity prevention. Brings together current findings on the effects of arsenic on the environment and human health Includes state-of-the-art techniques in arsenic toxicokinetics, speciation and molecular mechanisms Provides all the information needed for effective risk assessment, prevention and countermeasure