Ways of Arsenic Compounds Getting into Natural Waters

Abstract

Different factors often make the surface and ground water sources unfit for drinking purpose. Arsenic is often found in natural waters and makes it unsuitable for consumption without special treatment. Arsenic is released into water bodies as a result of human activity and natural processes. There are the following natural ways of arsenic release into ground water and atmosphere: volcanic activity, forest fires and leaching from arsenic rocks and minerals. The use of arsenic pesticides, processing of sulphide ore production, arsenic dyes and pigments production, producing of arsenic are encountered among anthropogenic sources. The terrible influence of long-acting arsenic compounds on the body (cancer, endocrine and neurological disorders, etc.) make dearsenication the necessary stage of the drinking water treatment. The problem of arsenic compoundspresence in natural waters is the challenge not only for underdeveloped countries where water treatment is performed using outdated methods, but also for many developed countries which require more economically and environmentally effective methods of water purification from arsenic compounds.

Critical review on arsenic: Its occurrence, contamination and remediation from water and soil

“…The process is highly pH-dependent with an optimum 10.5 -11. About 95% of As can be removed from the contaminated water at this pH, whereas only 30% can be removed at pH 8.5 (Litynska et al, 2017). The use of Cl can increase the removal efficiency of arsenic.…”

Arsenic-resistant bacteria in groundwater: Isolation and biochemical characterization

“…Es un contaminante frecuente del agua producto de fuentes naturales y antropogénicas. La contaminación natural del agua con arsénico se produce principalmente en zonas volcánicas [1], t al como sucede en ciertas ciudades del Perú y America Latin a [2]. Este contaminante es clasificado como carcinogénico para humanos [3] y sus efectos tóxicos depende de la forma de ingreso al organismo, tiempo de exposición y concentración del semi-metal [4].…”