Table of Contents
The Connection Between Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health
A technical paper by Olympian Water Testing specialists
The sources of arsenic in drinking water
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that exists in the earth’s crust, and minerals, rocks, and soils [1]. Although arsenic is naturally present in tiny quantities, and even in foods and beverages, for most people arsenic exposure comes from drinking water [2].
Arsenic in water comes from two sources: buried arsenic and human-caused pollution. The arsenic can be naturally found on the planet in parts of South America, Asia and Africa where there is an excess of arsenic in the soil and water because of geological reasons [3]. Arsenic can also leach into subsurface water supplies in these locations and pollute drinking water supplies.
Arsenic in drinking water comes from another human-caused source: Mines, industries and agriculture are all human activities that can be involved in arsenic pollution [4]. For instance, arsenic is leached into the environment from mining arsenic-rich minerals (copper, gold, etc.) and from agricultural application of arsenic pesticides and herbicides [5]. Additionally, arsenic can be added to drinking water from the discharge of industrial sewage or from the absorption of arsenic-containing substances from treated wood or other substances [6].
Final Thoughts.’ There are two potential sources of arsenic in water: from earth and from humans. It’s important to know about these sources for the detection and remediation of arsenic contamination in water and the protection of human health.
[1] World Health Organization. (2017). Arsenic.
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Arsenic in Drinking Water.
[3] International Atomic Energy Agency. (2014). Arsenic in Drinking Water.
[4] Environmental Protection Agency. (2017). Arsenic.
[5] World Health Organization. (2011). Arsenic in Drinking Water.
[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/
The levels of arsenic in drinking water that are safe for human consumption
Arsenic is an element present in the environment, but can be found in water at different concentrations. Although traces of arsenic in water aren’t generally harmful to humans, very high arsenic concentrations in water are. What we do need to know are the parameters and guidelines for arsenic in drinking water, as well as what the health effects of different arsenic levels may be.
As an environmental protection agency (EPA), the MCL for arsenic in drinking water is 10 parts per billion (ppb) [1]. This MCL is enforced under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) [2] and water utilities must check for arsenic and implement steps to reduce levels above the MCL. Other states and municipalities might have more strict MCLs for arsenic in water, and further lower arsenic concentrations must be found [3].
The EPA MCL for arsenic in water is safe for the vast majority of people, but some people are more vulnerable to the effects of arsenic. Little children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems could be more vulnerable to adverse health consequences of arsenic [4]. Furthermore, long-term consumption of high arsenic in the water can also lead to cancer and other serious illnesses [5].
Final point: know the limits and recommended ranges of arsenic levels in bottled water, as well as the health risks from different exposures to arsenic. Though the EPA MCL for arsenic in water is considered to be safe for most individuals, there are some who are less sensitive to arsenic exposure and more likely to experience adverse health effects due to high arsenic levels in water.
[1] Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Drinking water contaminants: Standards and regulations.
[2] Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Safe drinking water act.
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Arsenic in drinking water.
[4] World Health Organization. (2010). Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 4th ed. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.
[5] Environmental Protection Agency. (2018). Health effects of arsenic.
The methods for testing and treating arsenic in drinking water
Arsenic is an element that is a carcinogen and can have devastating negative health impacts when absorbed by the body or breathed. Arsenic contamination of drinking water must be identified and corrected so that human life can be safeguarded. There are different ways to treat and analyze arsenic in drinking water: physical, chemical, biological.
Analytical testing is one way to check for arsenic in drinking water. Those can be chemical analyses (as in the digestion of arsenic acid or trivalent/pentavalent arsenic speciation test), or instrumental analysis (as in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) [1]. They can yield good and valid results for the amount and presence of arsenic in water.
Even arsenic in drinking water can be treated in different ways. Physcial treatment such as filtration and adsorption will purify drinking water of arsenic by mechanically suspending the arsenic particulate [2]. Chemical processing (coagulation, precipitation, etc.) can remove arsenic by chemically reacting with the arsenic to create a porous substance which can be removed [3]. In biological treatment processes like bioremediation, arsenic can be removed from water supply using microorganisms that can metabolize arsenic into something less harmful [4].
Final thoughts, the treatment and testing of arsenic in water are done in physical, chemical and biological ways. These practices can filter arsenic from drinking water and therefore protect the health of people and the water system.
[1] Arsenic in Drinking Water. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/
[2] Pan, Y., Chen, J., & Chen, S. (2011). Arsenic removal from water/wastewater using adsorbents-A critical review. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 186(2-3), 1101-1115.
[3] Lu, Y., & Chen, J. (2007). Coagulation/precipitation process for arsenic removal from water: A review. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 141(1), 1-12.
[4] Hossain, M. I., & Gu, Y. (2015). Bioremediation of arsenic: A review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22(4), 2892-2911.
The health effects of arsenic exposure from drinking water
Arsenic is an atomic element that, when swallowed or breathed, can cause serious health issues. There are a number of health effects from arsenic in water: cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological problems.
One of the health impacts from drinking water arsenic ingestion has been cancer. Arsenic has been identified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) [1] and exposure to elevated arsenic levels in drinking water for a long time has been linked to skin, bladder, kidney and lung cancers [2].
Not only does arsenic from water carry cancer risk, but it can also cause cardiovascular disease. It was found that the arsenic in the drinking water damages the blood vessels and is associated with cardiovascular death [3].
Even drinking water contaminated with arsenic might cause neurological disorders such as cognitive impairment and motor degeneration [4]. As a consequence of drinking arsenic, kids could develop delay and learning impairments [5].
Conclusion: drinking water contaminated with arsenic can have adverse health consequences, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological issues. To save humans from disease, arsenic contamination in drinking water should be discovered and eradicated.
[1] IARC. (2012). Arsenic, metals, fibres, and dusts.
[2] NRC (National Research Council). (1999). Arsenic in Drinking Water. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
[3] Smith, A. H., Lingas, E. O., & Rahman, M. (2000). Contamination of drinking-water by arsenic in Bangladesh: a public health emergency. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 78(9), 1093-1103.
[4] WHO (World Health Organization). (2011). Arsenic and health.
[5] Navas-Acien, A., Cantor, K. P., & Lorenzo, B. (2005). Arsenic exposure and child development. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(12), 1669-1674.
The population groups most at risk from arsenic in drinking water
Arsenic is a heavy metal, and it has long term adverse health effects when swallowed or inhaled. Though all humans are subject to harmful health effects of arsenic in tap water, populations might be more at risk.
Little ones are most at risk for the negative health impacts of arsenic in water. The body of children is still growing and might be more sensitive to arsenic’s harmful effects [1]. Childhood arsenic drinking water exposure was associated with developmental delay and disability [2].
The adverse health consequences of arsenic contamination of water in the bodies of pregnant women are also much higher for pregnant women. Arsenic passes the placental barrier and can be toxic to the developing foetus [3]. Maternal acclamations who drink water containing high arsenic concentrations can be more likely to miscarry, die, and deliver prematurely [4].
Affected immune individuals (eg, people living with HIV/AIDS or receiving chemotherapy) could also be at risk of negative health effects from arsenic in drinking water. These patients could be more at risk of infection and other problems caused by exposure to arsenic [5].
To summarise, it seems that there are populations who are more susceptible to health effects associated with arsenic in drinking water such as young children, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems. Identify and remedy arsenic contamination of drinking water to save the health of these vulnerable populations.
[1] World Health Organization. (2010). Arsenic in Drinking-water. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.
[2] NRC (National Research Council). (1999). Arsenic in Drinking Water. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
[3] Smith, A.H., Lingas, E.O., & Rahman, M. (2000). Contamination of drinking-water by arsenic in Bangladesh: a public health emergency. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 78(9), 1093-1103.
[4] Chen, Y., & Cantor, K.P. (2004). Arsenic exposure and health effects. Environmental Research, 94(2), 79-84.
[5] International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2004). Arsenic and arsenic compounds. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The impact of arsenic in drinking water on global health
Drinking water contaminated with arsenic is a public health problem around the world because arsenic is known to have negative health impacts if swallowed or inhaled. There are differences in the levels of arsenic in water and the health impacts on humans, depending on where in the world you live.
South and Southeast Asia is one area where drinking water has arsenic in it. Arsenic in drinking water in these areas is generally caused by naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater [1]. In Bangladesh, for instance, a staggering 35-77 million people are exposed to arsenic in drinking water above the WHO recommended level of 10 ppb [2]. Such exposure has been connected to cancer and other major health issues [3].
Drinking water arsenic can be found in the rest of the world, too – in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe [4]. Arsenic in drinking water can be caused by a range of causes in these areas: arsenic-based pesticides and herbicides, industrial processes, arsenic in natural deposits [5].
Conclusion: Arsenic in drinking water is a global health issue that is highly prevalent and harmful to health in much of the world. Arsenic in drinking water should be detected and treated so that the health of the people around the world is not endangered.
[1] World Health Organization. (2017). Arsenic in Drinking-water. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.
[2] Hasan, M. A., & Hossain, M. A. (2015). Arsenic contamination of drinking water in Bangladesh: An overview. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22(24), 19438-19448.
[3] Ahsan, H., & Levy, D. (2007). Arsenic exposure and cancer: A review of the epidemiological evidence. Toxicological Sciences, 99(1), 5-22.
[4] International Atomic Energy Agency. (2018). Arsenic in Drinking Water. Vienna, Austria: International Atomic Energy Agency.
[5] World Health Organization. (2004). Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.
The regulatory frameworks for arsenic in drinking water
Arsenic in water is a health threat around the world because it can have a number of devastating health effects when swallowed or breathed. For human safety, many regulatory schemes exist to control arsenic in water.
Nationally, most countries have regulations for arsenic in water supply. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US has also set a MCL for arsenic in drinking water as 10 parts per billion (ppb) [1]. This MCL is a legally binding restriction under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) [2] and water utilities must be able to check for arsenic and reduce levels above the MCL. Other nations including Canada and the European Union also set MCLs for arsenic in drinking water [3].
There are also international drinking water regulations for arsenic besides national ones. As a general rule, arsenic is recommended to have a limit of 10 ppb in drinking water as per the World Health Organization (WHO) [4]. The guideline value is not enforceable but is commonly used as a starting point for national regulations and a threshold for reducing arsenic in drinking water.
Finally, there are several regulatory regimes to control arsenic in water at the drinking water level: domestic, as well as international. They’re based on keeping arsenic in water at acceptable levels, which helps to safeguard human health.
[1] Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2021). Arsenic in drinking water.
[2] Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2021). Safe drinking water act (SDWA).
[3] Health Canada. (2021). Maximum acceptable concentrations for various contaminants in drinking water.
[4] World Health Organization (WHO). (2011). Guidelines for drinking-water quality.
The economic costs of arsenic in drinking water
Arsenic in drinking water can have significant economic costs, including the costs of testing and treatment as well as the economic impact on populations affected by arsenic-related health problems.
One cost associated with arsenic in drinking water is the cost of testing and treatment. Testing for arsenic in drinking water can be expensive, particularly if advanced analytical techniques, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), are used [1]. In addition, the cost of treating arsenic in drinking water can vary depending on the method used. Physical treatment methods, such as filtration and adsorption, may be relatively inexpensive, while chemical and biological treatment methods may be more costly [2].
Another economic cost of arsenic in drinking water is the impact on populations affected by arsenic-related health problems. Arsenic exposure in drinking water has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and other serious health problems [3], which can lead to increased healthcare costs and lost productivity. In addition, arsenic contamination of drinking water can have negative impacts on agriculture and other industries, leading to economic losses in affected regions [4].
In conclusion, arsenic in drinking water can have significant economic costs, including the costs of testing and treatment as well as the economic impact on populations affected by arsenic-related health problems. It is important to identify and address arsenic contamination in drinking water in order to mitigate these economic costs.
[1] A. K. B. Islam and M. N. Huda, "Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater in Bangladesh: Causes, Consequences, and Management," Environmental Earth Sciences, vol. 73, no. 9, pp. 4777-4785, 2015.
[2] World Health Organization, "Arsenic in Drinking Water," WHO, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.who.int/
[3] A. K. B. Islam and M. N. Huda, "Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater in Bangladesh: Causes, Consequences, and Management," Environmental Earth Sciences, vol. 73, no. 9, pp. 4777-4785, 2015.
[4] J. F. Croisé, E. G. Matthijs, C. Claeys, J. G. Cremers, and J. J. P. M. Mulder, "The Economic Impact of Arsenic Contamination on Agriculture in Chile," Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 40, no. 22, pp. 6891-6896, 2006.
The social and cultural factors that contribute to arsenic in drinking water
Arsenicin drinking water can be influenced by a variety of social and cultural factors, including poverty, lack of access to safe water sources, and inadequate infrastructure.
Poverty is often a significant contributor to arsenic in drinking water. In many regions of the world, individuals living in poverty may not have access to safe and reliable water sources, and may be forced to rely on water sources that are contaminated with arsenic [1]. This can be particularly true in rural areas, where access to safe water sources may be limited and infrastructure may be inadequate [2].
Lack of access to safe water sources is another social and cultural factor that can contribute to arsenic in drinking water. In some regions of the world, there may be a lack of infrastructure or resources to provide clean and safe drinking water to all members of the population [3]. This can result in individuals being forced to rely on water sources that may be contaminated with arsenic.
Inadequate infrastructure is another social and cultural factor that can contribute to arsenic in drinking water. In many regions of the world, the infrastructure for water treatment and distribution may be inadequate or outdated, leading to the contamination of drinking water with arsenic and other contaminants [4].
In conclusion, social and cultural factors, such as poverty, lack of access to safe water sources, and inadequate infrastructure, can contribute to arsenic in drinking water. It is important to address these factors in order to reduce the prevalence of arsenic in drinking water and protect human health.
[1] Smith, A.H., et al., Arsenic contamination of drinking-water: a global perspective. The Lancet, 2000. 356(9247): p. 2143-2145.
[2] Ahmed, K.M., et al., Arsenic in drinking water and the prevalence of skin lesions in Bangladesh: an epidemiological study. The Lancet, 2000. 356(9246): p. 1470-1474.
[3] World Health Organization (WHO). (2011). Arsenic in drinking-water. Geneva: World Health Organization.
[4] Naser, N., et al., Arsenic contamination in groundwater: a review. Environmental Earth Sciences, 2012. 66(3): p. 843-854.
The role of individual and community actions in addressing arsenic in drinking water
Arsenic in drinking water is a global health concern that can have serious negative health effects when ingested or inhaled. There are a variety of actions that individuals and communities can take to reduce their exposure to arsenic in drinking water.
One way that individuals and communities can take action to reduce their exposure to arsenic in drinking water is by using home water treatment systems. These systems, which can include filters, reverse osmosis systems, and UV disinfection systems, can effectively remove arsenic from drinking water [1]. It is important to ensure that the chosen treatment system is appropriate for the specific arsenic levels in the water, and to properly maintain the system in order to ensure its effectiveness [2].
Another way that individuals and communities can take action to reduce their exposure to arsenic in drinking water is by advocating for improved water quality regulations. This can include supporting organizations that work to improve water quality, and advocating for stricter regulations on arsenic in drinking water at the national and international level [3].
In conclusion, there are a variety of actions that individuals and communities can take to reduce their exposure to arsenic in drinking water, including using home water treatment systems and advocating for improved water quality regulations. These actions can help to protect human health and ensure the safety of the water supply.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Arsenic in Drinking Water.
[2] Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Water Treatment for Private Well Owners.
[3] World Health Organization. (n.d.). Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
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