Chapter 5
Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater
and Its Mitigation Strategies
Surabhi Awasthi, Reshu Chauhan, Sanjay Dwivedi, Sudhakar Srivastava,
and Rudra Deo Tripathi
5.1 Introduction
Contamination of arsenic (As) in groundwater and their resources globally affects
human health. The problem of As contamination is becoming more worsen due to
day by day increasing concentration of As and discovery of new As-contaminated
areas. In recent years, many As-contaminated regions have been identified, but still
systematic evaluation and monitoring of some areas that are at high risk remains to
be carried out. Contamination of groundwater through geogenic and anthropogenic
activities is the main concern for environment and human health (Fig. 5.1). Across
the world in several countries including India, millions of people are using
As-contaminated water beyond the permissible limit (10 μg/L). Many countries
such as Bangladesh, Hungary, Taiwan, Argentina, China, Chile, Mexico, USA,
Nepal, and India have crossed the safe limit of As in drinking water guided by
WHO (IWA 2016; Singh 2017). Various standards of As have been accepted in
several countries ranging from 5 mg/L in the United States to 50 mg/L in most
developing countries (Ahmed 2003; Singh and Stern 2017). Ravenscroft et al.
(2009) reported that millions of inhabitants are consuming contaminated drinking
water having As more than the permissible limit, i.e., 10 μg/L.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring toxic metalloid with atomic number 33, atomic
mass 75, and four oxidation states (À3, 0, +3, and + 5) (Awasthi et al. 2017). Arsenic
Authors Surabhi Awasthi and Reshu Chauhan have equally contributed to this chapter.
S. Awasthi · R. Chauhan · S. Dwivedi · R. D. Tripathi (*)
CSIR – National Botanical Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
S. Srivastava
Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi,
India
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
A. Singh et al. (eds.), Water Pollution and Management Practices,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8358-2_5
107
Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater
and Its Mitigation Strategies
Surabhi Awasthi, Reshu Chauhan, Sanjay Dwivedi, Sudhakar Srivastava,
and Rudra Deo Tripathi
5.1 Introduction
Contamination of arsenic (As) in groundwater and their resources globally affects
human health. The problem of As contamination is becoming more worsen due to
day by day increasing concentration of As and discovery of new As-contaminated
areas. In recent years, many As-contaminated regions have been identified, but still
systematic evaluation and monitoring of some areas that are at high risk remains to
be carried out. Contamination of groundwater through geogenic and anthropogenic
activities is the main concern for environment and human health (Fig. 5.1). Across
the world in several countries including India, millions of people are using
As-contaminated water beyond the permissible limit (10 μg/L). Many countries
such as Bangladesh, Hungary, Taiwan, Argentina, China, Chile, Mexico, USA,
Nepal, and India have crossed the safe limit of As in drinking water guided by
WHO (IWA 2016; Singh 2017). Various standards of As have been accepted in
several countries ranging from 5 mg/L in the United States to 50 mg/L in most
developing countries (Ahmed 2003; Singh and Stern 2017). Ravenscroft et al.
(2009) reported that millions of inhabitants are consuming contaminated drinking
water having As more than the permissible limit, i.e., 10 μg/L.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring toxic metalloid with atomic number 33, atomic
mass 75, and four oxidation states (À3, 0, +3, and + 5) (Awasthi et al. 2017). Arsenic
Authors Surabhi Awasthi and Reshu Chauhan have equally contributed to this chapter.
S. Awasthi · R. Chauhan · S. Dwivedi · R. D. Tripathi (*)
CSIR – National Botanical Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
S. Srivastava
Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi,
India
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
A. Singh et al. (eds.), Water Pollution and Management Practices,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8358-2_5
107