Himalayas are other geological sources for groundwater As contamination (Acharya
et al. 1999; Bhattacharya et al. 2013). Mining, manufacturing, and processing of
metallic ores using As-containing sulfides are main anthropogenic activities that
contribute to groundwater As contamination. Anthropogenic activities that lead to
As contamination affect the quality of surface water and discharge and runoff of
groundwater (Khatri and Tyagi 2015). The excess As in groundwater is due to
predominating sulfidic minerals of As such as pyrite and arsenopyrite and their
association with other ore deposits (Borba et al. 2003). As-containing mineral,
arsenopyrite (FeAsS), abundantly exists in anaerobic environments and in the
other rock-forming minerals such as carbonate, phosphate, sulfide, silicate, and
oxide (Smedley and Kinniburgh 2002). Arsenic in groundwater is attributed to
many geochemical processes, including desorption of As from oxide and hydroxides, oxidation of As-bearing sulfides, dissolution of As (reductive)-bearing oxides
and hydroxides, release of As from geothermal water as well as leaching of As.
According to McArthur et al. (2001), the reductive dissolution of As-containing iron
minerals in aquifer sediments chemically or with the help of microbes is the major
cause of As release.
Drinking water contaminated with As severely affects human health and is a
major environmental cause of cancer (Tripathi et al. 2007). In 1980, the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has listed As as a human carcinogen.
Chronic exposure to As causes severe harm to internal organs such as digestive,
Table 5.1 Arsenic contamination of groundwater in different countries
Country
As concentration (μg/
L)
References
Bangladesh
!1-5500
Ahmad et al. (2018)
Vietnam
1-3050
Rahman et al. (2009)
Thailand
1-5000
Jones et al. (2009)
Chile
1-900
Ferreccio and Sancha (2006)
Afghanistan
10-500
Nriagu et al. (2007)
West Bengal, India
West Bengal, India
Chhattisgarh, India
10-3200
> 3600
> 4500
Chakraborti et al. (2010)
Mishra et al. (2016)
Mekong Delta,
Cambodia
1-900
Sthiannopkao et al. (2008)
Brazil
0.4-350
Khan and Ho, (2011)
China
52-4440
Rahman et al. (2009)
Pakistan
!906
Mukherjee et al. (2006), Khan and Ho
(2011)
Taiwan
10-1820
Nriagu et al. (2007)
USA
10-2600
Cutler et al.(2013)
Argentina
4-5300
Smedley et al. (2005)
Nepal
10-2620
Shrestha (2012)
110
S. Awasthi et al.
et al. 1999; Bhattacharya et al. 2013). Mining, manufacturing, and processing of
metallic ores using As-containing sulfides are main anthropogenic activities that
contribute to groundwater As contamination. Anthropogenic activities that lead to
As contamination affect the quality of surface water and discharge and runoff of
groundwater (Khatri and Tyagi 2015). The excess As in groundwater is due to
predominating sulfidic minerals of As such as pyrite and arsenopyrite and their
association with other ore deposits (Borba et al. 2003). As-containing mineral,
arsenopyrite (FeAsS), abundantly exists in anaerobic environments and in the
other rock-forming minerals such as carbonate, phosphate, sulfide, silicate, and
oxide (Smedley and Kinniburgh 2002). Arsenic in groundwater is attributed to
many geochemical processes, including desorption of As from oxide and hydroxides, oxidation of As-bearing sulfides, dissolution of As (reductive)-bearing oxides
and hydroxides, release of As from geothermal water as well as leaching of As.
According to McArthur et al. (2001), the reductive dissolution of As-containing iron
minerals in aquifer sediments chemically or with the help of microbes is the major
cause of As release.
Drinking water contaminated with As severely affects human health and is a
major environmental cause of cancer (Tripathi et al. 2007). In 1980, the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has listed As as a human carcinogen.
Chronic exposure to As causes severe harm to internal organs such as digestive,
Table 5.1 Arsenic contamination of groundwater in different countries
Country
As concentration (μg/
L)
References
Bangladesh
!1-5500
Ahmad et al. (2018)
Vietnam
1-3050
Rahman et al. (2009)
Thailand
1-5000
Jones et al. (2009)
Chile
1-900
Ferreccio and Sancha (2006)
Afghanistan
10-500
Nriagu et al. (2007)
West Bengal, India
West Bengal, India
Chhattisgarh, India
10-3200
> 3600
> 4500
Chakraborti et al. (2010)
Mishra et al. (2016)
Mekong Delta,
Cambodia
1-900
Sthiannopkao et al. (2008)
Brazil
0.4-350
Khan and Ho, (2011)
China
52-4440
Rahman et al. (2009)
Pakistan
!906
Mukherjee et al. (2006), Khan and Ho
(2011)
Taiwan
10-1820
Nriagu et al. (2007)
USA
10-2600
Cutler et al.(2013)
Argentina
4-5300
Smedley et al. (2005)
Nepal
10-2620
Shrestha (2012)
110
S. Awasthi et al.