Arsenic as a Global Pollutant

Arsenic in WaterPresented by Presented by

Tiffany BergJune, 20111

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What is arsenic?

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http://www.knowledgedoor.com/2/elements_handbook/arsenic.html

http://rentalibre.com/arsenic-element-periodic-table&page=6

Figure 1. Periodic table of elements.

Figure 2. Chemical Symbol for arsenic.

Why do we care? Health effects of arsenic poisoning

Keratosis

Internal tumors

Cancers of the skin, liver, bladder, and lungs

P. Vineis and W. Xun; Ann. Oncol.; 2008, 20, 205-212.

“Special Report: Policy. A review of human carcinogens – Part C: metals, arsenic, dust and fibres.” 2009, 10., 453-454. Acessed 22March2011: http://www.thelancet.com/oncology

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Figure 3. Symptoms of Blackfoot’s disease.

Arsenic as a Global Pollutant

Very LowLow

ModerateHigh

Risk

Figure 4. Estimated risks for arsenic contamination in drinking water.

R. P. Schwarzenbach, T. Elgi, T. B. Hofstetter, U. von Gunten, and B. Wehrli; Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour. 2010, 35, 109-136.4

Where does arsenic come from?World Health Organization

(WHO)

“The main source of arsenic in drinking-water is arsenic-rich rocks through which

the water has filtered. It may also occur

because of mining or industrial activity in

some areas.”

5“Arsenic in Drinking Water.” June 2011. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs210/en/

http://www.idwr.idaho.gov/hydrologic/info/statewide/images/ArsenicSources.gif

Figure 5. Explanation of how arsenic get into drinking water.

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Regulations for arsenic in drinking water

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Table 1. Regulations for arsenic concentration in drinking water.

Bangladesh

Figure 6. Probability map of arsenic concentration in Bangladesh. Black dots represent measured As concentrations above 10 µg L-1.

M. Amini, K.. C Abbaspour, M. Berg, L. Winkel, S. J. Hug, E. Hoehn, H. Yang and A. Johnson; Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, 3669-3675.8

Bangladesh: Tubewells

Good intentions gone awry. Bangladesh villagers dig a tubewell. Encouraged as a solution to pathogenic

contamination of surface waters, such wells have resulted in exposures of millions to arsenic, leading to

the need for alternative water sources.

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United States

Figure 7. Probability map of arsenic concentration in the United States. Black dots represent measured As concentrations above 10 µg L-1.

M. Amini, K.. C Abbaspour, M. Berg, L. Winkel, S. J. Hug, E. Hoehn, H. Yang and A. Johnson; Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, 3669-3675.10

Arsenic in New EnglandAccording to mass.gov:

Occurs naturally in soil and bedrock in many parts of the United States, including parts of Massachusetts.

During the 1800s it was mined commercially in New Hampshire, but since 1985 arsenic used in the U.S. has been imported.

Arsenic residuals left by apple orchard spraying, coal ash disposal, and use of pressure treated wood.

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