Arsenic in Drinking Water: Fundamental element of life is threatened by 12th most abundant element

 Arsenic is said to be the 12^th most significant semi-metallic element of the earth crust and commonly found in the atmosphere, soils, rocks, organisms and natural waters. The presence of arsenic in the environment is also associated with anthropogenic (man-made) activities. Arsenic can combine with other elements to form inorganic and organic arsenic compounds.

Acceptable Level of Arsenic in Drinking Water

No doubt, access to clean drinking water is among important indicators determined by the World Health Organization (WHO). SDG-6, one of the UN’s goals claims the same. Hence, various international and national organizations have set up the maximum permissible value of arsenic in drinking water.

The maximum acceptable levels of dissolved arsenic in drinking water are 0.01mg/l which is 10 ppb according to the World Health Organization and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, respectively. However several other countries including Pakistan accepts 0.05mg/l which is 50 ppb. The PSQCA, PEQS and NSDWQ have recommended a limit of 50 ppb for arsenic concentration in drinking water. Following table is showing permissible limits of Arsenic in drinking water:

Water Quality Parameter	Standards	Unit	Permissible Limits
Arsenic	WHO	mg/l or ppm	0.01 mg/l (0.01*1000 = 10 ppb)
	US-EPA guidelines
	IBWA
	FDA
	PEQS 2016 for Drinking Water		<0.05 mg/l (0.05*1000 = 50 ppb)
	PSQCA
	NSDWQ
	IWQS

 The US EPA is of the view that continuous exposure to arsenic over 0.05mg/l results in various health implications. There are number of places in Pakistan where concentration of Arsenic is more than 0.05 mg/l. The US EPA further suggested that by lowering the arsenic standard from 50 to 10 ppb could reduce the probability of multiple diseases.

Arsenic in drinking water and its health implications

In recent decades, water body resources got polluted owing to heavy metals has become one of the serious environmental problems. Humans come into contact with it because it percolates into groundwater from rocks and sediments. Being soluble in water, it exists in ionic forms and affects the humans who consume arsenic contaminated water. Its effects are severe and long-lasting.

It has been said that receiving arsenic through the water and long term exposure can lead to severe health ramifications such as cancer, skin disorders, lung infection, high blood pressure, cardiovascular issues and many other health implications are there in a row. As per International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Arsenic may affect internal organs by impairing their normal functioning without causing any visible external symptoms.

                                 Twelfth abundant element in the nature

Making quality of water denature

A great threat for a living creature

Need to sort out the literature

To save us all from the menace of this miniature 

                                                                            (Haider)

Unfortunately, Pakistan is one of those countries where most of the ground water is contaminated with Arsenic.

ABBREVIATIONS

§  WHO – World Health Organization

§  US EPA – United States Environment Protection Agency

§  PSQCA – Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority

§  IBWA – International Bottled Water Association Standard

§  FDA – Food & Drug Administration

§  PEQS – Punjab Environmental Quality Standards

§  NSDWQ – National Standard for Drinking Water Quality

§  IWQS – Indian Water Quality Standards

§  IARO – International Agency for Research in Oncology

 

References

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4.       Khan, M.M.H., Sakauchi, F., Sonoda, T., Washio,M., & Muri, M. (2003). Magnitude of Arsenic Toxicity in Tube-well Drinking water in Bangladesh and its adverse effects on human health including cancer, Evidence from the view of literature. Jour Asian Pacific cancer, 4, 7-14.

5.       Kaltreider, R.C., Davis, M.A., Lariviere, P. J., & Hamilton, W. J. (2001). Arsenic Alters the Function of the Glucocorticoid Receptor as a Transcription factor. Journal of Environ Health Perspect, 109, 245–25.

6.       Guha Mazumder, D.N. (2004). Health Hazard caused by chronic arsenic toxicity in West Bengal. Proceedings: Workshop on Medical Geology (IGCP-454), Special Publications No. 83, Geological Survey of India.

7.       Gupta, A.B. and Gupta, S.K. (2004). Recent advances in fluorosis and defluoridaton with special reference to Rajasthan. Proceedings Workshop on Medical Geology, IGCP – 454. Special Publication No. 83, Geological Survey of India.

8.       Analytical Methods for Drinking Water Advances in Sampling and Analysis