长江中游城市群PM2.5时空特征及影响因素研究

近年来,伴随着工业化和城市化进程的加快,长江中游城市群灰霾天气持续增多,空气污染问题日益突出。基于2015年1月至2016年2月长江中游城市群189个空气质量监测站点的PM2.5逐时监测数据,采用普通克里金插值、探索性空间数据分析法和相关系数法,从年、季、月尺度上分析了PM2.5的空间分布格局及其影响因素。结果表明：（1）在年尺度上,长江中游城市群PM2.5浓度空间分布总体呈现出明显的北部高南部低,局部地区略有突出的特征,该区PM2.5浓度年均值为55.28 μg/m3,其中湖北省PM2.5的年均值为三省市最高,为68.17 μg/m3;其次为湖南省,年均值为53.66 μg/m3;江西省PM2.5的年均值较小,为44.01 μg/m3。（2）在季节尺度上,长江中游城市群PM2.5浓度表现出冬春季高,夏秋季低的现势性,这与区域内夏季高温多雨、冬季低温少雨的气候条件密切相关。（3）长江中游城市群PM2.5月浓度变化大致呈U形分布,1月份PM2.5浓度最高, 1~6月份,PM2.5浓度呈逐步下降趋势, 6~8月份,区域PM2.5浓度处于“U”字的谷底。（4）NO2、CO是影响PM2.5浓度的两项主控大气污染物,而降水量和相对湿度则是影响PM2.5浓度的两个重要气象因素。 关键词： PM2.5浓度;时空特征;气象因素;长江中游城市群     

基于地面监测数据的2013~2015年长三角地区PM2.5时空特征

近年来,长三角地区灰霾天气持续增多,空气细颗粒物污染问题日益突出。基于2013年1月至2015年5月长三角地区及周边缓冲区内共214个空气质量监测站点PM_2.5逐时监测数据,运用普通克里金插值方法,从年、季、月尺度上分析了PM_2.5的空间分布格局和时间动态变化。结果表明:(1)2 a来,长三角地区PM_2.5浓度空间分布明显呈现整体北部高南部低,局部地区略有突出的分布特征;长三角地区PM_2.5浓度年均值为57.08μg/m³;其中,江苏省PM_2.5的年均值为三省市最高,为65.84μg/m³;其次为上海市,年均值为53.87μg/m³;浙江省PM_2.5的年均值较小,为51.53μg/m³。(2)从季节尺度分析,长三角地区PM_2.5浓度变化表现出冬春季高,夏秋季低的变化趋势;这与区域内冬季风向来源、降水稀少、气象扩散条件差有着密切的关系; (3)长三角地区月浓度变化大致呈U形分布; 12月份PM_2.5浓度最高; 3月份以后, PM_2.5浓度开始呈逐步下降趋势;在5~9月份,区域PM_2.5处于"U"字的谷底,其中6月份夏收时期秸秆焚烧、气象等因素导致PM_2.5浓度有略微升高;进入10月份后迅速攀升,且11、12月份呈现持续升高态势。     

长三角城市群臭氧浓度的时空分异及驱动因素

运用克里金插值、空间自相关分析、冷热点分析和地理探测等定量分析方法,对长三角城市群2015~2017年O3浓度的时空分异特征及驱动因素进行了探讨。结果表明：（1）2015~2017年长三角城市群O3浓度呈上升趋势,O3日最大8 h滑动平均值第90百分位数平均浓度由149 μg/m3上升到166 μg/m3,平均超标率由9.3%上升到12.1%,以O3为首要污染物的天数占超标总天数的比例由32.3%上升到46.4%。（2）受气温和降水量年际波动的影响,各年份O3月均浓度变化曲线形状不同。但O3超标都主要发生在4~9月,超标天数分别占2015、2016、2017年的88.3%、98.2%和97.0%。（3）由于安徽O3浓度快速上升,长三角城市群O3浓度空间分布格局由东高西低演变为北高南低,且同质化增强、异质性减弱。（4）随着O3浓度的上升,O3浓度热点区由环太湖地区向南京都市圈扩展,冷点区在安徽有明显收缩。（5）地理探测表明,长三角城市群O3浓度空间分异主要受经济规模、城市化和排放源等社会经济因素驱动,且均呈正向影响。自然因素中的降水量和风速呈负向影响,分别对O3有显著的清除和扩散作用。     

上海崇明岛近三年PM_(2.5)浓度变化特征与气象条件的关系

利用2011年1月~2014年2月上海崇明岛地区颗粒物(PM_(2.5)、PM_(10))的连续监测资料,研究了PM_(2.5)总体分布、季节变化、日变化及浓度频率分布规律,初步分析了逆温、相对湿度、风向风速等气象要素对颗粒物浓度的影响。结果表明:2011~2013年该地区PM_(2.5)平均值分别为24.7,33.6和28.3μg/m~3,均低于PM2.5的年平均浓度限值35μg/m~3,细粒子污染程度较轻。PM_(2.5)浓度日变化幅度不大,呈微弱的单峰型分布,9∶00左右达到一天中的最大值,15∶00左右达到最小值。PM_(2.5)浓度的季节分布特征明显,呈现出冬季春季秋季夏季,一般情况下5月份PM_(2.5)月均浓度值最高,8月份浓度最低。PM_(2.5)日平均浓度有57.9%达到国家空气质量一级标准,有93.4%达到国家空气质量二级标准,超标率为6.6%。对PM_(2.5)与各气象要素进行分析后发现:PM_(2.5)质量浓度在逆温层结稳定、风速小、高湿以及近地面盛行西北到西风这样的静稳天气条件配合高空西北方向上的外来污染物输送,容易造成高浓度的PM_(2.5)污染。     

淮海经济区PM2.5时空特征及影响因素

PM2.5对区域环境和人体健康有着重要影响,淮海经济区作为东部沿海经济发展带的重要支撑部分,剖析其PM2.5时空特征及其影响因素对于京津冀和长三角城市群开展区域空气污染的联防有着重要意义.首先采用时间序列分析对研究区PM2.5浓度特征进行分析,其次利用空间分析方法分析了淮海经济区PM2.5时空特征,最后基于淮海经济区PM2.5空间自相关特征,进一步采用地理加权回归模型探究了PM2.5浓度的影响因素及其空间异质性.结果 表明:(1)淮海经济区逐日PM2.5浓度值呈现出周期性的脉冲型起伏变化规律,整体呈现出冬秋季高、春夏低的"U"型趋势.逐日PM2.5浓度振荡周期短周期为2～3d,长周期为6～7d.(2)淮海经济区PM2.5浓度的空间局部相关性呈现出周期性的变化规律.全年热点区域主要集中在研究区西北的菏泽市和西南的徐州市,冷点区则主要集中在沿海区域.(3)淮海经济区PM2.5浓度影响因素主要包括平均气温、平均降水、平均风速、林地比例和路网密度等因素,不同因素对PM2.5浓度影响存在显著的空间异质性.     

合肥市PM_(2.5)浓度时空分布特征及影响因素分析

利用2017年合肥市污染监测站点PM_(2.5)浓度数据、气象数据以及土地利用类型数据,结合随机森林算法(RF)与土地利用回归模型(LUR),模拟合肥市PM_(2.5)浓度空间分布,并利用主成分分析法对PM_(2.5)影响因素进行分析。结果表明:(1)合肥市PM_(2.5)浓度日变化特征大致呈双峰变化,春季、夏季及秋季的峰值多出现在8∶00～9∶00,而冬季的峰值则出现在10∶00～11∶00。低谷值大致都出现在15∶00～17∶00。全年PM_(2.5)浓度变化趋势与春季类似。夏季PM_(2.5)浓度变化最为平稳。(2)2017年合肥市PM_(2.5)浓度分布由城市中心向外减弱,形成北高南低,西高东低的空间分布格局。(3)影响因素方面,PM_(2.5)浓度变化与降水、风速以及相对湿度等呈负相关关系,日照对PM_(2.5)浓度的影响较大,气压及其他污染物与PM_(2.5)浓度呈正相关关系,其中NO_2对PM_(2.5)浓度的影响力度较大。     

南昌市环境空气污染时空变化特征及影响因素研究

选取2014~2017年南昌市不同时间尺度AQI及主要空气污染物数据,利用GIS技术、神经网络分析、后向轨迹模型及地统计分析方法,分析了南昌市环境空气污染时空变化特征及影响因素。结果表明,南昌市近年来空气质量总体变化不大,空气质量等级以良为主,占全年比例为57%~61%。但首要污染物变化较大,即PM2.5比例显著下降,NO2和O3比例显著上升,PM10变化不大。南昌市空气污染季节变化显著,冬春季空气质量较差,以PM10、PM2.5污染为主,夏季空气质量最好,以O3污染为主。空气污染周变化以周末及周一污染较重、周四污染最轻,说明南昌市空气污染除了与群众出行习惯有关,还存在其他影响因素。南昌市空气质量日变化呈双峰型（9:00~11:00和20:00~22:00）,主要受上、下班高峰期带来的交通尾气影响。南昌市空气污染空间变化呈典型的“郊区-市区”分布,其中AQI、PM10、PM2.5、SO2、NO2、CO值均以市区较高、郊区较低,而O3的空间分布规律正好相反,这主要与城区NOx排放较多,O3易与其迅速反应而消耗有关。后向轨迹聚类分析结果表明,来自本地的短轨迹气团占比高,对PM2.5、PM10、NO2、O3的影响大。气象因素上,PM2.5、PM10、NO2受相对湿度影响较大,O3受温度影响较大。     

长江三角洲城市群空气质量时空分布特征

基于数理统计、空间插值技术、相关性分析与GIS地图表达,研究长江三角洲城市群AQI及各空气含量因子污染浓度的时间、空间分布特征。通过提取国务院最新规划的长江三角洲城市群空间分布数据,划分研究区为"一核五圈",探讨了空气质量指数的时间变化特征和AQI、首要污染物的空间分布规律,定量评价了AQI与其污染因子的相关性,结果表明:(1)时间变化上,长三角城市群空气质量季均变化规律为夏季最好,冬季最差;月均变化呈波浪形分布,在1月份的平均浓度皆为最高;周均变化为:在一周后半段达到一周最大值;(2)空间分布上,分季节看,AQI在春、秋、冬三季空间梯度变化显著,呈现北高、南低的分布格局。在首要污染物的分布上,以PM_(2.5)和O_3均分长三角地区;(3)PM_(2.5)含量空间分布与AQI有较高相似性,均处于北高南低的分布状态,臭氧分布呈现东高西低,即较发达的城市臭氧含量相对较高的空间分布格局。最后通过相关性计算,AQI与PM_(2.5)相关性显著,与O_3没有明显相关性,为长三角大气污染防治提供依据。     

2015年长三角地区城市PM2.5时空格局及影响因素分析

PM_2.5浓度值增加对大气能见度、人体健康和气候变化有着重要影响。采用2015年长三角地区监测数据,运用探索性空间数据分析法和相关系数法,分析长三角地区城市PM_2.5污染的时空格局和影响因素,结果表明：（1）2015年长三角地区城市PM_2.5年均浓度值为54.54 μg/m³,季节变化总体呈现春冬高夏秋低的季节性周期变化规律,1月和12月为一年中PM_2.5污染最严重的月份,污染范围最广,5~9月是PM_2.5浓度值优良时段,日均值春季和冬季的波动周期较短而剧烈,夏季和秋季波动周期相对较长而平缓。（2）2015年长三角地区城市PM_2.5年均浓度值整体上从江苏到浙江呈减少趋势,具有北高南低,局部突出的特征。（3）长三角地区城市PM_2.5浓度空间上存在集聚现象,低值集聚主要分布在浙江沿海地区,高值集聚主要分布在苏南地区。（4）燃烧排放的烟尘和前体物的二次转化对长三角地区PM_2.5浓度有显著影响。风速和降水量是影响PM_2.5浓度的两个重要气象因素。     

基于多源遥感数据的中国PM2.5变化趋势与影响因素分析

基于长时间序列的遥感反演PM_(2.5)数据,采用Theil-Sen median趋势分析、Mann-Kendall、R/S和相关系数分析法,分析了1998～2014年我国PM_(2.5)时空格局、空间变化特征以及污染来源。结果表明:1998～2014年期间,最高只有24.67%的国土面积上,PM_(2.5)浓度达到世界卫生组织(WHO)的年平均准则值10μg/m~3的要求;PM_(2.5)浓度小于10μg/m~3地区主要是青藏高原、台湾、北疆,内蒙古北部和黑龙江西北部,年均PM_(2.5)浓度大于95μg/m~3的地区主要是南疆和华北平原。1998～2014年期间,全国61.84%的国土面积PM_(2.5)浓度呈上升趋势,平均上升了3.91μg/m~3,上升最大值为39.1μg/m~3。其中,呈显著上升的地区主要分布在中西部地区和华北平原,且未来部分地区仍呈增长的趋势。PM_(2.5)浓度上升的驱动因素包括自然因素与人类活动排放,其中,南疆的PM_(2.5)主要来自塔克拉玛干沙漠的沙尘气溶胶,而其他地区PM_(2.5)主要来自人类活动排放。     

Natural outdoor environments and mental and physical health: Relationships and mechanisms

BackgroundEvidence is growing for the beneficial impacts of natural outdoor environments on health. However, most of the evidence has focused on green spaces and little evidence is available on health benefits of blue spaces and about possible mediators and modifiers of such impacts. We investigated the association between natural outdoor environments (separately for green and blue spaces) and health (general and mental) and its possible mediators and modifiers.MethodsCross-sectional data from adults interviewed in Catalonia (Spain) between 2010 and 2012 as part of the Catalonia Health Survey were used. The collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, self-perceived general health, mental health, physical activity and social support. Indicators of surrounding greenness and access to natural outdoor environments within 300 m of the residence and degree of urbanization were derived for residential addresses. Associations were estimated using logistic regression and negative binominal models.ResultsGreen spaces were associated with better self-perceived general health and better mental health, independent of degree of urbanization. The associations were more consistent for surrounding greenness than for access to green spaces. The results were consistent for different buffers, and when stratifying for socioeconomic status. Slightly stronger associations were found for women and residents of non-densely populated areas. No association was found between green spaces and social contacts and physical activity. The results for blue spaces were not conclusive.ConclusionGreen spaces are associated with better general and mental health across strata of urbanization, socioeconomic status, and genders. Mechanisms other than physical activity or social support may explain these associations.     

循环经济与节能减排解析

目前我国经济增长模式是粗放的、不循环的经济增长模式，经济发展过程中存在着高增长、高能耗、高环境问题，作者通过一系列的数据对比和分析，指出当前发展循环经济，促进节能减排是我国经济发展过程中面临的第一要务。胡锦涛同志在党的十七大报告中提出一定要“落实节能减排工作责任制”，更表明了我国当前发展循环经济，促进节能减排的决心。本文首先提出循环经济与节能减排的相关概念及含义；再以重点行业中的电力、钢铁行业如何搞好能源资源节约和“三废”综合利用为例对我国发展循环经济、促进节能减排进行了实证分析；最后提出要通过加快资源价格机制的改革、促进技术创新、完善政策法规体系、转变领导片面追求GDP增长的认识等措施来达到发展循环经济、促进节能减排的目标。     

加拿大环境与可持续发展科技创新及对我国的启示

加拿大重视环境保护与可持续发展中的科技创新,在全联邦范围内营造了"政府引导、企业主体、国民支持"的良好创新氛围,形成了"以科技创新支撑环境产业发展,以环境产业促进环境保护与可持续发展"的鲜明环保特色,走出了一条科技创新、产业发展、环境保护和可持续发展三者协同发展、相互制衡、良性循环的发展路子,值得我国借鉴.在我国的环境与可持续发展科技创新中,存在着创新能力不足、产学研合作薄弱、产业化乏力等问题.本文通过中加比较,探讨了我国实施环境与可持续发展科技创新的对策思路,即政府应完善环保法规政策、健全环保标准和管理体系;应增加科研投入,建立政府调控下的市场化投资体系和环境科技的产业化发展;应选择重点领域实现优先发展,突破瓶颈产业;应重视合作创新,加强部门合作,科研机构合作以及国际合作.     

中国地表权、地下权概念、应用模式及相关问题分析

文章通过对地表权、地下权相关法律概念的梳理,指出地表权、地下权概念界定的复杂性,借鉴《商业词典》对地表权和地下权的定义,探讨了在中国矿产资源一元所有制及土地二元所有制并存的情形下,地表权与地下权的应用模式、相关产权界定及存在的问题。文章分三种情形对二者的应用模式进行了探讨,指出:地表权与地下权相分离的模式是符合中国国情的一种合理选择,但是在具体实践中却存在农村集体作为土地拥有者的地位没有得到应有的尊重、矿业权主体行政审批问题严重、矿产资源的国家所有权权益没有得到应有的体现、矿产资源开发中的环境产权界定不清晰等问题;在探讨中指出两个启迪性的思路:一是使农村集体参与矿产资源开发收益分成模式;二是在现有的征地制度下,理顺价格机制,建立有效的土地流转市场,在土地使用权转让中,给予土地所有者以价格补偿。文章进一步对矿产资源开发中的土地所有权界定、税费问题、土地价格补偿及环境产权分配给予相应的分析并给出建议。     

Chlorinated biphenyls and pesticides in migrating and resident seabirds from East and West Antarctica

The unhatched eggs of the following seabirds were analyzed to quantify PCBs, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), α-, β-, γ-, δ-hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), o,p′ and p,p′ isomers of DDT, DDD and DDE: resident Adèlie (Pygoscelis adèliae, ADPE) and Emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri, EMPE) penguins, migrating snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea, SNPT) and South Polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki, SPSK) from the Ross Sea (East Antarctica); and migrating Brown skua (Catharacta antartica, BRSK) and resident ADPE from the Brainsfield Strait (West Antarctica). The general aims were to evaluate the contaminant accumulation in eggs of migrating and resident species in the two study areas, and to compare levels in penguins and skuas nesting in East and West Antarctica. PCB congener and HCH and DDT isomer profiles were also assessed. Comparisons were evaluated using seven PCB congeners (IUPAC nos. 28, 52, 101, 118 + 149, 138, 153, and 180), p,p′-DDE, ΣDDTs, and ΣHCHs. Higher contaminant concentrations were detected in migrating seabirds (South polar skua and brown skua) > sub-Antarctic species (snow petrel) > Antarctic species (penguins) from both the sampling sites, suggesting contamination events at lower latitudes for those birds migrating northward. HCHs showed the lowest concentrations in all species (from 0.03 ± 0.03 ng/g wet wt in SPSK to 1.81 ± 1.23 ng/g wet wt in ADPE from West Antarctica), and PCBs were the most abundant contaminants (from 4.34 ± 2.15 ng/g wet wt. in EMPE to 53.41 ± 19.61 ng/g wet wt. in brown skua). Among pesticides, it is relevant the detection of p,p′-DDT in Adèlie penguin from West Antarctica and in both species of skua; the detection of this pesticide can confirm its actual use in certain malaria-endemic countries from where it is transferred through the long range transport to the polar regions. Contaminants did not show any significant temporal trend during a ten year time span, from 1994/95 to 2004/05, in organisms collected in East Antarctica and they did not indicate any latitudinal gradient along the Ross Sea coasts.     

Harmful and Needless Emission of Refrigerant and Countermeasures

Abstract

Refrigerants used in refrigerators are an important source of ozone depleting substances released into the atmosphere, and can have a significantly negative effect on the hole in the ozone layer. But most emission of refrigerants is man-made, unreasonable and needless. Since in most emission cases the refrigerants are contained in the refrigerators, we can retrieve them by some technique that changes the ‘manual emission’ into manual retrieving. To promote the retrieval action and diminish the pollution, society can use economic, administrative and technical countermeasures, which can create a ‘good-cycle’ both ‘harnessing pollution and earning income simultaneously’, reinforce the motive of retrieving, and retrieve most proportion of refrigerants used by all refrigerators. This ‘good-cycle’ method can be easily promoted, and also a valuable way to promote other forms of environmental protection. The three countermeasures have almost no social cost, even no cost at all.     

Harmful and Needless Emission of Refrigerant and Countermeasures

Refrigerants used in refrigerators are an important source of ozone depleting substances released into the atmosphere, and can have a significantly negative effect on the hole in the ozone layer. But most-emission of refrigerants is man-made, unreasonable and needless. Since in most emission cases the refrigerants are contained in the refrigerators, we can retrieve them by some technique that changes the ＇manual emission＇ into manual retrieving. To promote the retrieval action and diminish the pollution, society can use economic, administrative and technical countermeasures, which can create a ＇good-cycle＇ both ＇harnessing pollution and earning income simultaneously＇, reinforce the motive of retrieving, and retrieve most proportion of refrigerants used by＇all refrigerators. This ＇good-cycle＇ method can be easily promoted, and also a valuable way to promote other forms of environmental protection. The three countermeasures have almost no social cost, even no cost at all.     

Chlorinated biphenyls and pesticides in migrating and resident seabirds from East and West Antarctica

The unhatched eggs of the following seabirds were analyzed to quantify PCBs, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), α-, β-, γ-, δ-hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), o,p' and p,p' isomers of DDT, DDD and DDE: resident Adèlie (Pygoscelis adèliae, ADPE) and Emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri, EMPE) penguins, migrating snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea, SNPT) and South Polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki, SPSK) from the Ross Sea (East Antarctica); and migrating Brown skua (Catharacta antartica, BRSK) and resident ADPE from the Brainsfield Strait (West Antarctica). The general aims were to evaluate the contaminant accumulation in eggs of migrating and resident species in the two study areas, and to compare levels in penguins and skuas nesting in East and West Antarctica. PCB congener and HCH and DDT isomer profiles were also assessed. Comparisons were evaluated using seven PCB congeners (IUPAC nos. 28, 52, 101, 118+149, 138, 153, and 180), p,p'-DDE, ΣDDTs, and ΣHCHs. Higher contaminant concentrations were detected in migrating seabirds (South polar skua and brown skua)>sub-Antarctic species (snow petrel)>Antarctic species (penguins) from both the sampling sites, suggesting contamination events at lower latitudes for those birds migrating northward. HCHs showed the lowest concentrations in all species (from 0.03±0.03 ng/g wet wt in SPSK to 1.81±1.23 ng/g wet wt in ADPE from West Antarctica), and PCBs were the most abundant contaminants (from 4.34±2.15 ng/g wet wt. in EMPE to 53.41±19.61 ng/g wet wt. in brown skua). Among pesticides, it is relevant the detection of p,p'-DDT in Adèlie penguin from West Antarctica and in both species of skua; the detection of this pesticide can confirm its actual use in certain malaria-endemic countries from where it is transferred through the long range transport to the polar regions. Contaminants did not show any significant temporal trend during a ten year time span, from 1994/95 to 2004/05, in organisms collected in East Antarctica and they did not indicate any latitudinal gradient along the Ross Sea coasts.     

Adsorption and desorption of 85Sr and 137Cs on reference minerals, with and without inorganic and organic surface coatings

The adsorption properties of reference minerals may be considerably modified by the presence of the inorganic and organic coatings that are ubiquitous in soils. It is therefore important to assess the effect of such coatings to evaluate the relevance of adsorption studies on pure minerals. The adsorption of trace amounts of (85)Sr and (137)Cs has been studied in dilute suspensions for various minerals that are common components of soils: quartz, calcium carbonate, kaolinite, montmorillonite and illite. We studied the effect of coatings with either Fe or Al oxide with varying additions of soil-extracted humic or fulvic acid. Both adsorption and desorption were measured and data presented as distribution coefficients, Kd. No adsorption was detected on quartz and it was not possible to coat this surface. Adsorption on calcium carbonate was small and not influenced by coatings. Adsorption of Sr on the three clay minerals was very similar, enhanced by the Al-coating, but not affected by Fe and organic coatings. The presence of organic coatings decreased Cs adsorption on illite. Similar but smaller effects were seen on montmorillonite and kaolinite. Aluminum coating enhanced Cs adsorption on illite, whereas both inorganic coatings caused decreases in adsorption on montmorillonite, and there was no effect on kaolinite. Effects were not additive with mixed, organic-inorganic coatings. Adsorption of both Cs and Sr on all minerals was strongly irreversible, with Kd (desorption) being up to four-times greater than adsorption Kd. The ratio of desorption and adsorption Cs Kd values (an assessment of irreversibility) was inversely related to adsorption Kd. This is consistent with a decreasing contribution of high-affinity adsorption as adsorption increases, but may also reflect the partial loss of organic coatings during desorption.     

Omics and biotechnology of arsenic stress and detoxification in plants: Current updates and prospective

Arsenic (As), a naturally occurring metallic element, is a dreadful health hazard to millions of people across the globe. Arsenic is present in low amount in the environment and originates from anthropogenic impact and geogenic sources. The presence of As in groundwater used for irrigation is a worldwide problem as it affects crop productivity, accumulates to different tissues and contaminates food chain. The consumption of As contaminated water or food products leads to several diseases and even death. Recently, studies have been carried out to explore the biochemical and molecular mechanisms which contribute to As toxicity, accumulation, detoxification and tolerance acquisition in plants. This information has led to the development of the biotechnological tools for developing plants with modulated As tolerance and detoxification to safeguard cellular and genetic integrity as well as to minimize food chain contamination. This review aims to provide current updates about the biochemical and molecular networks involved in As uptake by plants and the recent developments in the area of functional genomics in terms of developing As tolerant and low As accumulating plants.