Arsenic contamination in groundwater in the Southeast Asia region |
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Authors: | Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman R Naidu and Prosun Bhattacharya |
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Institution: | (1) Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (CERAR), University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia;(2) Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia;(3) KTH-International Groundwater Arsenic Research Group, Department of Land and Water Resources Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden; |
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Abstract: | The adverse impact of groundwater contaminated with arsenic (As) on humans has been reported worldwide, particularly in Asian
countries. In this study, we present an overview of the As crisis in the Southeast Asian region where groundwater is contaminated
with naturally occurring As and where contamination has become more widespread in recent years. In this region more than 100 million
people are estimated to be at risk from groundwater As contamination, and some 700,000 people are known so far to have been
affected by As-related diseases. Despite investments exceeding many millions of dollars, there are still substantial knowledge
gaps about the prevalence and impact of As, notably in its epidemiology, temporal variations, social factors, patient identification,
treatment, etc. Arsenic-affected people in the affected regions also face serious social problems. Of major concern is the
fact that many researchers from different countries have been conducting research in SE Asia region but with a lack of coordination,
thus duplicating their work. There is an urgent need to coordinate these various studies to ensure better delivery of research
outcomes. Further research is needed to improve field testing and monitoring of drinking water sources, and to develop new
treatments for chronic As toxicity and new sources of safe drinking water. |
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