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Review Papers | Environmental Science Studies | India | Volume 13 Issue 7, July 2024 | Rating: 4.6 / 10
Arsenic in Water (Ground, Surface), Accumulation in the Food Chain and their Impact on Human: A Review 2020 - 2024
O. P. Bansal
Abstract: Arsenic a non - essential natural toxic metalloid, the 20th most abundant element in the earth's crust enters the environment due to geothermal activities, hydrological factors and anthropogenic activities. Arsenic due to its high water solubility and easy bioaccumulation in ecological matrices became toxic even at a deficient concentration. In the environmental matrices the inorganic forms As (III) and As (V) exists in water bodies i. e. ocean, rivers, lakes, ponds, and groundwater while in aquatic organisms it also exists in the organic form monomethyl arsenic acid (MMA); dimethyl arsenic acid (DMA), the inorganic arsenic is more toxic than organic one. Globally the ground water which due to geogenic sources contains higher concentrations of arsenic (ug to mg/L) impacts the health of approximately 220 million people mainly in the South Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Afghanistan) and Vietnam, Mexico, Indonesia, Philippines, and Cambodia. In the food chain accumulation of arsenic is due to irrigation by arsenic - contaminated water, use of arsenic - containing fertilizers and manures. Aquatic animals including fish and seafood accumulate arsenic via contaminated water and their food. Arsenic accumulation retards the photosynthesis process in the plants, retards the root size and plant growth. Accumulation of arsenic in aquatic animals, and fish alters their growth, behaviour, development and fertility by affecting gill, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal tract and enzymatic activities. The accumulation of arsenic in humans is via the food chain (cereals, vegetables, fruits, fish, seafood and drinking water). Worldwide rice is the crop which accumulates the maximum arsenic in all the cereals followed by wheat. The root part of plants accumulates more arsenic than shoots or leaves. Human exposure/accumulation/to arsenic not only causes skin, bladder, lung, kidney and gastric cancer but also negatively impacts the endocrine system. In this review concentrations of arsenic in water and food reported from 2020 - 2024 globally are compiled. The negative impact of arsenic accumulation/exposure to plants, aquatic animals, seafood and humans is also documented in this review. This study will help policymakers and stakeholders to draft such policies which can reduce the incidence of arsenic poisoning.
Keywords: Arsenic, Water, Human, Plants, Fish
Edition: Volume 13 Issue 7, July 2024,
Pages: 637 - 649