Arsenic Analysis In Water

A 2007 study found that over 137 million people in more.

Arsenic analysis in water.

In this chapter the subcommittee describes the chemistry of arsenic and its analysis in water and biological materials. Products manufactured by cogent environmental and distributed in north america by asa analytics are used for portable arsenic analysis in field applicatons such as screening and testing of individual water supplies on line analysis of samples from arsenic removal processes including raw treated and blended water. The different water matrices were then spiked with arsenic 0 03 20 µg ml 1 and appropriate dilutions were made. Exposure to high levels of arsenic can cause cancers and other disorders.

Once released arsenic remains in the environment for a long time. Arsenic ingestion can result in both chronic long term and acute short term health effects. Arsenic also can be released into groundwater as a result of human activities such as mining and from its various uses in industry in animal feed as a wood preservative and as a pesticide. Higher levels of arsenic tend to be found more in ground water sources than in surface water sources lakes and rivers of drinking water.

High arsenic levels in private wells may come from certain arsenic containing fertilizers used in the past or industrial waste. Arsenic contamination of groundwater is a form of groundwater pollution which is often due to naturally occurring high concentrations of arsenic in deeper levels of groundwater it is a high profile problem due to the use of deep tubewells for water supply in the ganges delta causing serious arsenic poisoning to large numbers of people. Arsenic has no smell taste or color when dissolved in water even in high concentrations so only laboratory analysis can detect its presence and concentration. Once on the ground or in surface water arsenic can slowly enter ground water.

How can arsenic affect my health. Arsenic is removed from the air by rain snow and gradual settling. Arsenic occurs in large quantities in the earth s crust and in trace quantities in rocks soil water and air. The chapter is divided into four sections.

Arsenic is tasteless and colorless a chemical water analysis is necessary to detect its presence. Prior to the analysis the water samples were filtered firstly using whatman grade 1 filter paper and secondly with sterile 0 2 μm syringe filters. Cogent environmental products for arsenic analysis. Environmental protection agency office of water engineering and analysis division 4303 401 m street s w.

Visit our all about arsenic page for general information on arsenic its properties and how it impacts on the environment. In drinking water supplies arsenic poses a problem because it is toxic at low levels and is a known carcinogen.