Arsenic: An overview of applications, health, and environmental concerns and removal processes
Journal
Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology
Journal Volume
41
Journal Issue
5
Pages
435-519
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Abstract
Arsenic is a toxic element and has been responsible for many accidental, occupational, deliberate, and therapeutic poisonings since its discovery in 1250. It occurs in natural waters as the arsenite (As3+) and arsenate (As5+) ions. The solubility of arsenite and arsenate compounds is relatively high so that these ions are readily transported through aqueous routes into the environment. Arsenic can be transferred from soils to crops and accumulates in various food crops and aquatic plants. The fascinating chemistry and toxicity potential make arsenic and its compounds of particular scientific interest and environmental concern. The conventional removal of heavy metals from wastewater, natural waters, and drinking water has only limited effects on arsenic removal. In this review, the main engineering and medical applications, salient health and environmental concerns, novel research on treatment for arsenic poisoning, and removal technologies for arsenic and their derivatives are discussed and enumerated with a view to pursue valuable applied research in order to protect the environment from arsenic toxicity. Copyright ? 2011 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Other Subjects
Applied research; Aquatic plants; Arsenate compounds; Arsenic poisoning; Arsenic removal; Arsenic toxicity; Drinking water; Environmental concerns; Food crops; Natural waters; Removal process; Toxic elements; Toxicity potential; treatment technologies; Arsenic; Arsenic compounds; Chemical contamination; Crops; Environmental impact; Health; Heavy metals; Heavy water; Medical applications; Potable water; Soils; Toxicity; Wastewater; Chemicals removal (water treatment); adsorbent; aluminum potassium sulfate; arsenic; arsenic acid derivative; dimercaprol; drinking water; drug residue; heavy metal; iron salt; succimer; aquatic plant; arsenic; bioaccumulation; drinking water; environmental impact; health risk; inorganic salt; ion; pollutant removal; research work; solubility; toxic substance; toxicity; wastewater; arsenic poisoning; article; biomedical engineering; chelation therapy; crop; drug absorption; drug accumulation; drug adsorption; drug exposure; drug intoxication; drug uptake; electronics; environmental impact; health; human; medical research; medical technology; oxygen therapy; sauna; soil; standard; unspecified side effect; waste water
Type
journal article