One century of arsenic exposure in Latin America: A review of history and occurrence from 14 countries
Journal
Science of the Total Environment
Journal Volume
429
Pages
2-35
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
The global impact on public health of elevated arsenic (As) in water supplies is highlighted by an increasing number of countries worldwide reporting high As concentrations in drinking water. In Latin America, the problem of As contamination in water is known in 14 out of 20 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and Uruguay. Considering the 10 μg/L limit for As in drinking water established by international and several national agencies, the number of exposed people is estimated to be about 14. million. Health effects of As exposure were identified for the first time already in the 1910s in Bellville (C?rdoba province, Argentina). Nevertheless, contamination of As in waters has been detected in 10 Latin American countries only within the last 10 to 15. years. Arsenic is mobilized predominantly from young volcanic rocks and their weathering products. In alluvial aquifers, which are water sources frequently used for water supply, desorption of As from metal oxyhydroxides at high pH (> 8) is the predominant mobility control; redox conditions are moderate reducing to oxidizing and As(V) is the predominant species. In the Andes, the Middle American cordillera and the Transmexican Volcanic Belt, oxidation of sulfide minerals is the primary As mobilization process. Rivers that originate in the Andean mountains, transport As to more densely populated areas in the lowlands (e.g. R?mac river in Peru, Pilcomayo river in Bolivia/Argentina/Paraguay). In many parts of Latin America, As often occurs together with F and B; in the Chaco-Pampean plain As is found additionally with V, Mo and U whereas in areas with sulfide ore deposits As often occurs together with heavy metals. These co-occurrences and the anthropogenic activities in mining areas that enhance the mobilization of As and other pollutants make more dramatic the environmental problem. ? 2011 Elsevier B.V.
Subjects
Arsenic occurrence and mobilization; Geogenic arsenic; Groundwater; Latin America; Mining; Surface water
Other Subjects
Alluvial aquifers; Anthropogenic activity; Argentina; Arsenic exposure; Colombia; Ecuador; El Salvador; Environmental problems; Geogenic; Global impacts; Guatemala; Health effects; High pH; Honduras; Latin America; Latin americans; Me-xico; Mining areas; Mobility control; Nicaragua; Oxyhydroxides; Redox condition; Sulfide ore deposits; Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt; Uruguay; Water source; Aquifers; Arsenic; Desorption; Groundwater; Groundwater resources; Heavy metals; Hydrogeology; Mining; Molybdenum; Ore deposits; Rivers; Surface waters; Water supply; Chemicals removal (water treatment); arsenic; drinking water; ground water; arsenic; desorption; health impact; mobilization; oxidation; pH; pollution exposure; public health; water pollution; water supply; weathering; Argentina; Bolivia; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Cuba; Ecuador; El Salvador; environmental exposure; environmental management; environmental monitoring; environmental protection; geographic distribution; geomorphology; Guatemala; Honduras; human; landfill; Mexico; mining; Nicaragua; Peru; priority journal; review; river basin; South and Central America; Uruguay; water analysis; water contamination; water flow; water quality; water supply; Arsenic; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Latin America; Risk Assessment; Water Supply; Andes; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Cuba; Ecuador; El Salvador [Central America]; Guatemala [Central America]; Honduras; Latin America; Mexico [North America]; Nicaragua; Peru; Pilcomayo River; Uruguay
Type
journal article