DOCSLIB.ORG

Chapter 6: Safe Water Technology

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Chapter 6 Final Draft – January 31, 2001 Chapter 6: Safe Water Technology Richard Johnston, Han Heijnen and Peter Wurzel Previous chapters have documented the serious health effects that are posed by ingestion of arsenic through drinking water. While some palliative treatment of arsenicosis patients is possible, it is clear that the first step in treating patients, and preventing others from falling sick, is to identify safe sources of water for drinking and cooking in arsenic-affected areas. This chapter will present a brief overview of safe drinking water supply technologies that can provide arsenic-free1 drinking water, either through identifying an arsenic-free source or by removing arsenic from contaminated water. The main focus of this chapter is on rural and peri-urban settings, though many of the technologies discussed are applied in central water supply systems as well, and a few examples of centralized arsenic removal are given. Conventional water supplies are briefly discussed, but as these systems are extensively described elsewhere, the reader is referred to authoritative documents for more detailed information. Arsenic removal technologies are less well documented in standard water supply texts, though a large and growing literature exists in technical journals. In addition, many other valuable papers are found in seminar and conference proceedings, particularly in Latin America and Asia. Since many of these resources are less accessible for some readers, this chapter presents a detailed review of arsenic removal technologies. Many of these technologies are under development, and a sample protocol is presented for evaluation of new technologies for arsenic removal, as well as a more general framework for selection of an appropriate approach in a given socioeconomic and environmental context. A series of case studies are presented of technological responses to arsenic contamination at municipal, community, and household levels. The final section presents some general conclusions and identifies areas where more knowledge or research is required. 1 No water is ever completely free of arsenic – trace levels will always be present, even if they cannot be measured. In this chapter the term ‘arsenic-free’ is taken to mean free from unsafe levels of arsenic. 1 Chapter 6 Final Draft – January 31, 2001 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................6 6.1 Safe drinking water supply............................................................................................10 6.2 Sources of arsenic-free drinking water ..........................................................................12 6.2.1 Groundwater ........................................................................................................12 6.2.2 Rainwater .............................................................................................................15 6.2.3 Surface Water .......................................................................................................18 6.2.4 Disinfection..........................................................................................................23 6.3 Technologies for arsenic removal..................................................................................25 6.3.1 Oxidation .............................................................................................................27 6.3.2 Coagulation and filtration .....................................................................................28 6.3.3 Ion-Exchange Resins ............................................................................................36 6.3.4 Activated Alumina................................................................................................38 6.3.5 Membrane methods ..............................................................................................41 6.3.6 Emerging technologies .........................................................................................43 6.3.7 Waste disposal......................................................................................................50 6.3.8 Summary..............................................................................................................53 6.4 Evaluation and selection of arsenic-free water supply technologies................................54 6.4.1 Technical criteria ..................................................................................................55 6.4.2 Socioeconomic criteria .........................................................................................57 6.4.3 Feasibility.............................................................................................................61 6.4.4 Environmental Technology Verification ...............................................................62 6.5 Case study: application of evaluation protocol in Bangladesh ........................................63 6.5.1 Water supply and treatment options for consideration ...........................................63 6.5.2 Technical Criteria .................................................................................................67 6.5.3 Socioeconomic criteria .........................................................................................72 6.5.4 Conclusions..........................................................................................................78 6.6 Application of safe drinking water supply technologies in arsenic-affected areas...........79 6.6.1 Municipal level.....................................................................................................79 6.6.2 Community level ..................................................................................................81 6.6.3 Household level arsenic removal ..........................................................................84 6.7 Conclusions and continuing needs.................................................................................86 6.8 References ....................................................................................................................88 2 Chapter 6 Final Draft – January 31, 2001 Figures: Figure 6.1: Arsenic and well depth in Bangladesh .....................................................................14 Figure 6.2: Rooftop catchment with tank ..................................................................................16 Figure 6.3: Multiple barriers to microbiological contamination in surface water treatment .........19 Figure 6.4: Multi-stage filtration ...............................................................................................22 Figure 6.5: Bank infiltration ......................................................................................................23 Figure 6.6: Temperature and pathogen removal in SODIS treatment .........................................24 Figure 6.7: Arsenate removal by coagulation ............................................................................30 Figure 6.8: Arsenate adsorption onto preformed HFO ...............................................................31 Figure 6.9: Arsenite adsorption onto HFO ................................................................................33 Figure 6.10: Bed volumes treated with ion exchange resin .........................................................37 Figure 6.11: Effect of pH on arsenate adsorption onto activated alumina ...................................38 Figure 6.12: Bed volumes treated with activated alumina...........................................................39 Figure 6.13: Pore size of various membranes, and size of materials subject to filtration .............42 Figure 6.14: 18-DTP arsenic removal plant design.....................................................................45 Figure 6.15: Pore size of various membranes.............................................................................65 Figure 6.16: Annual precipitation in Bangladesh .......................................................................69 Tables: Table 6.1: Drinking water and sanitation access in developing countries ....................................10 Table 6.2: Typical removal efficiencies in slow sand filtration...................................................21 Table 6.3 : Molecular weights of compounds used in arsenic removal........................................29 Table 6.4 : Effects of anions on removal of arsenite and arsenate in coagulation .......................34 Table 6.5: Arsenic removal in three 18-DTP plants....................................................................45 Table 6.6: Summary of technologies for arsenic removal ...........................................................54 Table 6.7 : Summary of protocol scores.....................................................................................78 Table 6.8 : Field testing of Alufloc and Ferrifloc in Salta, Argentina..........................................85 3 Chapter 6 Final Draft – January 31, 2001 Boxes: Box 6.1: Deep aquifer in Bangladesh.........................................................................................13 Box 6.2: Bank infiltration in Hungary........................................................................................23 Box 6.3: Sorbent capacity..........................................................................................................29 Box 6.4: Residual aluminum in treated waters ...........................................................................40
Recommended publications
  • Arsenic in the Environment

    Arsenic in the Environment

    Durham E-Theses Arsenic in the environment Jones, Iwan E. LI. How to cite: Jones, Iwan E. LI. (1997) Arsenic in the environment, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/4730/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk ARSENIC IN THE ENVIRONMENT by Iwan E. LI. Jones A dissertation submitted to the University of Durham in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of MSc by Research The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without the written consent of the author and information derived from it should be acknowledged. September 1997 5 MAR m ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the writing of this work, I must first thank Dr Stephen Thomas for the initial opportunity to study for a PhD. Since then, he has been a continued help in the search for funding in various shapes and forms, and although this work is not in his field of expertise, he has maintained a continued interest in its progress, and occasionally provided me with an opportunity to work back in the 'real world'.
  • Interaction Between Naturally Occurring Arsenic and Human Activities Harue Masuda

    Interaction Between Naturally Occurring Arsenic and Human Activities Harue Masuda

    Masuda Progress in Earth and Planetary Science (2018) 5:68 Progress in Earth and https://doi.org/10.1186/s40645-018-0224-3 Planetary Science REVIEW Open Access Arsenic cycling in the Earth’s crust and hydrosphere: interaction between naturally occurring arsenic and human activities Harue Masuda Abstract Field-based research on naturally occurring arsenic contamination of surface waters and groundwaters and the mechanisms of contamination are reviewed. The distribution of arsenic is strongly related to areas of active plate tectonics, magmatism and associated hydrothermal activity, and high rates of erosion. Sources of arsenic contamination are mainly hydrothermal water, sulfide and arsenide minerals, volcanic ash, and iron oxyhydroxide/oxide as weathering products. The promotion of the reduction and oxidation of arsenic source minerals by in situ microbial activity is an important secondary mechanism that often determines arsenic levels in groundwater. Anthropogenic activities, such as geothermal and mining operations, as well as excess pumping of shallow groundwaters, disperse arsenic in the environment, thereby expanding areas of arsenic contamination. Keywords: Arsenic contamination, Geologic cycle, Plate tectonics, Reduction, Oxidation Introduction country: Japan (since 1993), the USA, Canada (both since Human beings are facing a crisis of an increasing demand 2006; EPA 2018;HealthCanada2017), and Australia for freshwater in the face of decreasing freshwater re- (since 2011; NHMRC and NRMMC 2011)followthe sources. One of the most serious problems threatening WHO guideline of 10 μg/L, but many developing coun- water resources is contamination with arsenic, which is tries still apply the older standard of 50 μg/L. highly toxic. Since the late 1980s, when the arsenicosis Arsenic is a minor but ubiquitous element of the Earth’s was reported in West Bengal, India (Mandal and Suzuki crust, and some chemical species of this amphoteric elem- 2002), arsenic-contaminated groundwater and associated ent are volatile and highly soluble in aquatic solution.
  • Risk Assessment Report Arsenic in Foods (Chemicals and Contaminants)

    Risk Assessment Report Arsenic in Foods (Chemicals and Contaminants)

    [Tentative translation] Risk Assessment Report Arsenic in foods (Chemicals and Contaminants) Food Safety Commission Japan (FSCJ) October 2013 0 [Tentative translation] Contents Page Chronology of Discussions .................................................................................................... 3 List of members of the Food Safety Commission .................................................................. 3 List of members of the EPCC, the Food Safety Commission ................................................ 4 Executive summary ................................................................................................................ 6 I. Background ......................................................................................................................... 9 II. Outline of the Substances under Assessment .................................................................... 9 1. Physiochemical properties ......................................................................................... 9 (1) Metallic arsenic ................................................................................................... 9 (2) Inorganic arsenic compounds ........................................................................... 10 (3) Organic arsenic compounds .............................................................................. 12 (4) Analytical methods for arsenic ......................................................................... 16 2. Major use and production .......................................................................................
  • GESAMP: Arsenic, Mercury and Selenium in the Marine Environment

    GESAMP: Arsenic, Mercury and Selenium in the Marine Environment

    GESAMP: Arsenic, mercury and selenium in the marine environment UNEP Regional Seas Reports and Studies No. 92 GESAMP Reports and Studies No. 28 Prepared in co-operation with UnitedNations FA0 UNESCO WHO WMO IMO IAEA UNEP 1988 PREFACE GESAMP, the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution, was established in 1969 and is today co-sponsored by the International Maritime Organ; zation ( IfW), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United at ions Educational, Scientific and Cul tural Organization (UNESCO), Wrld Meteorological organization (MI, World Health Organizaton (HMO), International Atanic Energy Agency (IAEA) , Uni ted at ions (UN) and United Nations Enviromnt Programne (UNEP). According to its present tern of reference, the functions of GESW are: - to provide advice relating to the scientific aspects of marine pollutioni'; and - to prepare periodic reviews of the state of themarine enviromnt as regards marine pollution and to identify problem areas requiring special attention. Since its beginning GESANP involved a large nunber of experts as members of GESAW or GESAMP Working Groups and produced, at the request of the sponsoring organizations, nwrous reports?. The developnt of this revieu document was carried out by the GESAMP Mrking Group on the revieu of potentially hannful substances which was organized by Mi0 in collaboration with FA0 and UNEP. Under the chairmanship of Professor L. Friberg draft evaluations uere prepared as follows: Arsenic. The marine aspects of arsenic uere covered by Dr. J.S. Ehonds whereas Dr. Vahter dealt with the hwn health aspects; Mercury. The first review of mercury was prepared by the Monitoring and Assessment Research Centre of Chelsea College, London.
  • Genomes of Three Arsenic Metabolizing Bacteria Xue Chen

    Genomes of Three Arsenic Metabolizing Bacteria Xue Chen

    Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2015 Genomes of Three Arsenic Metabolizing Bacteria Xue Chen Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Chen, X. (2015). Genomes of Three Arsenic Metabolizing Bacteria (Master's thesis, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/398 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GENOMES OF THREE ARSENIC METABOLIZING BACTERIA A Thesis Submitted to the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science By Xue Chen August 2015 Copyright by Xue Chen 2015 ii GENOMES OF THREE ARSENIC METABOLIZING BACTERIA By Xue Chen Approved July 15, 2015 ________________________________ ________________________________ Dr. John F. Stolz Dr. Nancy Trun Professor of Biology Associate Professor of Biology (Committee Chair) (Committee Member) ________________________________ Dr. Partha Basu Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry (Committee Member) ________________________________ ________________________________ Dr. Philip Reeder Dr. John F. Stolz Dean, Bayer School Director, CERE iii ABSTRACT GENOMES OF THREE ARSENIC METABOLIZING BACTERIA By Xue Chen August 2015 Dissertation
  • Arsenic Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates: a Synoptic Review

    Arsenic Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates: a Synoptic Review

    Biological Report 85(1.12) Contaminant Hazard Reviews January 1988 Report No. 12 ARSENIC HAZARDS TO FISH, WILDLIFE, AND INVERTEBRATES: A SYNOPTIC REVIEW by Ronald Eisler U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Laurel, MD 20708 SUMMARY Arsenic (As) is a relatively common element that occurs in air, water, soil, and all living tissues. It ranks 20th in abundance in the earth's crust, 14th in seawater, and 12th in the human body. Arsenic is a teratogen and carcinogen that can traverse placental barriers and produce fetal death and malformations in many species of mammals. Although it is carcinogenic in humans, evidence for arsenic- induced carcinogenicity in other mammals is scarce. Paradoxically, evidence is accumulating that arsenic is nutritionally essential or beneficial. Arsenic deficiency effects, such as poor growth, reduced survival, and inhibited reproduction, have been recorded in mammals fed diets containing <0.05 mg As/kg, but not in those fed diets with 0.35 mg As/kg. At comparatively low doses, arsenic stimulates growth and development in various species of plants and animals. Most arsenic produced domestically is used in the manufacture of agricultural products such as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, algicides, wood preservatives, and growth stimulants for plants and animals. Living resources are exposed to arsenic by way of atmospheric emissions from smelters, coal-fired power plants, and arsenical herbicide sprays; from water contaminated by mine tailings, smelter wastes, and natural mineralization; and from diet, especially from consumption of marine biota. Arsenic concentrations are usually low (<1.0 mg/kg fresh weight) in most living organisms but are elevated in marine biota (in which arsenic occurs as arsenobetaine and poses little risk to organisms or their consumer) and in plants and animals from areas that are naturally arseniferous or are near industrial manufacturers and agricultural users of arsenicals.
  • Molybdenum and Arsenic Behavior in a Limestone Aquifer in Central Florida

    Molybdenum and Arsenic Behavior in a Limestone Aquifer in Central Florida

    Molybdenum and arsenic behavior in a limestone aquifer in Central Florida Dissertation Zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Naturwissenschaften (Dr. rer. nat.) am Fachbereich Geowissenschaften der Universität Bremen Vorgelegt von Ali Mozaffari Bremen, November 2016 2 Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Thomas Pichler I Erklärung Hiermit versichere ich, dass ich i.die Arbeit ohne unerlaubte fremde Hilfe angefertigt habe, ii. keine anderen als die von mir angegebenen Quellen und Hilfsmittel benutzt haben und iii.die den benutzten Werken wörtlich oder inhaltlich entnommen Stellen als solche kenntlich gemacht habe. ___________________ ,den ________________ II ______________________________ (Unterschrift) III Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................................................................. IX Kurzzusammenfassung ..................................................................................................... XI Chapter 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Problem statement ...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Research objectives .................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Research outlines ....................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Site description ...........................................................................................................
  • Anthropogenic Arsenic Cycles: a Research Framework and Features

    Anthropogenic Arsenic Cycles: a Research Framework and Features

    Journal of Cleaner Production 139 (2016) 328e336 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Cleaner Production journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jclepro Anthropogenic arsenic cycles: A research framework and features * ** Wei-Qiang Chen a, , Ya-Lan Shi a, b, Shi-Liang Wu c, d, Yong-Guan Zhu a, a Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, China b College of Tourism, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362021, China c Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, United States d Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, United States article info abstract Article history: Arsenic is a trace element and a global contaminant. There are currently large uncertainties associated Received 1 April 2016 with our understanding and quantification of the arsenic cycles in the global environment. This study Received in revised form proposes a research framework where the major anthropogenic processes affecting anthropogenic 10 August 2016 arsenic cycles (AACs) are identified. A characteristic of this framework is that it divides AACs into two Accepted 10 August 2016 parts: one related to intentional uses, and the other driven by unintentional uses. Several significant Available online 13 August 2016 features of AACs are summarized as follows: (1) existing studies reveal that AACs at Earth's surface is at the same order of magnitudes as its natural cycles; (2) arsenic mostly enters modern anthroposphere as a Keywords: Arsenic companion element of nonferrous metal ores or fossil fuels, and currently there is abundant arsenic Anthropogenic cycles reserves relative to the limited intentional use of arsenic; (3) China owns the majority of arsenic reserves Material flow analysis and is the biggest producer of arsenic for the present day, while U.S.
  • A Review of Arsenic Hazards to Plants and Animals with Emphasis on Fishery and Wildlife Resources

    A Review of Arsenic Hazards to Plants and Animals with Emphasis on Fishery and Wildlife Resources

    11 A REVIEW OF ARSENIC HAZARDS TO PLANTS AND ANIMALS WITH EMPHASIS ON FISHERY AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES U.S. National Biological Suraey, Patuxent Wildl$e Research Center, Laurel, Maryland 20708 1. Introduction 2. Sources, Fate, and Uses 3. Chemical and Biochemical Properties 4. Essentiality, Synergism, and Antagonism 5. Background Concentrations 5.1. Nonbiological Samples 5.2. Biological Samples 6. Lethal and Sublethal Effects 6. I Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, and Teratogenesis 6.2. Terrestrial Plants and Invertebrates 6.3. Aquatic Biota 6.4. Birds 6.5. Mammals 7. Recommendations Arsmis irl thr Efwironmenr, Parr If: Hurnaf~ Health and Ecosystem Eflhs, Edited by Jerome 0. Nriagu. ISBN 0-471-30436-O Q 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 185 186 Arsenic Hazards to Fishery and Wildlife Resources 8. Concluding Remarks such a References precan epiden genesi? Thi! in the 1. INTRODUCTION update Anxiety over arsenic (As) is understandable and frequently justifiable. Arsenic compounds were the preferred homicidal and suicidal agents during the Middle 2. so Ages, and arsenicals have been regarded largely in terms of their poisonous characteristics in the nonscientific literature [National Academy of Sciences Global (NAS), 19771. Data collected on animals, including human beings, indicate that of whit inorganic arsenic can cross the placenta and produce mutagenic, teratogenic, and tons; m, carcinogenic effects in offspring (Nagymajtenyi et al., 198.5). Correlations be- (NAS, I tween elevated atmospheric arsenic levels and mortalities from cancer, bronchi- end-pro tis, and pneumonia were established in an epidemiological study in England and used as Wales, where deaths from respiratory cancer increased at air concentrations than 80 > 3pg As/m3 [National Research Council of Canada (NRCC), 19781.
  • Environmental Health Criteria on Arsenic and Arsenic Compounds

    Environmental Health Criteria on Arsenic and Arsenic Compounds

    This report contains the collective views of international groups of experts and does not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organization, or the World Health Organization. Environmental Health Criteria 224 ARSENIC AND ARSENIC COMPOUNDS Second edition The first and second drafts of this monograph were prepared, under the coordination of Dr J. Ng, by the authors A. Gomez-Caminero, P. Howe, M. Hughes, E. Kenyon, D.R. Lewis, M. Moore, J. Ng, and by A. Aitio and G. Becking. Please note that the layout and pagination of this pdf file are not identical to those of the printed document Published under the joint sponsorship of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organization, and the World Health Organization, and produced within the framework of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals. World Health Organization Geneva, 2001 The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), established in 1980, is a joint venture of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the World Health Organization (WHO). The overall objectives of the IPCS are to establish the scientific basis for assessment of the risk to human health and the environment from exposure to chemicals, through international peer-review processes, as a prerequisite for the promotion of chemical safety, and to provide technical assistance in strengthening national capacities for the
  • Environmental Health Criteria 18 ARSENIC

    Environmental Health Criteria 18 ARSENIC

    Environmental Health Criteria 18 ARSENIC Please note that the layout and pagination of this web version are not identical with the printed version. Arsenic (EHC 18, 1981) IPCS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CRITERIA 18 ARSENIC This report contains the collective views of an international group of experts and does not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organization, or the World Health Organization. Published under the joint sponsorship of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organisation, and the World Health Organization World Health Organization Geneva, 1981 ISBN 92 4 154078 8 (c) World Health Organization 1981 Publications of the World Health Organization enjoy copyright protection in accordance with the provisions of Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Convention. For rights of reproduction or translation of WHO publications, in part or in toto, application should be made to the Office of Publications, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. The World Health Organization welcomes such applications. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers' products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.
  • The Status of Arsenic Pollution in the Greek and Cyprus Environment: an Overview

    The Status of Arsenic Pollution in the Greek and Cyprus Environment: an Overview

    water Review The Status of Arsenic Pollution in the Greek and Cyprus Environment: An Overview Spyros K. Golfinopoulos 1,* , Soterios P. Varnavas 2 and Dimitrios E. Alexakis 3 1 Department of Financial & Management Engineering, School of Engineering, University of the Aegean, Kountourioti 41, GR-82132 Chios, Greece 2 Department of Geology, University of Patras, GR-26504 Patras, Greece; [email protected] 3 Department of Civil Engineering, Laboratory of Geoenvironmental Science and Environmental Quality Assurance, University of West Attica, 250 Thivon & P. Ralli Str, GR-12244 Athens, Greece; [email protected] * Correspondence: s.golfi[email protected]; Tel.: +30-22510-35459 Abstract: This study presents an overview about the arsenic (As) contamination and its sources in two European countries. Arsenic is a highly toxic element in its inorganic form and it is carcinogenic to human seven in low concentrations. The occurrence of As in surface water, stream and marine waters, groundwater, bottled water, sediment, soil, mines, and seafood, its environmental origin, and its impacts on human health are discussed. The classes of Geoaccumulation Index for As in Greece ranges from practically uncontaminated to extremely contaminated, and in Cyprus varies between practically uncontaminated and heavily contaminated. In many cases, the As contamination reaches very high concentrations and the impacts may be crucial for the human health and ecosystems. Physicochemical properties, regional climate and geological setting are controlling the occurrence and transport of As. In Greece and Cyprus, the geology, lithology, and ore-deposits are the most important factors for the variation of As contents in water, soil, and sediment.