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Arsenic
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Quick Facts
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EPA Drinking Water Standard for Arsenic
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Printable factsheet available for download:
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Risk Factors
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Related Articles
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WQRF Contaminant Occurrence Map
Check out the Contaminant Occurrence Map for visual representations of drinking water quality data for public water systems across the US. To View Data for Arsenic:
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Background
Arsenic is naturally occurring in soil and rocks throughout the US and readily dissolves into water, particularly groundwater supplies. Arsenic contamination in drinking water has been a recognized problem for decades. In fact, it was one of the first regulated drinking water contaminants.
Unlike municipal water supplies regulated by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), private well water is not subject to routine monitoring for harmful contaminants, including naturally occurring arsenic. Arsenic is considered a silent pollutant since there is generally no smell or taste associated with its presence in water; therefore, homeowners may not perceive a problem with their water.
Symptoms of acute arsenic poisoning include vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Symptoms may advance to extremity numbness, cramping and sometimes death. Other health risks have also been identified from long-term exposures, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory effects, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and impaired intellectual development in children.
Arsenic is naturally occurring in soil and rocks throughout the US and readily dissolves into water, particularly groundwater supplies. Arsenic contamination in drinking water has been a recognized problem for decades. In fact, it was one of the first regulated drinking water contaminants.
Unlike municipal water supplies regulated by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), private well water is not subject to routine monitoring for harmful contaminants, including naturally occurring arsenic. Arsenic is considered a silent pollutant since there is generally no smell or taste associated with its presence in water; therefore, homeowners may not perceive a problem with their water.
Symptoms of acute arsenic poisoning include vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Symptoms may advance to extremity numbness, cramping and sometimes death. Other health risks have also been identified from long-term exposures, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory effects, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and impaired intellectual development in children.
Treatment
Point-of-use (POU) treatment devices can remove up to 99% of arsenic from drinking water supplies. The ability of POU devices to remove arsenic in water depends on many variables, including pH and redox potential, which control arsenic speciation and thus drive treatment options. Activated carbon has been studied extensively for arsenic removal but carbon only removes a few milligrams of metal ions per gram of activated carbon. Other popular treatment options include reverse osmosis, adsorptive media (e.g., iron-based media and alumina), and distillation. Consumers should target POU devices certified for arsenic reduction as per the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) criteria related to removal via reverse osmosis, adsorptive media, or distillation.
Point-of-use (POU) treatment devices can remove up to 99% of arsenic from drinking water supplies. The ability of POU devices to remove arsenic in water depends on many variables, including pH and redox potential, which control arsenic speciation and thus drive treatment options. Activated carbon has been studied extensively for arsenic removal but carbon only removes a few milligrams of metal ions per gram of activated carbon. Other popular treatment options include reverse osmosis, adsorptive media (e.g., iron-based media and alumina), and distillation. Consumers should target POU devices certified for arsenic reduction as per the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) criteria related to removal via reverse osmosis, adsorptive media, or distillation.
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