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• Sources of Arsenic in water
• Health effects of arsenic exposure
• Standards and limits for arsenic exposure
• How to remove arsenic from water
• How to test water for arsenic contamination

This article discusses the detection of arsenic in drinking water, sources of arsenic in water, arsenic exposure limits, and how to remove arsenic from drinking water. [Above we show a photograph of the arsenic test lamp used for detection of arsenic in drinking water - courtesy of Aquacheck Water Testing Laboratory].

What To Do About Arsenic in Drinking Water

Scott Bradley, Aquacheck Water Testing Laboratory

Arsenic is a soft, semi-metallic element that is found naturally in our environment. We also see arsenic introduced through orchards, treated lumber, and certain industrial processes such as glassware and electronic components production.

Arsenic exposure limits - maximum levels allowed in drinking water

The MCL, or maximum contaminant level had been set at 50 ppb (parts per billion) from 1975 until January, 22, 2001 when the new EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) level became 10 ppb. Why lower the level five-fold? What did the EPA discover after studying arsenic to make them drop the level that much?

Effects of exposure to Arsenic

Long term exposure to arsenic in drinking water has been linked to cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidneys, liver, and prostate. Other non-carcinogenic effects may include cardiovascular, pulmonary, immunological, neurological, and endocrine (diabetes) disorders. Large doses of arsenic can be lethal and has been the "poison-dujour" for centuries!

Arsenic exposure standards can be improved

Adopting the new, stricter standards will provide increased protection for over 54,000 community water systems - such are the type that serve small cities and towns, apartments, and mobile home parks. Also, over 20,000 systems that serve such institutions as schools, churches, and nursing homes also must have complied to the new regulations by January 23, 2006.

Geographic "hot spots" where Arsenic is Found in Drinking Water

In the laboratory, we analyze arsenic from all parts of the United States. We find geographical "hot-spots" where arsenic turns up at higher levels. It is not uncommon to find levels well over 100 ppb in some areas.

Arsenic is odorless and tasteless, so the only way for you to tell if your well or source water has arsenic in it is to have it analyzed by a laboratory certified for that parameter. To find a certified lab., you can check with your state health department or call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at, 1-800-426-4791.

How to remove arsenic from drinking water

Arsenic can be removed from water, but we need to take a closer look at the element itself.

Arsenic can come in two forms, or valences. One, is inorganic, the other organic. The EPA MCL of 10 ppb is based on total combined arsenic. One form, trivalent or AsIII is also known as arsenite.

The other form, pentavalent, or AsV is also known as arsenate. Most manufacturers produce filters that will remove pentavalent arsenic as long as the starting level is less than 300 ppb. Speciation can be performed to determine which forms you have and in what proportions, but as you read further, it is not really necessary to speciate.

Typically, the trivalent form is converted to pentavalent form using free chlorine or other similar oxidation chemical because AsV is easier to remove. As previously mentioned, have a certified lab give you the total arsenic number, then let a qualified and experienced treatment professional take care of the filtration.

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Technical Reviewers

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material. Content suggestions, technical corrections and content critique are invited for any of the content at our website.

• Scott Bradley, author. Scott Bradley is Laboratory Director for Aquacheck Laboratory, Inc. PO Box 87 05151 1-800-263-9596. A more brief version of this article appeared in Aquacheck Laboratory's Water Wisdom Tips and Newsletter, Issue # 6, 2007. www.Aquacheck-VT.com offers other water supply tips in its Water Wisdom section. The laboratory also provides water test kits and offers a free newsletter.
• Daniel Friedman - editor
• Technical reviewers are invited to comment or ask questions - contact us

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