Arsenic and other geogenic contaminants in global groundwater

Abhijit Mukherjee; Poulomee Coomar; Soumyajit Sarkar; Karen H. Johannesson; Alan Fryar; Madeline Schreiber; Kazi M. Ahmed; Mohd. A. Alam; Prosun Bhattacharya; Jochen Bundschuh; William Burgess; Madhumita Chakraborty; Rachel Coyte; Abida Farooqi; Huaming Guo; Julian Ijumulana; Gh Jeelani; Debapriya Mondal; D. Kirk Nordstrom; Joel Podgorski; David Polya; Bridget R. Scanlon; Mohd. Shamsudduha; Joseline Tapia; Avner Vengosh

doi:10.1038/s43017-024-00519-z

Arsenic and other geogenic contaminants in global groundwater

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment

By: Abhijit Mukherjee, Poulomee Coomar, Soumyajit Sarkar, Karen H. Johannesson, Alan Fryar, Madeline Schreiber, Kazi M. Ahmed, Mohd. A. Alam, Prosun Bhattacharya, Jochen Bundschuh, William Burgess, Madhumita Chakraborty, Rachel Coyte, Abida Farooqi, Huaming Guo, Julian Ijumulana, Gh Jeelani, Debapriya Mondal, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Joel Podgorski, David Polya, Bridget R. Scanlon, Mohd. Shamsudduha, Joseline Tapia, and Avner Vengosh

https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-024-00519-z

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Abstract

Geogenic groundwater contaminants (GGCs) affect drinking-water availability and safety, with up to 60% of groundwater sources in some regions contaminated by more than recommended concentrations. As a result, an estimated 300–500 million people are at risk of severe health impacts and premature mortality. In this Review, we discuss the sources, occurrences and cycling of arsenic, fluoride, selenium and uranium, which are GGCs with widespread distribution and/or high toxicity. The global distribution of GGCs is controlled by basin geology and tectonics, with GGC enrichment in both orogenic systems and cratonic basement rocks. This regional distribution is broadly influenced by climate, geomorphology and hydrogeochemical evolution along groundwater flow paths. GGC distribution is locally heterogeneous and affected by in situ lithology, groundwater flow and water–rock interactions. Local biogeochemical cycling also determines GGC concentrations, as arsenic, selenium and uranium mobilizations are strongly redox-dependent. Increasing groundwater extraction and land-use changes are likely to modify GGC distribution and extent, potentially exacerbating human exposure to GGCs, but the net impact of these activities is unknown. Integration of science, policy, community involvement programmes and technological interventions is needed to manage GGC-enriched groundwater and ensure equitable access to clean water.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Arsenic and other geogenic contaminants in global groundwater
Series title	Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
DOI	10.1038/s43017-024-00519-z
Volume	5
Publication Date	March 12, 2024
Year Published	2024
Language	English
Publisher	Nature
Contributing office(s)	Volcano Science Center
Description	17 p.
First page	312
Last page	328
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page