Arsenic in Drinking Water Solutions Negative Effects on the Body and How to Remove it

Summary of Articles Related To Arsenic in Drinking Water's Solutions
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Summary of Articles Related To Arsenic in Drinking Water's Solutions
Azhdarpoor, A., Nikmanesh, R., & Samaei, M. R. (2015). Removal of arsenic from aqueous solutions using waste iron columns inoculated with iron bacteria. Environmental technology, 36(20), 2525-2531.
Background
Arsenic is a known carcinogen, which is associated with some of the most revered diseases, including cancer. While it is important to assess removal of the metalloid from water, it is also important to assess the best conditions for maximum efficiency.
Main Idea
The study sort to determine the best conditions and reagents to use in the removal of arsenic from the environment. Thus, the researchers utilized a water iron column both with and without iron bacteria in continuous and batch phases. The researchers investigated the effects of pH, contact time, arsenic concentration, and adsorbent dose. Highest arsenic removal occurred at pH 7 and using high amounts of iron. However, increase in contact time decreased arsenate concentration.
Impact
Waste iron containing bacteria is an excellent adsorbent that can help in the removal of arsenic from contaminated water. Therefore, biofilm can help increase the efficiency of arsenic adsorption. Iron bacteria and waste iron are low cost, low-risk techniques for arsenic removal.
Cavalca, L., Corsini, A., Zaccheo, P., Andreoni, V., & Muyzer, G. (2013). Microbial transformations of arsenic: perspectives for biological removal of arsenic from water. Future microbiology, 8(6), 753-768.
Background
Arsenic is a common element in the soil, minerals, water, and biota. It results from both natural processes and anthropogenic activities. It may come from human inputs including sewage, insecticides, fertilizers, and fossil fuel combustion.
Main Idea
Arsenic has different valences which can be transformed into different compounds to serve various purposes. The metalloid occurs in four major valence states of -3 (arsine, AsH3), 0 (metallic, As0), +3 (arsenite, As [OH] 3) and +5 (arsenate, AsO4 -3) depending on the prevailing environmental conditions.
Impact
Arsenic is a common metalloid with a variety of uses in different forms when transformed into different compounds. Among the notable uses of its compounds include management of certain diseases, facilitating metabolic processes, environmental detoxification. However, exposure to arsenic can lead to serious health effects including arsenicosis and cancer. Bacteria copes well with arsenic through detoxification and harnessing energy from inorganic arsenic. Therefore, the most effective way of detecting arsenic in the environment is through bacteria, which is then subjected to molecular markers utilized in arsenic metabolism. The easiest way of removing arsenic from water is using the biological step of bacterial oxidation.
Kamde, K., Pandey, R. A., Thul, S. T., Dahake, R., Shinde, V. M., & Bansiwal, A. (2018). Microbially assisted arsenic removal using Acidothiobacillus ferrooxidans mediated by iron oxidation. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 10, 78-90.
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