Arsenic in Latin America : New findings on source, mobilization and mobility in human environments in 20 countries based on decadal research 2010-2020

• Today (year 2020), the globally recognized problem of arsenic (As) contamination of water resources and other environments at toxic levels has been reported in all of the 20 Latin American countries. The present review indicates that As is prevalent in 200 areas across these countries. Arsenic is naturally released into the environment and mobilized from geogenic sources comprising: (i) volcanic rocks and emissions, the latter being transported over thousands of kilometers from the source, (ii) metallic mineral deposits, which get exposed to human beings and livestock through drinking water or food chain, and (iii) As-rich geothermal fluids ascending from deep geothermal reservoirs contaminate freshwater sources. The challenge for mitigation is increased manifold by mining and related activities, as As from mining sites is transported by rivers over long distances and even reaches and contaminates coastal environments. The recognition of the As problem by the authorities in several countries has led to various actions for remediation, but there is a lack of long-term strategies for such interventions. Often only total As concentration is reported, while data on As sources, mobilization, speciation, mobility and pathways are lacking which is imperative for assessing quality of any water source, i.e. public and private.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Environmental and health impacts

geogenic arsenic in Latin America

sources and mobilization

Agriculture

Arsenic

Geothermal fields

Mineral resources

Minerals

Potable water

Volcanic rocks

Water resources

Coastal environments

Freshwater sources

Geothermal fluids

Geothermal reservoir

Human environment

Latin americans

Long-term strategy

Metallic mineral

Chemical contamination

ground water

sea water

surface water

water

drinking water

food chain

mineral deposit

mining

mobilization

volcanic rock

water resource

aquifer

Argentina

arsenic poisoning

Bolivia

Brazil

Caribbean

Chile

coastal waters

Colombia

Costa Rica

Cuba

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

environmental aspects and related phenomena

environmental exposure

environmental impact

fluid intake

Guatemala

Haiti

health hazard

Honduras

human

industry and industrial phenomena

Mexico

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Review

sediment

soil

soil pollution

South and Central America

tourism

Uruguay

vegetation

Venezuela

water contamination

water supply

Latin America

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