Seven potential sources of arsenic pollution in Latin America and their environmental and health impacts
Article
Article Title | Seven potential sources of arsenic pollution in Latin America and their environmental and health impacts |
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ERA Journal ID | 3551 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Bundschuh, Jochen (Author), Schneider, Jerusa (Author), Alam, Mohammad Ayaz (Author), Niazi, Nabeel Khan (Author), Herath, Indika (Author), Parvez, Faruque (Author), Tomaszewska, Barbara (Author), Guilherme, Luiz Roberto Guimaraes (Author), Maity, Jyoti Prakash (Author), Lopez, Dina L. (Author), Cirelli, Alicia Fernandez (Author), Perez-Carrera, Alejo (Author), Morales-Simfors, Nury (Author), Alarcon-Herrera, Maria Teresa (Author), Baisch, Paulo (Author), Mohan, Dinesh (Author) and Mukherjee, Abhijit (Author) |
Journal Title | Science of the Total Environment |
Journal Citation | 780, pp. 1-29 |
Article Number | 146274 |
Number of Pages | 29 |
Year | 2021 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Place of Publication | Netherlands |
ISSN | 0048-9697 |
1879-1026 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146274 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721013425 |
Abstract | This review presents a holistic overview of the occurrence, mobilization, and pathways of arsenic (As) from predominantly geogenic sources into different near-surface environmental compartments, together with the respective reported or potential impacts on human health in Latin America. The main sources and pathways of As pollution in this region include: (i) volcanism and geothermalism: (a) volcanic rocks, fluids (e.g., gases) and ash, including large-scale transport of the latter through different mechanisms, (b) geothermal fluids and their exploitation; (ii) natural lixiviation and accelerated mobilization from (mostly sulfidic) metal ore deposits by mining and related activities; (iii) coal deposits and their exploitation; (iv) hydrocarbon reservoirs and co-produced water during exploitation; (v) solute and sediment transport through rivers to the sea; (vi) atmospheric As (dust and aerosol); and (vii) As exposure through geophagy and involuntary ingestion. The two most important and well-recognized sources and mechanisms for As release into the Latin American population's environments are: (i) volcanism and geothermalism, and (ii) strongly accelerated As release from geogenic sources by mining and related activities. Several new analyses from As-endemic areas of Latin America emphasize that As-related mortality and morbidity continue to rise even after decadal efforts towards lowering As exposure. Several public health regulatory institutions have classified As and its compounds as carcinogenic chemicals, as As uptake can affect several organ systems, viz. dermal, gastrointestinal, peptic, neurological, respiratory, reproductive, following exposure. Accordingly, ingesting large amounts of As can damage the stomach, kidneys, liver, heart, and nervous system; and, in severe cases, may cause death. Moreover, breathing air with high As levels can cause lung damage, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough. Further, As compounds, being corrosive, can also cause skin lesions or damage eyes, and long-term exposure to As can lead to cancer development in several organs. |
Keywords | Arsenic sources and human exposure, Mining, Hydrocarbon and coal exploitation, Volcanism and geothermalism, Geophagy, Environmental and health impacts |
Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 400499. Chemical engineering not elsewhere classified |
370104. Atmospheric composition, chemistry and processes | |
400411. Water treatment processes | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | UNESCO Chair on Groundwater Arsenic |
State University of Campinas, Brazil | |
University of Atacama, Chile | |
University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan | |
University of Southern Queensland | |
Columbia University, United States | |
AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland | |
Federal University of Lavras, Brazil | |
National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan | |
Ohio University, United States | |
University of Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
Centre for Research in Advanced Materials, Mexico | |
Federal University of Rio Grande, Brazil | |
Indian Institute of Technology, India | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q7707/seven-potential-sources-of-arsenic-pollution-in-latin-america-and-their-environmental-and-health-impacts
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