Arsenic contamination of groundwater

Image of a periodic table showing As, arsenic (©istock/davidf)

The BGS has been involved with research into the hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry of arsenic in a number of high-arsenic aquifers across the world.

This work has been funded by a number of organisations, including the UK government's Department for International Development, NERC, World Bank, Danida and Unicef.

Investigations have been carried out in areas with naturally occurring arsenic contamination and in areas where mining has altered groundwater systems.

BGS arsenic research by area

Documented problems with arsenic in groundwater and the environment

BGS arsenic publications (non-country specific)

Smedley, P L. 2008. Sources and distribution of arsenic in groundwater and aquifers. In: Arsenic in Groundwater: a World Problem. Appelo, C A J (editor). Proceedings of an IAH Seminar, Utrecht, November 2006, pp 4–32.
Smedley, P L, and Kinniburgh, D G. 2005. Chapter 11: Arsenic in groundwater and the environment 263–299 In: Essentials of Medical Geology. Selinus, O, Alloway, B, Centeno, J A, Finkelman, R B, Fuge, R, Lindh, U, and Smedley, P L (editors). (Amsterdam: Elsevier Academic Press.)
Plant, J A, Kinniburgh, D G, Smedley, P L, Fordyce, F, and Klinck, B A. 2004. Arsenic and selenium. In: Treatise on Geochemistry. H D, Holland, K K, Turekian (editors). Volume 9: Environmental Geochemistry, Chapter 2, 17–66. (Elsevier.)
Smedley, P L, and Kinniburgh, D G. 2002. A review of the source, behaviour and distribution of arsenic in natural waters. Applied Geochemistry, 17, 517–568.
Kinniburgh, D G, and Kosmus, W. 2002. Arsenic contamination in groundwater: some analytical considerations. Talanta, 58, 165–180.
Smedley, P L, Kinniburgh, D G, Huq, I, Luo, Z, and Nicolli, H B. 2001. International perspective on naturally-occurring arsenic problems in groundwater 9–25 In: Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects IV. Chappell, W R, Abernathy, C O, and Calderon, R, L (editors). (Amsterdam: Elsevier.)