Abstract

Arsenic contamination of surface and subsurface waters is reported in many parts of the world and is considered as a global issue. The enforcement of stringent arsenic standard for drinking water, because of health problems associated with the ingestion of arsenic contaminated water, call for an effective treatment technology for arsenic removal. Since the toxicity of arsenic depends on its speciation, it is essential to determine the individual arsenic species present in drinking water. Further, a better understanding of the occurrence of arsenic, health effects, and available technologies would help in the evaluation of risk and selection of an appropriate cost-effective technology. This article provides an overview of these aspects. Various treatment methods used to remove arsenic from drinking water are also discussed.