Why is water contaminated with Arsenic?
Arsenic is a naturally occurring metal found in rocks and soil, which can be released into the environment through geological events such as volcanic activity and erosion. Other releases of arsenic into the environment occur through industrial processes such as production of paints, metals, soaps, dyes, drugs, semi-conductors and wood preservatives, as well as in mining and smelting. Here in the United States most cases of arsenic contaminated water are a result of geochemical soil leaching, where naturally occurring arsenic in the rock and soil is solublized by contact with ground or surface water. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the amount of arsenic an industrial process can release into the environment, oversights can occur, creating an added source of contamination. Arsenic occurs in two common valence states, arsenite (arsenic III) and arsenate (arsenic V). Arsenic V is the easier of the two forms to remove from drinking water and most often is found in
