Arsenic in Drinking Water Solutions Negative Effects on the Body and How to Remove it

Summary of Articles Related To Arsenic in Drinking Water's Solutions
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Summary of Articles Related To Arsenic in Drinking Water's Solutions
Azhdarpoor, A., Nikmanesh, R., & Samaei, M. R. (2015). Removal of arsenic from aqueous solutions using waste iron columns inoculated with iron bacteria. Environmental technology, 36(20), 2525-2531.
Background
Arsenic is a known carcinogen, which is associated with some of the most revered diseases, including cancer. While it is important to assess removal of the metalloid from water, it is also important to assess the best conditions for maximum efficiency.
Main Idea
The study sort to determine the best conditions and reagents to use in the removal of arsenic from the environment. Thus, the researchers utilized a water iron column both with and without iron bacteria in continuous and batch phases. The researchers investigated the effects of pH, contact time, arsenic concentration, and adsorbent dose. Highest arsenic removal occurred at pH 7 and using high amounts of iron. However, increase in contact time decreased arsenate concentration.
Impact
Waste iron containing bacteria is an excellent adsorbent that can help in the removal of arsenic from contaminated water. Therefore, biofilm can help increase the efficiency of arsenic adsorption. Iron bacteria and waste iron are low cost, low-risk techniques for arsenic removal.
Cavalca, L., Corsini, A., Zaccheo, P., Andreoni, V., & Muyzer, G. (2013). Microbial transformations of arsenic: perspectives for biological removal of arsenic from water. Future microbiology, 8(6), 753-768.
Background
Arsenic is a common element in the soil, minerals, water, and biota. It results from both natural processes and anthropogenic activities. It may come from human inputs including sewage, insecticides, fertilizers, and fossil fuel combustion.
Main Idea
Arsenic has different valences which can be transformed into different compounds to serve various purposes. The metalloid occurs in four major valence states of -3 (arsine, AsH3), 0 (metallic, As0), +3 (arsenite, As [OH] 3) and +5 (arsenate, AsO4 -3) depending on the prevailing environmental conditions.
Impact
Arsenic is a common metalloid with a variety of uses in different forms when transformed into different compounds. Among the notable uses of its compounds include management of certain diseases, facilitating metabolic processes, environmental detoxification. However, exposure to arsenic can lead to serious health effects including arsenicosis and cancer. Bacteria copes well with arsenic through detoxification and harnessing energy from inorganic arsenic. Therefore, the most effective way of detecting arsenic in the environment is through bacteria, which is then subjected to molecular markers utilized in arsenic metabolism. The easiest way of removing arsenic from water is using the biological step of bacterial oxidation.
Kamde, K., Pandey, R. A., Thul, S. T., Dahake, R., Shinde, V. M., & Bansiwal, A. (2018). Microbially assisted arsenic removal using Acidothiobacillus ferrooxidans mediated by iron oxidation. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 10, 78-90.
Background
The abundance of arsenic in the soil, water, and air in both organic and inorganic forms makes it unavoidable. It has varying levels of toxicity depending on the biotic and abiotic conditions. It is, therefore, imperative that we establish ways to eliminate it.
Main Idea
The best approach in the removal of arsenic is through bio-oxidation, which involves conversion of ferrous to ferric using bacteria, which is accompanied by a simultaneous conversion of arsenite to arsenate and then is removal through chemical means.
Implications
Bacteria helps in the removal of arsenic from the environment through precipitation of the metalloid that makes it easy to be removed. However, the process has to occur in acidic water. This approach is the most efficient and environmentally friendly approach.
Manirethan, V., Raval, K., & Balakrishnan, R. M. (2020). Adsorptive removal of trivalent and pentavalent arsenic from aqueous solutions using iron and copper impregnated melanin extracted from the marine bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri. Environmental Pollution, 257, 113576.
Background
Arsenic is one of the most toxic metalloids christened as “king of Poisons.” Considering its wide application in various industrial processes and its subsequent removal as a byproduct in other natural processes, its abundance is worrying.
Main Idea
This study explores the use of melanin equipped with iron and copper for efficient removal of arsenic from water. The melanin was obtained from marine bacteria Pseudomonas stutzeri and functionalized through impregnation with both iron and copper. Adsorption studies were then conducted on As9V) and As (III) using the compounds at varying pH and temperature ranges, and also at different contact times.
Impact
Arsenic can be removed from water via an arsenic binding method in which iron and copper are impregnated using melanin. The two compounds adsorbed the arsenic compounds from water with a 99% efficiency, which shows the effectiveness of the method.
Pandey, N., & Bhatt, R. (2015). Exiguobacterium mediated arsenic removal and its protective effect against arsenic induced toxicity and oxidative damage in freshwater fish, Channa striata. Toxicology reports, 2, 1367-1375.
Background
Arsenic continues to exist predominantly in the environment as industrial processes also increase. Consequently, is removal is quite challenging as the available options are expensive and unavailable. The use of bacteria is a promising low-cost solution.
Main Idea
Quantification of arsenic in the water treated with bacterium indicated that Exiguobacterium effectively eliminated up to 99% of arsenic in less than 20h. The researchers assessed the effectiveness of this method by evaluating a range of studies on fresh water fish. The finding showed that the fish introduced into the water survived without any symptoms of arsenic toxicity.
Impact
Introduction of some bacteria in water bodies suspected of having high arsenic levels helps reduce the amount of As (III) to below the detectable limit. Therefore, fish and other aquatic animals can use such waters without the risk of absorbing the toxic metalloid.
Razzak, A., Shafiquzzaman, M., Haider, H., & Alresheedi, M. (2021). Arsenic removal by iron-oxidizing bacteria in a fixed-bed co...