Contaminación de aguas subterráneas por arsénico y su grado de afectación sobre la población en América Latina y el Caribe, Una revisión

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is a metalloid that is widely distributed over the earth's surface, there are reports in countries such as China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Chile, Argentina, the United States and Mexico. Its presence is associated with anthropic intervention processes such as mining and pesticide irrigation, as well as natural processes such as bioaccumulation, volcanic and geological activity. In groundwater, it is found as arsenate (As-V) and arsenite (As-III). It is estimated that about 140 million people have been affected by the prolonged exposure of this contaminant, suffering from diseases such as arsenicosis, arseniasis and various types of cancer, which has become a public health issue worldwide. The limits recommended by the WHO should not exceed 10 µg/l of arsenic in the water for human consumption, which is why various treatment technologies have been developed for their removal. Among the conventional ones, there is coagulation, adsorption, precipitation and ion exchange; but in addition, emerging treatment methods are being developed through biological organisms in order to reduce costs and facilitate their application especially in rural areas where access to economic and material resources is limited.