Abstract
Arsenic is the focus of public attention because of its wider prevalence and toxicity. Proper sampling is important in characterizing toxic water contaminants in the groundwater. The present paper studies aspects of sampling, preservation artifacts, analytical issues etc. in a natural arsenic contaminated groundwater. The samples were collected from arsenic contaminated groundwater at three locations of village Kaudikasa in Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh). The standard method of sampling and preservation of arsenic was examined. The permitted sample holding time in this state is 180 days which has been found to be unrealistic on examination. The communication also compares the loss pattern of arsenic in unpreserved samples with samples preserved and kept at 4?C. It was found that about As losses during hold- ing after preservation were about 0% in one day, 35% in seven day, 70% in fifteen day, and 65% in thirty days time. Hence, the present recommended method of preservation leads to huge under reporting of As in natural samples. If the pattern of losses observed at the present location exists at other locations then the actual As levels could be much higher than the reported ones.
Highlights
Arsenic is one of the oldest poisons known to men and its applications throughout history are wide and varied [1]
The present paper studies aspects of sampling, preservation artifacts, analytical issues etc. in a natural arsenic contaminated groundwater
To effectively deal with such a condition it is necessary that the proper sampling, time specified preservation and analysis regime is necessary
Summary
Arsenic is one of the oldest poisons known to men and its applications throughout history are wide and varied [1]. Arsenic is a problematic and naturally occurring toxic contaminant, which has many chemical species, each with a different toxicity and mobility [2]. Inorganic arsenic species arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] predominate in natural water [6]. Bednar et al used ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid (EDTA), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), nitric acid (HNO3), and HCl to preserve inorganic arsenic species in groundwater and acid mine drainage samples [26]. A proper estimation of the concentration and speciation of the samples is important from the health point of view, where the dose and its chemical species govern the likely effects. Based on extensive experimental results in Fe (II)-contaminated challenge water, it was found that EDTA-HAc could be used to preserve the arsenic species for at least 28 days in opaque plastic bottles. H2SO4 and H3PO4, successfully preserved the original As(III)/(V) speciation under some conditions, these preservatives were generally unsuccessful for the desired 28-day period under reducing and oxidizing conditions in the sample pH range of 6.5 - 8.4 and in the presence of 3 mg/L Fe(II) [35]
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