Occurrence and methods to remove arsenic and fluoride contamination in water

• DOI: 10.1007/s10311-016-0590-2
• Publication Date: 2016-10-15T05:23:55Z
• Authors: Sadia Bibi; Muhammad Aqeel Ka...; Jawairia Sultana; Abida Farooqi
• Keywords: 13. Climate action; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences; 3. Good health

Groundwater contamination with arsenic and fluoride has affected over 300 million people worldwide. Ingestion of arsenic and fluoride for extended period of time or at high concentration causes severe health effects. Arsenic can cause thickening and discoloration of the skin, cardiovascular disorders, cancer and skin lesions. Excessive intake of fluoride leads to dental and skeletal fluorosis and bone deformities. This report reviews the distribution of arsenic and fluoride contamination, their sources, mobilization and associated health risks. Remediation technologies to remove arsenic and fluoride are presented.