Global threat of arsenic in groundwater

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aba1510
• Publication Date: 2020-05-21T23:02:25Z
• Authors: Joel Podgorski; Michael Berg
• Keywords: Contaminated groundwater; Environmental hazard

Dowsing for danger Arsenic is a metabolic poison that present in minute quantities most rock materials and, under certain natural conditions, can accumulate aquifers and cause adverse health effects. Podgorski Berg used measurements of arsenic groundwater from ∼80 previous studies to train machine-learning model with globally continuous predictor variables, including climate, soil, topography (see the Perspective by Zheng). The output global map reveals potential hazard contamination groundwater, even many places where there are sparse or no reported measurements. highest-risk regions include areas southern central Asia South America. Understanding especially essential facing current future water insecurity. Science , this issue p. 845 ; see also 818