Submit to Water Review for Water Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water and One Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2025) | Viewed by 36313

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Richard K. Kwok

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Interests: water; metals; air pollution; mixtures; disasters; oil spills; cardiovascular disease; cancer; reproductive health; mental health; common data elements

Dr. Danielle J. Carlin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Interests: chemical mixtures; combined exposures; metals; inhalation toxicology; xenobiotic metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Arsenic is a widespread, naturally occurring metalloid. It is an established human carcinogen and may be a risk factor for diabetes and other adverse health outcomes. Humans can be exposed to arsenic through drinking water, food, dust, air, and occupational activities. The ubiquity of arsenic and the potential for multiple routes of exposure means that humans continue to be at risk of adverse health outcomes as a result of this exposure.

We propose this Special Issue to bring together the NIEHS grantees and other arsenic researchers to share their latest findings on the human health effects of arsenic in drinking water. This Special Issue will have a broad scope encompassing not only research articles but also reviews of the current literature and updates on the state of the science. It will serve as a useful milestone for the arsenic research community to update their findings in one Issue. The Guest Editors will write an editorial/introduction to the Special Issue to introduce the topic and present a summary overview of the state of the science.

Dr. Richard K. Kwok
Dr. Danielle J. Carlin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

drinking water
arsenic
human health
cancer
renal
cardiovascular disease
reproductive health

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (10 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 1528 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modelling Arsenic-Removal Efficiency from Water Through Adsorption Using Modified Saxaul Ash as Adsorbent

by Monzur A. Imteaz, Iqbal Hossain, Amimul Ahsan and Md Rezaul Karim

Water 2025, 17(6), 811; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17060811 - 12 Mar 2025

Viewed by 388

Abstract

To overcome the consequences of arsenic contaminations, several methods are being proposed. However, practical implementation of those studied methods is rare, mainly due to uncertainties in perception regarding the treatment efficiency of a particular method under different operating conditions. A parametric mathematical model is proposed for the estimation of arsenic-trapping efficiency using saxaul ash sand as adsorbent for the treatment of arsenic-contaminated water under different input conditions. The developed model is based on three independent factors: adsorbent dose concentration, solution pH and initial arsenic concentration in the solution. These factors were selected based on a rigorous experimental study using saxaul ash as adsorbent, which was conducted earlier. Individual relationships between each of those contributing factors and arsenic-removal efficiencies were established based on experimental results. Each relationship was expressed with a best-fit equation and converted to a contributed factor. It is found that the derived best-fit relationships of removal efficiencies follow polynomial patterns with pH and logarithmic patterns with initial concentration and dose concentration. Finally, all the contributed factors were amalgamated into a single equation representing arsenic-removal efficiency for any pH, initial arsenic concentration, and dose concentration. Model-predicted results are compared with the original measured data from the earlier experiments. It is found that the developed best-fit equations for pH, initial arsenic concentration and dose concentration can replicate measured values with coefficient of determination values of 0.88, 0.96 and 0.99, respectively. A comparison of final equation predictions reveals that the predictions are quite accurate, except for a few estimations yielding general statistical errors such as RMSE = 8.07, MAE = 4.73 and RAE = 0.10. Discrepancies in a few predicted values can be attributed to the non-adherence of original measured values to the adopted best-fit trend, especially for the case of pH. Such a developed model can be used for the estimation of arsenic-trapping efficiency with any desirable mix of independent variables selected in this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3382 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Field Testing of an Affordable Zero-Liquid-Discharge Arsenic-Removal Technology for a Small-Community Drinking Water System in Rural California

by Siva R. S. Bandaru, Logan Smesrud, Jay Majmudar, Dana Hernandez, Paris Wickliff, Winston Tseng and Ashok Gadgil

Water 2025, 17(3), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17030374 - 29 Jan 2025

Viewed by 840

Abstract

Arsenic contamination in groundwater threatens public health, particularly in small, low-income communities lacking affordable treatment solutions. This study investigated the field implementation of novel air cathode assisted iron electrocoagulation (ACAIE) technology for arsenic removal in Allensworth, California, where groundwater arsenic concentrations exceeded 250 µg/L. Over four months, a pilot-scale ACAIE system, operating at 600 L/h, consistently reduced arsenic levels to below the EPA’s maximum contaminant level of 10 µg/L. Laboratory experiments informed the optimization of charge dosage and flow rates, which were validated during field testing of the ACAIE 600 L/h system. The in-situ generation of hydrogen peroxide at the cathode speeded up the reaction kinetics, ensuring high arsenic removal efficiency while allowing high throughput, even with a compact reactor size. An economic analysis demonstrated a treatment cost of USD 0.02/L excluding labor, highlighting the system’s affordability compared to conventional methods. Adding labor costs increased the treatment cost to USD 0.09/L. The regeneration of air cathodes extended their operational life, addressing a key maintenance challenge, thus reducing the costs slightly. Intermittent challenges were encountered with filtration and secondary contaminant removal; these issues highlight opportunities for further operational improvements. Despite these challenges, ACAIE’s low operational complexity, scalability, and cost-effectiveness make it a promising solution for underserved small communities. These findings provide critical insights into deploying sustainable arsenic remediation technologies that are tailored to the needs of rural, low-resource communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1182 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Presence of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water and Its Possible Impact on the Development of Type 1 Diabetes in Children

by Katarzyna Zorena, Małgorzata Michalska, Maria Bartoszewicz, Piotr Wąż, Sylwia Krawczyk, Iwona Beń-Skowronek and Małgorzata Myśliwiec

Water 2024, 16(21), 3083; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16213083 - 28 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1406

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the concentration of heavy metals in drinking water and the number of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) cases in two regions of Poland. The number of births in 2015-16 in Pomeranian Voivodeship was 50,461, while the number of new T1DM cases was 219. In Lublin Voivodeship, the number of births in the same period reached 39,381, and the number of new T1DM cases was 221. The incidence of T1DM, calculated per 100 live births, amounted to 0.43 and 0.56 in Pomeranian and Lublin. The statistical analysis of collected data proved that the number of new T1DM cases in Pomeranian Voivodeship is correlated to the concentrations of selenium (Se; p < 0.0001), lead (Pb; p < 0.00001), cadmium (Cd; p < 0.00001), zinc (Zn; p < 0.00001) and arsenic (As; p = 0.00001). In the case of Lublin Voivodeship, the number of new T1DM cases was correlated to the concentrations of Se (p = 0.0000001), Pb (p < 0.000001), Cd (p = 0.0000001) and Zn (p < 0.00001) in drinking water. No correlation was found between the number of new T1DM cases and arsenic concentration in the drinking water samples from Lublin Voivodeship. The results indicated that environmental exposure to specific heavy metals may contribute to the risk of T1DM, underscoring the need for stringent environmental controls and public health policies to mitigate these risks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1433 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Arsenite Methyltransferase Is an Important Mediator of Hematotoxicity Induced by Arsenic in Drinking Water

by Sebastian Medina, Haikun Zhang, Laura V. Santos-Medina, Zachary A. Yee, Kaitlin J. Martin, Guanghua Wan, Alicia M. Bolt, Xixi Zhou, Miroslav Stýblo and Ke Jian Liu

Water 2023, 15(3), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030448 - 22 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3353

Abstract

Chronic arsenic exposures via the consumption of contaminated drinking water are clearly associated with many deleterious health outcomes, including anemia. Following exposure, trivalent inorganic arsenic (As^III) is methylated through a series of arsenic (+III oxidation state) methyltransferase (As3MT)-dependent reactions, resulting in the production of several intermediates with greater toxicity than the parent inorganic arsenicals. The extent to which inorganic vs. methylated arsenicals contribute to As^III-induced hematotoxicity remains unknown. In this study, the contribution of As3MT-dependent biotransformation to the development of anemia was evaluated in male As3mt-knockout (KO) and wild-type, C57BL/6J, mice following 60-day drinking water exposures to 1 mg/L (ppm) As^III. The evaluation of hematological indicators of anemia revealed significant reductions in red blood cell counts, hemoglobin levels, and hematocrit in As^III-exposed wild-type mice as compared to unexposed controls. No such changes in the blood of As3mt-KO mice were detected. Compared with unexposed controls, the percentages of mature RBCs in the bone marrow and spleen (measured by flow cytometry) were significantly reduced in the bone marrow of As^III-exposed wild-type, but not As3mt-KO mice. This was accompanied by increased levels of mature RBCS in the spleen and elevated levels of circulating erythropoietin in the serum of As^III-exposed wild-type, but not As3mt-KO mice. Taken together, the findings from the present study suggest that As3MT-dependent biotransformation has an essential role in mediating the hematotoxicity of As^III following drinking water exposures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1590 KiB

Open AccessArticle

ALKBH4 Stabilization Is Required for Arsenic-Induced 6mA DNA Methylation Inhibition, Keratinocyte Malignant Transformation, and Tumorigenicity

by Yan-Hong Cui, Emma Wilkinson, Jack Peterson and Yu-Ying He

Water 2022, 14(22), 3595; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14223595 - 8 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2771

Abstract

Inorganic arsenic is one of the well-known human skin carcinogens. However, the molecular mechanism by which arsenic promotes carcinogenesis remains unclear. Previous studies have established that epigenetic changes, including changes in DNA methylation, are among the critical mechanisms that drive carcinogenesis. N⁶-methyladenine (6mA) methylation on DNA is a widespread epigenetic modification that was initially found on bacterial and phage DNA. Only recently has 6mA been identified in mammalian genomes. However, the function of 6mA in gene expression and cancer development is not well understood. Here, we show that chronic low doses of arsenic induce malignant transformation and tumorigenesis in keratinocytes and lead to the upregulation of ALKBH4 and downregulation of 6mA on DNA. We found that reduced 6mA levels in response to low levels of arsenic were mediated by the upregulation of the 6mA DNA demethylase ALKBH4. Moreover, we found that arsenic increased ALKBH4 protein levels and that ALKBH4 deletion impaired arsenic-induced tumorigenicity in vitro and in mice. Mechanistically, we found that arsenic promoted ALKBH4 protein stability through reduced autophagy. Together, our findings reveal that the DNA 6mA demethylaseALKBH4 promotes arsenic tumorigenicity and establishes ALKBH4 as a promising target for arsenic-induced tumorigenesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1693 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Developing Toxic Metal Environmental Justice Indices (TM-EJIs) for Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Manganese Contamination in Private Drinking Wells in North Carolina

by Noemi Gavino-Lopez, Lauren A. Eaves, Adam E. Enggasser and Rebecca C. Fry

Water 2022, 14(13), 2088; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14132088 - 29 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3602

Abstract

Toxic metal exposure via private drinking wells is an environmental health challenge in North Carolina (NC). Policies tainted by environmental racism shape who has access to public water supplies, with Black People, Indigenous People, and People of Color (BIPOC) often excluded from municipal services. Thus, toxic metal exposure via private wells is an environmental justice (EJ) issue, and it is under-studied in NC. In this study, we developed four Toxic Metal Environmental Justice Indices (TM-EJIs) for inorganic arsenic (iAs), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and manganese (Mn) to quantitatively identify areas of environmental injustice in NC. TM-EJIs were calculated at the census tract level (n = 2038) as the product of the following: (1) number of well water tests with concentrations exceeding national standards, (2) percentage of the low-income and minority population, and (3) population density. Mn had the greatest proportion (25.17%) of positive TM-EJIs, which are indicative of socioeconomically disadvantaged groups exposed to toxic metals. Positive TM-EJIs, particularly for Pb and Mn, were primarily located in eastern NC. These results highlight several new counties of concern and can be used by public health professionals and state environmental agencies to prioritize remediation efforts and efforts to reduce environmental injustices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2401 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urine Dilution Correction Methods Utilizing Urine Creatinine or Specific Gravity in Arsenic Analyses: Comparisons to Blood and Water Arsenic in the FACT and FOX Studies in Bangladesh

by Ahlam Abuawad, Jeff Goldsmith, Julie B. Herbstman, Faruque Parvez, Tariqul Islam, Nancy LoIacono, Joseph H. Graziano, Ana Navas-Acien and Mary V. Gamble

Water 2022, 14(9), 1477; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14091477 - 5 May 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4842

Abstract

Urinary As (uAs) is a biomarker of As exposure. Urinary creatinine (uCr) or specific gravity (SG) are used to correct uAs for urine dilution. However, uCr is correlated with As methylation, whereas SG has limitations in individuals with kidney damage. We aimed to evaluate which urine dilution correction methods for uAs most accurately predicted blood As (bAs). We used data from the Folic Acid and Creatine Trial (FACT; N = 541) and Folate and Oxidative Stress (FOX; N = 343) study in Bangladesh. Three linear regression models were assessed using uAs (1) adjusted for uCr or SG as separate covariates, (2) standardized for uCr or SG, i.e., uAs/uCr, and (3) adjusted for residual corrected uCr or SG following adjustment for age, sex and BMI. Median uAs/bAs for FACT and FOX were 114/8.4 and 140/12.3 µg/L. In FACT, two-fold increases in uAs adjusted for uCr or SG were related to 34% and 22% increases in bAs, respectively, with similar patterns in FOX. Across methods, models with uCr consistently had lower AIC values than SG. The uAs associations with bAs were stronger after adjustment for uCr vs. SG. Decisions regarding urine dilution methods should consider whether the study outcomes are influenced by factors such as methylation or medical conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

44 pages, 4039 KiB

Open AccessReview

Arsenic in Drinking Water and Urinary Tract Cancers: A Systematic Review Update

by Alpamys Issanov, Betty Adewusi, Trevor J. B. Dummer and Nathalie Saint-Jacques

Water 2023, 15(12), 2185; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15122185 - 9 Jun 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3753

Abstract

Problem: There remains uncertainty around cancer risk at lower levels of arsenic in drinking water. This study updates evidence from our previous review on the relationship between arsenic in drinking water and urinary bladder and kidney cancers (updated search January 2013 to February 2023). Method: Thirty-four studies were retained for review; six met criteria for inclusion in meta-analysis. Risk estimates for bladder and kidney cancer incidence and mortality were analyzed separately using Bayesian multilevel linear models. Results: For bladder cancer incidence, the estimated posterior mean relative risks (RRs) were 1.25 (0.92–1.73), 2.11 (1.18–4.22) and 3.01 (1.31–8.17) at arsenic concentrations of 10, 50 and 150 μg/L, respectively, with posterior probabilities of 92%, 99% and 100%, respectively, for the RRs to be >1. The corresponding RRs for kidney cancer were 1.37 (1.07–1.77), 1.95 (1.44–2.65) and 2.47 (1.74–3.52), with posterior probabilities of 100%. For bladder cancer, the posterior mean mortality ratios were 1.36 (0.35–6.39), 2.92 (1.24–7.82) and 4.88 (2.83–9.03) with posterior probabilities of 72%, 99% and 100%, respectively. Conclusions: The findings show increased bladder and kidney cancer risks at lower levels of arsenic in drinking water. Given that many people worldwide are exposed to lower levels of arsenic in drinking water, the public health impacts are substantial. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 2734 KiB

Open AccessReview

Arsenic in Drinking Water and Diabetes

by Aryatara Shakya, Matthew Dodson, Janick F. Artiola, Monica Ramirez-Andreotta, Robert A. Root, Xinxin Ding, Jon Chorover and Raina M. Maier

Water 2023, 15(9), 1751; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15091751 - 2 May 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7316

Abstract

Arsenic is ubiquitous in soil and water environments and is consistently at the top of the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry (ATSDR) substance priority list. It has been shown to induce toxicity even at low levels of exposure. One of the major routes of exposure to arsenic is through drinking water. This review presents current information related to the distribution of arsenic in the environment, the resultant impacts on human health, especially related to diabetes, which is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases, regulation of arsenic in drinking water, and approaches for treatment of arsenic in drinking water for both public utilities and private wells. Taken together, this information points out the existing challenges to understanding both the complex health impacts of arsenic and to implementing the treatment strategies needed to effectively reduce arsenic exposure at different scales. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 2432 KiB

Open AccessReview

Towards Understanding Factors Affecting Arsenic, Chromium, and Vanadium Mobility in the Subsurface

by Hannah R. Peel, Fatai O. Balogun, Christopher A. Bowers, Cass T. Miller, Chelsea S. Obeidy, Matthew L. Polizzotto, Sadeya U. Tashnia, David S. Vinson and Owen W. Duckworth

Water 2022, 14(22), 3687; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14223687 - 15 Nov 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5695

Abstract

Arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), and vanadium (V) are naturally occurring, redox-active elements that can become human health hazards when they are released from aquifer substrates into groundwater that may be used as domestic or irrigation source. As such, there is a need to develop incisive conceptual and quantitative models of the geochemistry and transport of potentially hazardous elements to assess risk and facilitate interventions. However, understanding the complexity and heterogeneous subsurface environment requires knowledge of solid-phase minerals, hydrologic movement, aerobic and anaerobic environments, microbial interactions, and complicated chemical kinetics. Here, we examine the relevant geochemical and hydrological information about the release and transport of potentially hazardous geogenic contaminants, specifically As, Cr, and V, as well as the potential challenges in developing a robust understanding of their behavior in the subsurface. We explore the development of geochemical models, illustrate how they can be utilized, and describe the gaps in knowledge that exist in translating subsurface conditions into numerical models, as well as provide an outlook on future research needs and developments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Arsenic in Drinking Water and Human Health

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI