ABSTRACT
The current study was performed to estimate the amount of inorganic forms [arsenite, As(III) and arsenate, As(V) of arsenic (As) present in groundwater (n = 18) and agricultural soils from eleven locations in the central Gangetic basin, India. Water samples were speciated using a disposable cartridge, while a microwave assisted method was used to obtain As species in agricultural soil samples. The estimation of As species concentration was performed using ion chromatography (IC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) in solution matrix. Approximately 73% of the groundwater samples (n=18) show As(III) as the dominant species, while 27% reveals As(V) was the dominant species. Groundwater (80%) samples exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value (10 μg L−1) of As. The concentration of As(III) in agricultural soil samples varies from not detectable to 40 μg kg−1 and As(V) was observed as the major species (ranging from 1050 to 6835μg kg−1) while the total As concentration varied from 3528 to 14,690 μg kg−1. Arsenate (V) species dominate in oxygen-rich environments and well-drained soils, whereas in the reducing conditions, such as regularly flooded soils, As(III) is the stable oxidation state.
