Modeling the probability of arsenic in groundwater in New England as a tool for exposure assessment
- PMID: 16786697
- DOI: 10.1021/es051972f
Modeling the probability of arsenic in groundwater in New England as a tool for exposure assessment
Abstract
We developed a process-based model to predict the probability of arsenic exceeding 5 microg/L in drinking water wells in New England bedrock aquifers. The model is being used for exposure assessment in an epidemiologic study of bladder cancer. One important study hypothesis that may explain increased bladder cancer risk is elevated concentrations of inorganic arsenic in drinking water. In eastern New England, 20-30% of private wells exceed the arsenic drinking water standard of 10 micrograms per liter. Our predictive model significantly improves the understanding of factors associated with arsenic contamination in New England. Specific rock types, high arsenic concentrations in stream sediments, geochemical factors related to areas of Pleistocene marine inundation and proximity to intrusive granitic plutons, and hydrologic and landscape variables relating to groundwater residence time increase the probability of arsenic occurrence in groundwater. Previous studies suggest that arsenic in bedrock groundwater may be partly from past arsenical pesticide use. Variables representing historic agricultural inputs do not improve the model, indicating that this source does not significantly contribute to current arsenic concentrations. Due to the complexity of the fractured bedrock aquifers in the region, well depth and related variables also are not significant predictors.
Similar articles
-
Arsenic in groundwater in eastern New England: occurrence, controls, and human health implications.Environ Sci Technol. 2003 May 15;37(10):2075-83. doi: 10.1021/es026211g. Environ Sci Technol. 2003. PMID: 12785510
-
Influence of groundwater recharge and well characteristics on dissolved arsenic concentrations in southeastern Michigan groundwater.Environ Geochem Health. 2009 Feb;31(1):147-57. doi: 10.1007/s10653-008-9173-x. Epub 2008 May 22. Environ Geochem Health. 2009. PMID: 18496757
-
Spatial pattern of groundwater arsenic occurrence and association with bedrock geology in greater Augusta, Maine.Environ Sci Technol. 2009 Apr 15;43(8):2714-9. doi: 10.1021/es803141m. Environ Sci Technol. 2009. PMID: 19475939 Free PMC article.
-
Spatial and temporal variations of groundwater arsenic in South and Southeast Asia.Science. 2010 May 28;328(5982):1123-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1172974. Science. 2010. PMID: 20508123 Review.
-
A meta-analysis of the distribution, sources and health risks of arsenic-contaminated groundwater in Pakistan.Environ Pollut. 2018 Nov;242(Pt A):307-319. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.06.083. Epub 2018 Jun 28. Environ Pollut. 2018. PMID: 29990938 Review.
Cited by
-
Contribution of gut bacteria to arsenic metabolism in the first year of life in a prospective birth cohort.Environ Res. 2022 Nov;214(Pt 4):114099. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114099. Epub 2022 Aug 23. Environ Res. 2022. PMID: 35998698 Free PMC article.
-
Predicting the Distribution of Arsenic in Groundwater by a Geospatial Machine Learning Technique in the Two Most Affected Districts of Assam, India: The Public Health Implications.Geohealth. 2022 Mar 1;6(3):e2021GH000585. doi: 10.1029/2021GH000585. eCollection 2022 Mar. Geohealth. 2022. PMID: 35340282 Free PMC article.
-
Surface Flooding as a Key Driver of Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in Southeast Asia.Environ Sci Technol. 2022 Jan 18;56(2):928-937. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05955. Epub 2021 Dec 24. Environ Sci Technol. 2022. PMID: 34951307 Free PMC article.
-
Occurrence, Geochemistry and Speciation of Elevated Arsenic Concentrations in a Fractured Bedrock Aquifer System.Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2021 Oct;81(3):414-437. doi: 10.1007/s00244-021-00887-3. Epub 2021 Sep 14. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2021. PMID: 34519866 Free PMC article.
-
Machine Learning Models of Arsenic in Private Wells Throughout the Conterminous United States As a Tool for Exposure Assessment in Human Health Studies.Environ Sci Technol. 2021 Apr 20;55(8):5012-5023. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05239. Epub 2021 Mar 17. Environ Sci Technol. 2021. PMID: 33729798 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical
Miscellaneous