Ways of Arsenic Compounds Getting into Natural Waters

Marta Litynska, I. Astrelin, and N. Tolstopalova

National Technical University of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kyiv, Ukraine

Abstract: Different factors often make the surface and ground water sources unfit for drinking purpose. Arsenic is often found in natural waters and makes it unsuitable for consumption without special treatment. Arsenic is released into water bodies as a result of human activity and natural processes. There are the following natural ways of arsenic release into ground water and atmosphere: volcanic activity, forest fires and leaching from arsenic rocks and minerals. The use of arsenic pesticides, processing of sulphide ore production, arsenic dyes and pigments production, producing of arsenic are encountered among anthropogenic sources. The terrible influence of long-acting arsenic compounds on the body (cancer, endocrine and neurological disorders, etc.) make dearsenication the

necessary stage of the drinking water treatment.

The problem of arsenic compoundspresence in natural waters is the challenge not only for underdeveloped countries where water treatment is performed using outdated methods, but also for many developed countries which require more economically and environmentally effective methods of water purification from arsenic compounds.

Key words: arsenic, volcanic activity, arsenic rocks and minerals, pesticides, sulphide ore production