Water quality, permissible levels for Arsenic

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Why do the Arsenic permissible limits differ country to country? (for example arsenic WHO permissible limit is 10ppb whereas for Pakistan it is considered to be 50ppb)

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7 Answers

  1. As mentioned in other comments Countries that cannot afford costly removal processes tend to have higher limits. We are currently working on a low cost domestic water filter cartridge which will be able to remove 99.5% of groundwater arsenic. A simple system that will suit rural communities that rely on groundwater.

  2. The WHO guideline for drinking water quality permissible limits had been issued for many reasons:

    •Background and guidance to governments for making risk management decisions related to the protection of public health and to the preservation of the environment; also

    •Provide common background on which national or regional standards can be derived.

    •They have an advisory nature based on the state-of-the-art in scientific research and epidemiological findings and are not to be confused with legal standards.

    It must be stressed that WHO guidelines are not intended for absolute and direct application in every country.

    But National Standards : are guidelines fixed by law in countries after being adapted to their national priorities and taking into account their:

          ·        Economic

          ·        Technical,

          ·        Social

          ·        Cultural, and

          .        Political situation.

    At any time they can be changed or modified whenever new scientific evidence becomes available.

    Any country had to make all efforts to reach DW limits as near as possible to the WHO guidelines.

    Best regards

  3. Good Afternoon Mr. Halim,

    There are many countries late in updating to the most recent reduced MCL's.

    However, most people miss what should be obvious..."the water your were told was safe to drink at the earlier arsenic standards, was not safe by future standards".  That is the grim reality.  

    Aquathin has provided our proprietary cost effective arsenic removal systems for both POU and POE.  

    These systems also remove fluoride which is also a serious problem in Pakistan.

    Please feel free to contact us at info@aquathin.com for more information.

    Warmest regards,

     

     

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  4. The standard for Arsenic removal was 50 ppb almost everywhere.  Studies on the effects of Arsenic found that levels above 10ppb cause health problems.  The EPA in the lowered the standard to 10 ppb from 50 ppb with documented studies.  This has caused huge problems in the US, currently there are 4100 Municipal water systems out of compliance with the law at this moment.

    I have been working on this issue for 2 years, the solution is being tested as we speak. 

    1 Comment

    1. it is a small water system  problem in the US, and the best solutions are either decentralized point of use treatment, or bottled water for drinking wand cooking if te concentrations are high enough. We successfully demoed decentralize POU in a community of 400 people and showed that the cost was about have of a central treatment facility. It is readily treated by POU with activated alumina and iron oxide systems.  They should not be expensive.

  5. Cost is the most important reason that in countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, China and other countries in South East Asia, etc., the permissible As level in potable water is 50  ppb. It will be very expensive to deploy technologies -- that can remove arsenic and reduce its concentration to below 10 ppb -- to the vast arsenic affected populations. 

  7. Through our work we found the levels are set  of what is achievable using low cost  or not adequate processes  due to continuing lack of maintenance. Really based on reality on the ground.