Abstract
Objective: To assess the extent of arsenic contamination of groundwater and surface water in Peru and, to evaluate the accuracy of the Arsenic Econo-Quick ™ (EQ) kit for measuring water arsenic concentrations in the field. Methods: Water samples were collected from 151 water sources in 12 districts of Peru, and arsenic concentrations were measured in the laboratory using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The EQ field kit was validated by comparing a subset of 139 water samples analysed by laboratory measurements and the EQ kit. Findings: In 86% (96/111) of the groundwater samples, arsenic exceeded the 10 μg/l arsenic concentration guideline given by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. In 56% (62/111) of the samples, it exceeded the Bangladeshi threshold of 50 μg/l; the mean concentration being 54.5 μg/l (range: 0.1-93.1). In the Juliaca and Caracoto districts, in 96% (27/28) of groundwater samples arsenic was above the WHO guideline; and in water samples collected from the section of the Rímac river running through Lima, all had arsenic concentrations exceeding the WHO limit. When validated against laboratory values, the EQ kit correctly identified arsenic contamination relative to the guideline in 95% (106/111) of groundwater and in 68% (19/28) of surface water samples. Conclusion: In several districts of Peru, drinking water shows widespread arsenic contamination, exceeding the WHO arsenic guideline. This poses a public health threat requiring further investigation and action. For groundwater samples, the EQ kit performed well relative to the WHO arsenic limit and therefore could provide a vital tool for water arsenic surveillance.
| Original language | French |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 565-572 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
| Volume | 92 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2014 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Exposition à l'arsenic dans l'eau potable : Une menace méconnue pour la santé au Pérou. / George, Christine Marie; Sima, Laura; Jahuira Arias, M. Helena; Mihalic, Jana; Cabrera, Lilia Z.; Danz, David; Checkley, William; Gilman, Robert H.
In: Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Vol. 92, No. 8, 2014, p. 565-572.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Exposition à l'arsenic dans l'eau potable
T2 - Une menace méconnue pour la santé au Pérou
AU - George, Christine Marie
AU - Sima, Laura
AU - Jahuira Arias, M. Helena
AU - Mihalic, Jana
AU - Cabrera, Lilia Z.
AU - Danz, David
AU - Checkley, William
AU - Gilman, Robert H
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Objective: To assess the extent of arsenic contamination of groundwater and surface water in Peru and, to evaluate the accuracy of the Arsenic Econo-Quick ™ (EQ) kit for measuring water arsenic concentrations in the field. Methods: Water samples were collected from 151 water sources in 12 districts of Peru, and arsenic concentrations were measured in the laboratory using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The EQ field kit was validated by comparing a subset of 139 water samples analysed by laboratory measurements and the EQ kit. Findings: In 86% (96/111) of the groundwater samples, arsenic exceeded the 10 μg/l arsenic concentration guideline given by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. In 56% (62/111) of the samples, it exceeded the Bangladeshi threshold of 50 μg/l; the mean concentration being 54.5 μg/l (range: 0.1-93.1). In the Juliaca and Caracoto districts, in 96% (27/28) of groundwater samples arsenic was above the WHO guideline; and in water samples collected from the section of the Rímac river running through Lima, all had arsenic concentrations exceeding the WHO limit. When validated against laboratory values, the EQ kit correctly identified arsenic contamination relative to the guideline in 95% (106/111) of groundwater and in 68% (19/28) of surface water samples. Conclusion: In several districts of Peru, drinking water shows widespread arsenic contamination, exceeding the WHO arsenic guideline. This poses a public health threat requiring further investigation and action. For groundwater samples, the EQ kit performed well relative to the WHO arsenic limit and therefore could provide a vital tool for water arsenic surveillance.
AB - Objective: To assess the extent of arsenic contamination of groundwater and surface water in Peru and, to evaluate the accuracy of the Arsenic Econo-Quick ™ (EQ) kit for measuring water arsenic concentrations in the field. Methods: Water samples were collected from 151 water sources in 12 districts of Peru, and arsenic concentrations were measured in the laboratory using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The EQ field kit was validated by comparing a subset of 139 water samples analysed by laboratory measurements and the EQ kit. Findings: In 86% (96/111) of the groundwater samples, arsenic exceeded the 10 μg/l arsenic concentration guideline given by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. In 56% (62/111) of the samples, it exceeded the Bangladeshi threshold of 50 μg/l; the mean concentration being 54.5 μg/l (range: 0.1-93.1). In the Juliaca and Caracoto districts, in 96% (27/28) of groundwater samples arsenic was above the WHO guideline; and in water samples collected from the section of the Rímac river running through Lima, all had arsenic concentrations exceeding the WHO limit. When validated against laboratory values, the EQ kit correctly identified arsenic contamination relative to the guideline in 95% (106/111) of groundwater and in 68% (19/28) of surface water samples. Conclusion: In several districts of Peru, drinking water shows widespread arsenic contamination, exceeding the WHO arsenic guideline. This poses a public health threat requiring further investigation and action. For groundwater samples, the EQ kit performed well relative to the WHO arsenic limit and therefore could provide a vital tool for water arsenic surveillance.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84905275643&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84905275643&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2471/BLT.13.128496
DO - 10.2471/BLT.13.128496
M3 - Article
C2 - 25177071
AN - SCOPUS:84905275643
VL - 92
SP - 565
EP - 572
JO - Bulletin of the World Health Organization
JF - Bulletin of the World Health Organization
SN - 0042-9686
IS - 8
ER -