Evaluation of inorganic arsenic species in drinking water of the southeastern of the Buenos Aires province, Argentina

Abstract

Arsenic in natural water is a worldwide concern due to chronic health effects in people exposed through the drinking water. The aim was to evaluate the distribution of As(III) and As(V), through ASV, in an Argentine area with low or absent information about these contaminant. The species of inorganic arsenic were quantified in groundwater, surface and drinking water, by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) using a gold disc electrode. Total As was analyzed after the reduction step, calculated As(V) by difference. In some sites, total As values exceed the maximum limit for human consumption (10 µg/l), but the As(III)/As(V) ratio was significantly low. The lowest levels of total As were found in those sites related to possible anthropogenic activities, indicating that the content of it in the studied water is coming from natural environment. This study constitutes the first report of inorganic As speciation for the southeastern of Buenos Aires province.