{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,21]],"date-time":"2026-02-21T19:56:57Z","timestamp":1771703817050,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2011,11,11]],"date-time":"2011-11-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1320969600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Water"],"abstract":"<jats:p>A groundwater, sediment and soil chemistry and mineralogical study has been performed to investigate the sources and mobilization process of Arsenic (As) in shallow aquifers of Bangladesh. The groundwater from the shallow aquifers is characterized by high concentrations of Arsenic (47.5\u2013216.8 \u00b5g\/L), iron (0.85\u20135.83 mg\/L), and phosphate, along with high electrical conductivity (EC). The groundwater has both very low oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) and dissolved oxygen (DO) values indicating reducing conditions. By contrast, the deep aquifers and surface waters (pond, canal) have very low concentrations of Arsenic ( &lt; 6 \u00b5g\/L), iron (0.12\u20130.39 mg\/L), and phosphate along with a relatively low EC. Furthermore, the values of Eh and DO are high, indicating oxic to suboxic conditions. Arsenic is inversely correlated with Eh values in the upper aquifer, whereas no relationship in the deeper aquifer is observed. These results suggest that As mobilization is clearly linked to the development of reducing conditions. The clayey silt, enriched in Fe, Mn, Al oxides and organic matter, and deposited in the middle unit of shallow aquifers, contains moderately high concentrations of As, whereas the sediments of deep aquifers and silty mud surface soils from paddy fields and ponds contain a low content of As (Daudkandi area). Arsenic is strongly correlated with the concentrations of Fe, Mn and Al oxides in the core samples from the Daudkandi and Marua areas. Arsenic is present in the oxide phase of Fe and Mn, phyllosilicate minerals and in organic matter in sediments. This study suggests that adsorption or precipitation of As-rich Fe oxyhydroxide on the surface or inner sites of biotite might be responsible for As concentrations found in altered biotite minerals by Seddique et al. Microbially or geochemically mediated reductive dissolution of Fe oxyhydroxides is the main mechanism for As release. The reducing conditions are caused by respiratory decomposition of organic matter, either sedimentary or labile organic C. The process can be accelerated by agricultural activity and domestic organic wastes. An agricultural fertilizer can directly contribute As to groundwater as well as promote As mobilization by ion-exchange with phosphorus.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/w3041050","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2011,11,11]],"date-time":"2011-11-11T10:36:00Z","timestamp":1321007760000},"page":"1050-1076","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":51,"title":["Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater of Bangladesh: Perspectives on Geochemical, Microbial and Anthropogenic Issues"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"3","author":[{"given":"Hossain M.","family":"Anawar","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto Tecnol\u00f3gico e Nuclear Reactor, Apartado 21, E.N. 10, Sacav\u00e9m 2686-953, Portugal"},{"name":"Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana, Private Bag 285, Maun, Botswana"}]},{"given":"Junji","family":"Akai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geology, Niigata University, Ikarashi 2, Niigata 950-2181, Japan"}]},{"given":"Martin","family":"Mihaljevi\u010d","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 6, Prague 2 128 43, Czech Republic"}]},{"given":"Arif M.","family":"Sikder","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Environmental Studies (CES), Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), 1000 W Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23059, USA"}]},{"given":"Golam","family":"Ahmed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Science, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh"}]},{"given":"Shafi M.","family":"Tareq","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Science, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh"}]},{"given":"Mohammad M.","family":"Rahman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Science, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2011,11,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"597","DOI":"10.1016\/S0160-4120(01)00116-7","article-title":"Arsenic poisoning in groundwater: Health risk and geochemical sources in Bangladesh","volume":"27","author":"Anawar","year":"2002","journal-title":"Environ. Int."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"326","article-title":"Arsenical dermatosis from tube well water in West Bengal","volume":"85","author":"Chakraborty","year":"1987","journal-title":"Indian J. Med. Res."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"393","DOI":"10.1289\/ehp.00108393","article-title":"Groundwater arsenic contamination in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India","volume":"108","author":"Chowdhury","year":"2000","journal-title":"Environ. Health Perspect."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1602","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1076978","article-title":"Arsenic mobility and groundwater extraction in Bangladesh","volume":"298","author":"Harvey","year":"2002","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"338","DOI":"10.1038\/26387","article-title":"Arsenic poisoning of Bangladesh groundwater","volume":"395","author":"Nickson","year":"1998","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"1140","article-title":"Spatial variability of arsenic in 6000 tube wells in a 25 km2 area of Bangladesh","volume":"39","author":"Zheng","year":"2003","journal-title":"Water Resou. Res."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1453","DOI":"10.1016\/S0883-2927(03)00062-3","article-title":"Mobilisation of arsenic and other trace elements in fluviolacustrine aquifers of the Huhhot Basin, Inner Mongolia","volume":"18","author":"Smedley","year":"2003","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apgeochem.2004.06.004","article-title":"Arsenic and other drinking water quality issues, Muzaffargarh District, Pakistan","volume":"20","author":"Nickson","year":"2005","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"503","DOI":"10.1007\/s00254-006-0483-y","article-title":"The geochemical study of fluvio-lacustrine aquifers in the Kathmandu Basin (Nepal) and the implications for the mobilization of arsenic","volume":"52","author":"Gurung","year":"2007","journal-title":"Environ. Geol."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"A590","article-title":"Geochemistry of arsenic-rich shallow groundwaters in Cambodia","volume":"68","author":"Polya","year":"2004","journal-title":"Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"807","DOI":"10.1180\/0026461056950290","article-title":"Arsenic hazard in shallow Cambodian groundwaters","volume":"69","author":"Polya","year":"2005","journal-title":"Mineral. Mag."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2621","DOI":"10.1021\/es010027y","article-title":"Arsenic contamination of groundwater and drinking water in Vietnam: A human health threat","volume":"35","author":"Berg","year":"2001","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"DPHE (Department of Public Health Engineering) (1999). Groundwater Studies for Arsenic Contamination in Bangladesh, Main Report, Rapid Investigation Phase."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1016\/S0375-6742(02)00273-X","article-title":"Geochemical occurrence of arsenic in groundwater of Bangladesh: Sources and mobilization processes","volume":"77","author":"Anawar","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Geochem. Explor."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4539","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gca.2004.04.020","article-title":"Mobility of arsenic in a Bangladesh aquifer: Inferences from geochemical profiles leaching data, and mineralogical characterization","volume":"68","author":"Swartz","year":"2004","journal-title":"Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01757214","article-title":"Arsenic in groundwater in 6 districts of West Bengal, India","volume":"18","author":"Das","year":"1996","journal-title":"Environ. Geochem. Health"},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Chappell, W.R., Abernathy, C.O., and Calderon, R.L. (2001). Arsenic: Exposure and Health Effects, Elsevier."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1080\/07900629749944","article-title":"Occurrence of arsenic contaminated groundwater in alluvial aquifers from delta plains, eastern India: Options for safe drinking water supply","volume":"13","author":"Bhattacharya","year":"1997","journal-title":"Int. J. Water Resour. Dev."},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"338","article-title":"Mechanism of arsenic release to groundwater, Bangladesh and West Bengal","volume":"395","author":"Nickson","year":"2000","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apgeochem.2003.09.007","article-title":"Redox control of arsenic mobilization in Bangladesh groundwater","volume":"19","author":"Zheng","year":"2004","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apgeochem.2003.09.008","article-title":"Mineralogical and geomicrobiological investigations on groundwater arsenic enrichment in Bangladesh","volume":"19","author":"Akai","year":"2004","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3177","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apgeochem.2008.06.018","article-title":"Biogeochemical characterization of bacterial assemblages in relation to release of arsenic from South East Asia (Bangladesh) sediments","volume":"23","author":"Akai","year":"2008","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1038\/nature02638","article-title":"Role of metal-reducing bacteria in arsenic release from Bengal delta sediments","volume":"430","author":"Islam","year":"2004","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3475","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gca.2004.02.014","article-title":"Decoupling of As and Fe release to Bangladesh groundwater under reducing conditions. Part II: Evidence from sediment incubations","volume":"68","author":"Rose","year":"2004","journal-title":"Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5203","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gca.2005.06.001","article-title":"Geochemical and hydrogeological contrasts between shallow and deeper aquifers in two villages of Araihazar, Bangladesh: Implications for deeper aquifers as drinking water sources","volume":"69","author":"Zheng","year":"2005","journal-title":"Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1720","DOI":"10.1016\/j.watres.2009.01.006","article-title":"Characterization of geochemical constituents and bacterial populations associated with As mobilization in deep and shallow tube wells in Bangladesh","volume":"43","author":"Sutton","year":"2009","journal-title":"Water Res."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"545","DOI":"10.1038\/44052","article-title":"Arsenic poisoning in the Ganges Delta","volume":"401","author":"Acharyya","year":"1999","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1127","DOI":"10.1007\/s002540000107","article-title":"Arsenic toxicity of groundwater in parts of the Bengal basin in India and Bangladesh: The role of Quaternary stratigraphy and Holocene sea-level fluctuation","volume":"39","author":"Acharyya","year":"2000","journal-title":"Environ. Geol."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"545","DOI":"10.1038\/44056","article-title":"Arsenic poisoning of Bangladesh groundwater","volume":"401","author":"Chowdhury","year":"1999","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"553","DOI":"10.1007\/s10653-006-9054-0","article-title":"Mobilization of arsenic in groundwater of Bangladesh: Evidence from incubation study","volume":"28","author":"Anawar","year":"2006","journal-title":"Environ. Geochem. Health"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jconhyd.2008.05.005","article-title":"Geochemical characterisation of shallow aquifer sediments of Matlab Upazila, Southeastern Bangladesh\u2014Implications for targeting low-As aquifers","volume":"99","author":"Larsson","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Contamin. Hydrol."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chemgeo.2005.11.026","article-title":"Solid-phases and desorption processes of arsenic within Bangladesh sediments","volume":"228","author":"Polizzotto","year":"2006","journal-title":"Chem. Geol."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2236","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apgeochem.2008.03.007","article-title":"Arsenic release from biotite into a Holocene groundwater aquifer in Bangladesh","volume":"23","author":"Seddique","year":"2008","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3155","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apgeochem.2008.06.017","article-title":"Hydrological and geochemical constraints on the mechanism of formation of arsenic contaminated groundwater in Sonargaon, Bangladesh","volume":"23","author":"Itai","year":"2008","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"288","DOI":"10.1086\/587789","article-title":"Geological structure of an arsenic contaminated aquifer at Sonargaon, Bangladesh","volume":"116","author":"Mitamura","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Geol."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"Kinniburgh, D.G., and Smedley, P.L. (2001). Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater in Bangladesh, DPHP, Govt. of Bangladesh and DFID (UK), British Geological Survey Technical Report WC\/00\/19, Final Report."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"177","DOI":"10.1016\/0037-0738(93)90011-S","article-title":"Late quaternary sedimentary environments and landforms in the Ganges delta","volume":"83","author":"Umitsu","year":"1993","journal-title":"Sediment. Geol."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3205","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apgeochem.2008.07.002","article-title":"Geochemistry and mineralogy of arsenic in (natural) anaerobic groundwaters","volume":"23","author":"Saunders","year":"2008","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"Hasan, K. (1994). Investigation of Saline Groundwater in Muradnagar Thana. [Master thesis, Dhaka University]."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1255","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apgeochem.2004.02.001","article-title":"Natural organic matter in sedimentary basins and its relation to arsenic in anoxic groundwater: The example of West Bengal and its worldwide implications","volume":"19","author":"McArthur","year":"2004","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1016\/S0048-9697(97)00302-1","article-title":"Mobilization of heavy metals and arsenic in polluted wetland soils and its dependence on dissolved organic matter","volume":"209","author":"Kalbitz","year":"1998","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3459","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gca.2004.01.026","article-title":"Decoupling of As and Fe release to Bangladesh groundwater under reducing conditions. Part I: Evidence from sediment profiles","volume":"68","author":"Horneman","year":"2004","journal-title":"Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"554","article-title":"Nature of arsenic pollutants in groundwater of Bengal basin\u2014A case study from Baruipur area, West Bengal, India","volume":"82","author":"Pal","year":"2002","journal-title":"Curr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.1016\/S0048-9697(03)00266-3","article-title":"Arsenic pollution in groundwater: A self-organizing complex geochemical process in the deltaic sedimentary environment, Bangladesh","volume":"313","author":"Tareq","year":"2003","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apgeochem.2003.09.006","article-title":"Arsenic enrichment in groundwater of the alluvial aquifers in Bangladesh: An overview","volume":"19","author":"Ahmed","year":"2004","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3029","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apgeochem.2008.06.011","article-title":"Geochemistry of aquifer sediments and arsenic-rich groundwaters from Kendal Province, Cambodia","volume":"23","author":"Rowland","year":"2008","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"483","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apgeochem.2008.12.035","article-title":"Comment on \u201cArsenic release from biotite into a Holocene groundwater aquifer in Bangladesh\u201d by A.A. Seddique, H. Masuda, M. Mitamura, K. Shinoda, T. Yamanaka, T. Itai, T. Maruoka, K. Uesugi, K.M. Ahmed, D.K. Biswas","volume":"24","author":"Anawar","year":"2009","journal-title":"Appl. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1873","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gca.2005.10.037","article-title":"Microscale controls on the fate of contaminant uranium in the vadose zone, Hanford Site, Washington","volume":"70","author":"McKinley","year":"2006","journal-title":"Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1029\/2000WR900270","article-title":"Arsenic in groundwater: Testing pollution mechanisms for sedimentary aquifers in Bangladesh","volume":"37","author":"McArthur","year":"2001","journal-title":"Water Resour. Res."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jconhyd.2008.03.010","article-title":"Quaternary stratigraphy, sediment characteristics and geochemistry of arsenic-contaminated alluvial aquifers in the Ganges-Brahmaputra floodplain in central Bangladesh","volume":"99","author":"Shamsudduha","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Contamin. Hydrol."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1101","DOI":"10.1016\/j.orggeochem.2006.04.011","article-title":"Characterisation of organic matter in a shallow, reducing, arsenicrich aquifer, West Bengal","volume":"37","author":"Rowland","year":"2006","journal-title":"Org. Geochem."},{"key":"ref_52","first-page":"285","article-title":"Groundwater arsenic contamination on the Ganges Delta: Biogeochemistry, hydrology, human perturbations, and human suffering on a large scale","volume":"337","author":"Harvey","year":"2005","journal-title":"Comptes Rendus"}],"container-title":["Water"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4441\/3\/4\/1050\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T21:58:00Z","timestamp":1760219880000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4441\/3\/4\/1050"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2011,11,11]]},"references-count":52,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2011,12]]}},"alternative-id":["w3041050"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/w3041050","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-4441"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2073-4441","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2011,11,11]]}}}