ABSTRACT
Arsenic is a commonly occurring toxic meal in nature. Chronic poisoning is manifested by general muscular weakness, loss of appetite, and nausea, leading to inflammation of the mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, and larynx; skin lesions and neurological manifestations may also occur. Most of the international drinking water limits for arsenic range from 0.01 to 0.05 ppm as arsenic. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit in the US is 0.05 ppm, but the EPA is considering a new arsenic maximum contaminant level of 0.002 to 0.02 ppm for total arsenic. Arsenic contamination of natural origin in groundwater has been envisaged as a problem. Several reports on the presence of arsenic in groundwater have been reported from various parts of the United States. The arsenic removal units, employing the same activated alumina-based media, were also developed to serve as communal facilities, and were installed on a handpump in three villages in the impacted areas.
