ABSTRACT
This chapter provides basic information on the occurrence and chemical species of arsenic, uranium and fluoride in freshwater resources, their release from rocks and sediments and mobility as well as the principal health impacts, which occur due to human uptake through drinking water or through the human food chain. Since groundwater contamination by geogenic arsenic is known from over 70 countries and because arsenic-associated human health problems have been recognized in many parts of the world, mainly in developing countries, it is a problem and challenge of global concern. Due to growing global energy demands, nuclear power appears to be a long term prospect as an alternative to fossil fuel based power sources. At this moment, most of the nuclear plants operate on enriched uranium (U) based fuels, thus making U one of the most precious elements. Arsenic can be found in two primary forms; organic and inorganic.
