ABSTRACT
In order to understand the worldwide importance of the problem of high arsenic (As) concentrations in waters used for drinking water supplies, and the corresponding mitigation strategies, it is useful to analyze the history of the detection of As in water resources, starting at the end of the 19th century to the situation today. Characterizing the conditions under which As releasing aquifers occur or how As is released into surface water, is the starting point for the formulation of sustainable mitigation solutions, such as As removal from drinking water or zero-treatment options. This historical perspective can have relevance to emerging water resource issues related to As. As well as the biogeochemical factors that give rise to elevated As in water resources, political, social and economic reasons are also relevant. For example, in Bangladesh the acceptance of many remediation projects by the local population has not been sufficiently considered resulting in the failure of efforts to mitigate arsenic exposure.
