ABSTRACT

Dangerous arsenic concentrations in shallow groundwaters threaten the health and livelihoods of millions of people, particularly in South/Southeast Asia. However, the scope and magnitude of groundwater arsenic hazard is relatively poorly understood in Myanmar as compared to neighboring counties. We undertook a groundwater quality survey across five (hydro)geologically distinct regions of Myanmar, and initial field results indicate elevated arsenic in a number of samples including in areas where previously modeled probability of arsenic concentrations exceeding the provisional WHO guideline was low. Data validation and interpretation of possible geochemical and/or hydrological controls are the subject of ongoing investigation.