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Role of metal-reducing bacteria in arsenic release from Bengal delta sediments

Author

Listed:
  • Farhana S. Islam

    (The University of Manchester)

  • Andrew G. Gault

    (The University of Manchester)

  • Christopher Boothman

    (The University of Manchester)

  • David A. Polya

    (The University of Manchester)

  • John M. Charnock

    (The University of Manchester
    CCLRC Daresbury Laboratory)

  • Debashis Chatterjee

    (The University of Kalyani)

  • Jonathan R. Lloyd

    (The University of Manchester)

Abstract

The contamination of ground waters, abstracted for drinking and irrigation, by sediment-derived arsenic threatens the health of tens of millions of people worldwide, most notably in Bangladesh and West Bengal1,2,3. Despite the calamitous effects on human health arising from the extensive use of arsenic-enriched ground waters in these regions, the mechanisms of arsenic release from sediments remain poorly characterized and are topics of intense international debate4,5,6,7,8. We use a microscosm-based approach to investigate these mechanisms: techniques of microbiology and molecular ecology are used in combination with aqueous and solid phase speciation analysis of arsenic. Here we show that anaerobic metal-reducing bacteria can play a key role in the mobilization of arsenic in sediments collected from a contaminated aquifer in West Bengal. We also show that, for the sediments in this study, arsenic release took place after Fe(iii) reduction, rather than occurring simultaneously. Identification of the critical factors controlling the biogeochemical cycling of arsenic is one important contribution to fully informing the development of effective strategies to manage these and other similar arsenic-rich ground waters worldwide.

Suggested Citation

  • Farhana S. Islam & Andrew G. Gault & Christopher Boothman & David A. Polya & John M. Charnock & Debashis Chatterjee & Jonathan R. Lloyd, 2004. "Role of metal-reducing bacteria in arsenic release from Bengal delta sediments," Nature, Nature, vol. 430(6995), pages 68-71, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:430:y:2004:i:6995:d:10.1038_nature02638
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02638
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    Cited by:

    1. Debashis Chatterjee & Pinaki Ghosh & Shilajit Barua & Aishwarya Mukherjee, 2017. "Biogeochemical activity in arsenic prone zone," International Journal of Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources, Juniper Publishers Inc., vol. 1(3), pages 78-79, January.
    2. Dipankar Chakraborti & Sushant K. Singh & Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman & Rathindra Nath Dutta & Subhas Chandra Mukherjee & Shyamapada Pati & Probir Bijoy Kar, 2018. "Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in the Ganga River Basin: A Future Health Danger," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Xuhui Chen & Qianqian Su & Huai Chen & Dan Xue, 2021. "A High–Resolution Accumulation Record of Arsenic and Mercury after the First Industrial Revolution from a Peatland in Zoige, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-14, November.
    4. Manoj Kumar & AL. Ramanathan, 2018. "Vertical Geochemical Variations and Speciation Studies of As, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu in the Sediments of the Central Gangetic Basin: Sequential Extraction and Statistical Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-22, January.
    5. Swapnila Roy, 2018. "Distribution of Arsenic Species in Surface Water Using Flow Injection Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and Furnace Method," International Journal of Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources, Juniper Publishers Inc., vol. 12(4), pages 104-110, June.
    6. Md. Khalequzzaman & Fazlay S. Faruque & Amal K. Mitra, 2005. "Assessment of Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater and Health Problems in Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 2(2), pages 1-10, August.
    7. Pandey, Vimal Chandra & Singh, Jay Shankar & Singh, Rana P. & Singh, Nandita & Yunus, M., 2011. "Arsenic hazards in coal fly ash and its fate in Indian scenario," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(9), pages 819-835.
    8. Yang Yang & Xi Xie & Mengna Chen & Zuoming Xie & Jia Wang, 2022. "Effects of Sulfide Input on Arsenate Bioreduction and Its Reduction Product Formation in Sulfidic Groundwater," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Zhou Jiang & Xin Shen & Bo Shi & Mengjie Cui & Yanhong Wang & Ping Li, 2022. "Arsenic Mobilization and Transformation by Ammonium-Generating Bacteria Isolated from High Arsenic Groundwater in Hetao Plain, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, August.

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