Chemistry of arsenic in groundwater of Ganges-Brahmaputra river basin

The presence of arsenic (As) in water and its effect on human health through both drinking and agricultural practices is of serious concern worldwide. Arsenic-rich groundwater mostly occurs in the Bengal Delta Plain, covering the state of West Bengal, the adjoining country of Bangladesh and extending to Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and other Northeastern states of India and the neighbouring country of Nepal. The number of people at risk of arsenic poisoning, through drinking water from sunken wells, may be considerably larger than previously thought of. This article conceptualizes by reviewing the As sources, major occurrences, mechanisms of arsenic mobilization and process of contamination in groundwater of Ganges-Brahmaputra river basin of India through an integrated approach.