Arsenic content in the coastal and estuarine waters around Goa

Abstract

Soluble inorganic arsenic concentrations in the coastal and estuarine waters of Goa, India, showed marked variations with location. The concentrations in the inshore region varied from 1 mu g/l to 43 mu g/l, and in the estuarine waters (Zuari) from 3 mu g/l to 67 mu g/l. The values in the inshore waters were relatively higher than those normally reported for sea water. Much of the arsenic in the coastal waters seems to be of land origin as evidenced by higher concentrations in the estuaries especially during the monsoon period. The observed large variations at different locations reflect on its chemical instability and much of it appears to be lost to the sediments by way of precipitation and adsorption