An Overview of Arsenic Contamination in Water Resources of Pakistan, Risk Assessment and Remediation Strategies

Water resources of Pakistan are seriously depleting due to mismanagement. One of the major issues in the depletion of water resources in Pakistan which makes water not assessable to use is its contamination. The issue of arsenic contamination has emerged as a serious health concern in Pakistan. Pakistani population is exposed not only to toxic but poisonous levels of arsenic contamination. Only in Punjab province more than 20% population is exposed to arsenic levels of more than 10 ppb out of which 3% are exposed to more than 50 ppb levels of arsenic contamination. Various studies have shown the arsenic contamination in both shallow and deep aquifers. This chapter will give a comprehensive overview of arsenic contamination in water resources of Pakistan, their associated health risks, and possible remediation strategies to reduce exposure of arsenic contamination in Pakistani population.