Mitigation of arsenic contamination in irrigated paddy soils in South and South-east Asia

• Published in: Environment international Vol. 35; no. 6; pp. 856 - 863
• Main Author: Brammer, Hugh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agriculture; Agronomy; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Applied sciences; Arsenic; Arsenic - analysis; Asia, Southeastern; Bangladesh; Biological and medical sciences; Biological and physicochemical properties of pollutants. Interaction in the soil; Contamination; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Geologic Sediments - classification; Groundwater; Heating; Irrigation; Medical sciences; Non agrochemicals pollutants; Oryza; Oryza sativa; Paddy soils; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Pollution; Pollution effects and side effects of agrochemicals on crop plants and forest trees. Other anthropogenic factors; Pollution effects. Side effects of agrochemicals; Pollution, environment geology; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Rice; Seasons; Socioeconomic Factors; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soils; Strategy; Sustainable agriculture; Water Supply; Asia; South east Asia; Bangladesh; Asia, Southeastern; Irrigation; Bangladesh; Sustainable agriculture; Arsenic; Paddy soils; Rice; Pollutant behavior; Toxicity; Pollution control; Pollution prevention; Soil pollution; Trace element; Trophic chain; Absorption; Health and environment; Agriculture; Paddy field; Cultivated plant; Public health; Ground water
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2009.02.008

It has recently become apparent that arsenic-contaminated groundwater used for irrigation in several countries of South and South-east Asia is adding arsenic to soils and rice, thus posing a serious threat to sustainable agricultural production and to the health and livelihoods of affected people in those countries. This paper describes the many environmental, agricultural and social factors that determine practical mitigation strategies and research needs, and describes possible mitigation measures that need to be tested. These measures include providing alternative irrigation sources, various agronomic measures, use of soil amendments, growing hyperaccumulator plants, removing contaminated soil and using alternative cooking methods.