Arsenic associations in sediments from shallow aquifers of northwestern Hetao Basin,Inner Mongolia

Understanding the mechanism of arsenic mobilization from sediments to groundwater is important for water quality management in areas of endemic arsenic poisoning, such as the Hetao Basin in Inner Mongolia, northern China. Aquifer geochemistry was characterized at three field sites (SH, HF, TYS) in Hangjinhouqi County of northwestern Hetao Basin. The results of bulk geochemistry analysis of sediment samples indicated that total As concentrations have a range of 6.8–58.5 mg/kg, with a median of 14.4 mg/kg. The highest As concentrations were found at 15–25 m depth. In the meanwhile, the range of As concentration in the sediments from background borehole is 3–21.8 mg/kg, with a median value of 9 mg/kg. The As sediments concentrations with depth from the SH borehole were correlated with the contents of Fe, Sb, B, V, total C and total S. Generally, the abundance of elements varied with grain size, with higher concentrations in finer fractions of the sediments. Distinct lithology profile and different geochemical characteristics of aquifer sediments indicate the sediments are associated with different sources and diverse sedimentary environments. Up to one third of arsenic in the sediments could be extracted by ammonium oxalate, suggesting that Fe oxyhydroxides may be the major sink of As in the aquifer. Sequential extraction results indicate that arsenic occurs as strongly adsorbed on and/or co-precipitated with amorphous Fe oxyhydroxides in sediments accounting for 35 and 20%, respectively, of the total contents of arsenic. The release of As into groundwater may occur by desorption from the mineral surface driven by reductive dissolution of the Fe oxide minerals. Furthermore, small proportions of As associated with iron sulfides occur in the reductive sediments.     

Occurrence,distribution and source of arsenic in deep groundwater wells in Maydavood area,southwestern Iran

Groundwater in some deep wells of Maydavood aquifer, southwestern Iran, contains relatively high concentrations of arsenic. Detailed hydrochemical analysis of these groundwaters (with ICP-OES instrument) showed that concentrations of iron, manganese, nickel, and vanadium are also high in them and concentrations of total arsenic in 81% of deep wells are greater than World Health Organization’s permissible value (10 ppb). XRF analysis of surrounding geological formations and aquifer sediments proposed that original source of arsenic in aquifer material can be attributed to minerals from Asmari Formation. It appears that a key mechanism for arsenic mobilizing to deep wells is microbial biodegradation of petroleum related organic matters (PROMs), which exist in aquifer sediments and originates from the bedrock of the aquifer (Gachsaran Formation). This process is followed by microbially mediated reductive dissolution of arsenic-bearing iron/manganese oxyhydroxides/oxides and further by nickel and vanadium mobilizing to groundwater. According to hydrogeochemical conditions and cluster analysis, water wells in Maydavood aquifer are divided to four subgroups: the wells with mildly reducing condition (subgroup I), moderately reducing condition (subgroup II), reducing condition (subgroup III), and high reducing condition (subgroup IV). Affected wells to arsenic are belonged to subgroups III and IV.     

Erratum to: Geochemical and environmental magnetic characteristics of high arsenic aquifer sediments from Datong Basin,northern China

Geochemical and environmental magnetic studies were carried out to identify the effect of iron oxyhydroxides on arsenic mobilization in high arsenic aquifer system. Using high arsenic sediment samples from two boreholes, specifically drilled for this study, chemical composition and magnetic properties including magnetic susceptibility, saturation remnant magnetization, and isothermal remnant magnetization were measured. Results of correlation analysis of element contents show that arsenic and iron are closely associated with each other (r ² = 0.40, α = 0.05, n = 21). In contrast, the correlation of phosphorus with iron (r = 0.11, α = 0.05, n = 21) and arsenic (r ² = 0.18, α = 0.05, n = 21) was poor, which might result from competitive adsorption of phosphorus and arsenic on the surface of Fe-oxyhydroxides. The high correlation coefficients between arsenic contents and magnetic parameters suggest that the ferrimagnetic minerals including maghemite and hematite are the dominant carrier of arsenic in aquifer sediments. The results of sequential extraction experiments also revealed the association of arsenic with reducible iron oxides, such as maghemite and hematite in aquifer sediments. Therefore, under reducing conditions, reductive dissolution and desorption of arsenic from Fe-oxyhydroxides into the aqueous phase should be the dominant geochemical processes for its enrichment in groundwater at Datong. An erratum to this article can be found at     

大同盆地高砷地下水稀土元素特征及其指示意义

对大同盆地典型高砷地下水开展了稀土元素地球化学研究.研究表明: 高砷地下水具有低∑REE含量及富集重稀土(HREEs)特征.地下水中低含量∑REE与含水层沉积物中Fe-Mn氧化物/氢氧化物对REEs的吸附有关.地下水中重稀土元素相对于轻稀土元素的富集可能是吸附作用和碳酸根离子同REEs发生络合作用的共同结果.采用平均大陆上地壳标准化的地下水稀土元素分布表现出显著的Ce及Eu正异常.地下水Ce/Ce*值及Eu含量与Fe+Mn具有显著相关性, 表明铁锰氧化物还原性溶解是控制Ce/Ce*值及Eu含量特征的主要因素.Ce/Ce*值及Eu含量与As浓度的关系表明, Ce异常及Eu含量特征能对地下水中As的富集进行有效指示.      

贵德盆地三河流域高砷地下水中溶解性有机物三维荧光特性及其指示意义

溶解性有机物(dissolved organic matter, DOM)可以通过多种方式控制含水层中砷的迁移转化。贵德盆地承压含水层地下水砷含量显著高于潜水含水层。为查明承压水中溶解性有机物对砷浓度的影响,对研究区地表水、潜水以及承压水进行吸光度和三维荧光光谱的分析,利用平行因子分析法确定了水样中有机物成分及荧光特征。结果表明,贵德盆地水体中DOM包含陆源类腐殖质(C1)、受人为影响的腐殖质(C2)、类醌化合物(C3)和微生物来源的腐殖质(C4)4种组分。陆源类腐殖质C1可在地下水中富集,占总有机质的40%~55%。相比于地下水,C2和C3则在地表水中占据较高的比例。高砷承压水中C2、C3所占比例高于低砷潜水。其中,C1可以通过络合作用促进溶解性砷浓度的提高,C3作为电子穿梭体可以促进含砷铁氧化物或氢氧化物的还原性溶解从而释放砷。微生物降解有机质生成的HCO-3可以与砷竞争吸附,促进砷的解吸附。此外,还原性溶解产生的Fe(II)与HCO-3形成FeCO3固定一部分的砷。该研究表明,地下水中的天然有机物通过络合作用和作为电子穿梭体促进铁氧化物还原导致地下水砷的富集,为分析黄河上游地区高砷地下水的成因提供理论依据。     

地下水系统中砷活化的钼同位素地球化学指示

砷在天然环境中的迁移富集与氧化还原状态密切相关.盆地环境地下水中砷的活化迁移机制主要为沉积物中铁/锰氢氧化物由氧化还原条件变化导致发生还原性溶解进而释放吸附在其表面的砷.钼及钼同位素为氧化还原环境的重要指示参数, 且铁/锰氢氧化物对钼同位素分馏有着重要的控制作用.将地下水的钼同位素应用于砷的活化迁移规律研究.大同盆地地下水中钼同位素比值(δ98Mo)范围为-0.12‰~+2.17‰, 相比于淡水中钼同位素组成偏重.桑干河河水的δ98Mo为+0.72‰, 与文献报道的河水平均钼同位素比值+0.7‰相当.大同盆地地下水中δ98Mo与硫化物之间存在正相关关系, 表明Mo-Fe-S复合物可能形成于特定条件下, 并优先利用水溶液中轻的钼使地下水中δ98Mo比值升高.砷浓度与钼浓度之间的微弱负相关以及砷浓度与钼同位素之间的正相关说明, Mo-Fe-S的形成过程可能与同环境中As-Fe-S的复合物的形成存在竞争关系, 进而使得地下水中砷富集.地下水中相对偏高的δ98Mo可能来源于铁的氢氧化物对溶液中轻的钼的吸附速率高于先前吸附在铁的氢氧化物的钼的释放, 且铁的氢氧化物对水溶液中钼的再吸附这一循环过程会导致地下水中钼浓度降低及钼同位素比值的升高.钼同位素指示的循环性的铁的氢氧化物的还原溶解及再氧化过程对砷的富集也有重要影响.      

银北平原浅层高砷地下水砷富集水化学特征研究

宁夏银川平原是继河套平原之后,在黄河流域发现的又一个高砷地下水分布区.为了总结其高砷地下水的水化学特征,并探索水化学因素对地下水砷释放和富集的影响机制,本文以银川平原北部（银北平原）作为典型研究区,采取野外水文地质调查、水样采集与测试、砷与水化学组分散点图相关分析及水文地球化学方法进行了综合研究.结果表明,银北平原地下水砷含量在0.2~177 μg/L之间;高砷地下水（大于50 μg/L） pH值多在7.5~8.5,水化学类型主要为HCO3-Na·Ca、Cl·HCO₃-Na及Cl·HCO₃-Na·Ca型,E_h多在-200~-100 mV.银北平原砷含量较高的地下水中COD、NH₄⁺、HCO3^-含量相应也较高,而NO3^-和SO₄^2-含量较低.高砷富有机质的冲-湖积含水层经过长期演化,形成偏碱性的中强还原性地下水环境和特殊的水化学特征,也具备极大的砷释放能力.较高的pH导致砷从铁锰氧化物或氢氧化物等水合物或黏土矿物表面解吸.其次部分铁锰氧化物在高pH、低E_h条件下可被还原为低价态可溶性铁锰,从而使与其结合的砷也得以释放进入地下水中.此外重碳酸根与砷酸根、亚砷酸根的竞争吸附行为促使含水层砷的解吸.     

Factors affecting arsenic concentration in groundwaters from Northwestern Chaco-Pampean Plain,Argentina

The concentration of arsenic measured in groundwater from three aquifers in the study area located in the Eastern Tucuman province, Argentina, mostly depends on the lithology, but the spatial and temporal variations of concentrations seem to be also controlled by pH changes, climatic factors, and human perturbations. The highest concentrations of As (more than 1,000 μg L⁻¹) were found in the shallow aquifer, made of As-rich loess, while the lowest concentrations were measured in the deep confined aquifer, consisting of alternating layers of alluvial sands/gravels and clays. Intermediate values were measured in the semiconfined aquifer made of the fluvial sediments deposited in the Salí River valley, that alternate in the upper part of the sedimentary sequence with layers of loess. Because most of As in the loess is considered to be adsorbed onto Fe-oxyhydroxide coatings, the increase of pH in the flow direction (west-east) leads to increasing arsenic concentrations towards the eastern border of the study area. The decomposition of organic wastes poured into the Salí River or associated with local and diffuse sources of contamination in the eastern part of the study area depletes dissolved oxygen, which leads to the reductive dissolution of Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides, and to the subsequent release of the adsorbed and co-precipitated As. This process mainly affects shallow groundwater and the upper part of the semiconfined aquifer. Geochemical and hydrological data also suggest that rising water table levels at the end of the wet season may also lead to reductive dissolution of As-rich Fe oxyhydroxides in the shallow aquifer.     

大同盆地浅层含水层沉积物中砷的生物可利用性评价

以采自大同盆地野外试验场的含水层沉积物为研究对象,调查高砷含水层中生物可利用性砷的含量及其影响因素。经实验室测定,沉积物总体呈碱性,Al、Fe等金属元素含量较高。利用连续提取法发现沉积物中砷结合形态主要为无定形和低结晶铁铝氧化物结合态,其次是残余态砷。其中铁铝氧化物形态的砷所占比例达53.54%,非专性吸附态和专性吸附态占14.33%,生物可利用形态的砷较少,这与体外模拟方法测定的生物可利用性砷含量较低吻合。体外模拟实验还发现：肠阶段生物可利用性砷含量比胃阶段低,生理学提取法(PBET)和体外消化法(IVG)测定的生物可利用性砷差异较小。     

Hydrogeochemistry and arsenic contamination of groundwater in the Rayen area, southeastern Iran

High As contents in groundwater were found in Rayen area and chosen for a detailed hydrogeochemical study. A total of 121 groundwater samples were collected from existing tube wells in the study areas in January 2012 and analyzed. Hydrogeochemical data of samples suggested that the groundwater is mostly Na–Cl type; also nearly 25.62 % of samples have arsenic concentrations above WHO permissible value (10 μg/l) for drinking waters with maximum concentration of aqueous arsenic up to 25,000 μg/l. The reducing conditions prevailing in the area and high arsenic concentration correlated with high bicarbonate and pH. Results show that arsenic is released into groundwater by two major phenomena: (1) through reduction of arsenic-bearing iron oxides/oxyhydroxides and Fe may be precipitated as iron sulfide when anoxic conditions prevail in the aquifer sediments and (2) transferring of As into the water system during water–acidic volcanic rock interactions.     

含水层中砷活化迁移的水化学与DOM三维荧光证据

为了认识高砷地下水中砷活化迁移的生物地球化学机制,对江汉平原地下水氧化还原敏感元素的水化学特征及溶解性有机物(DOM)三维荧光信息进行了研究.水化学研究显示,地下水中的砷与铁的还原和有机质的氧化分解过程有密切关系.水样DOM的三维荧光分析表明,地下水中存在微生物介导下氧化还原过程的反应性有机物组分,其中醌类腐殖质与铁、硫酸盐等的还原反应过程联系紧密.还原、氧化醌类及易降解DOM组分与还原产物、砷的关系进一步显示,砷的活化与微生物介导下的铁氧化物的还原过程联系在一起.在这一过程中,易降解有机物充当电子供体的角色并被消耗,而还原醌与氧化醌则很可能扮演了电子飞行过程中的电子飞行物,"催化"了砷活化的氧化还原过程.      

Vertical distribution of bacterial populations associated with arsenic mobilization in aquifer sediments from the Hetao plain, Inner Mongolia

To understand the mechanism of arsenic mobilization from sediment to groundwater mediated by microorganism, vertical distribution of bacterial populations in aquifer sediments of the Hetao plain, Inner Mongolia was investigated by a two-step nested PCR-DGGE and 16S rRNA gene clone libraries, combined with sediment geochemistry. A borehole to 30 m depth was drilled and 11 sediment samples were collected. Lithological profile and different geochemical characteristics of sediments indicated a distinct transition of oxidizing–reducing environment along the depth of the sediment core. As(III) and Fe(II) concentrations elevated progressively from 10 m, simultaneously coupling with decrease of As(V) and Fe(III) concentrations, implying that reductive dissolution of arsenic-rich Fe(III) oxyhydroxides led to arsenic release. Results of DGGE displayed that sediment samples with higher concentrations of total arsenic and total organic carbon had lower population diversity, which suggested total arsenic concentrations were important to determine the population diversity of sediments. Bacterial communities of a sediment sample with the highest diversity and ratio of As(III) to total As were dominated by aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria and belonged to Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria and Firmicutes group. Most of the retrieved sequences were closely related to high arsenic-resistance organisms, sulfide/thiosulfate oxidizers, denitrifiers, and aromatic hydrocarbon degraders. Thiobacillus distinctly predominated in clone library, which suggested that arsenic might be released by oxidized dissolution of sulfide minerals coupled to arsenate reduction or nitrate reduction in anaerobic condition. These data have important implications for understanding the microbially mediated arsenic mobilization in aquifers.     

Effect of indigenous bacteria on geochemical behavior of arsenic in aquifer sediments from the Hetao Basin, Inner Mongolia: Evidence from sediment incubations

Incubation studies were carried out using 5 freshly collected sediments from shallow aquifers of the Hetao Basin, Inner Mongolia. The aquifer sediments covering a range of redox conditions, as indicated by their deep grey to yellow color were mixed with degassed artificial As solution or degassed deionized water at a ratio of solid to water of about 1:10 (wt./wt.). Suspensions which were either amended with glucose or autoclaved, were incubated in parallel with unamended suspensions. Five microcosm cultures of unamended sediments gradually release the equivalent of 0.03–0.30 μg/g As to the dissolved phase. The addition of glucose as a potential electron donor results in a marked stimulation in the mobilization of As (0.71–3.81 μg/g) in the amended incubations for all sediments. The quantity of As released accounts for 60–70% of As bound to Fe/Mn oxides in the original sediments. The microbially mediated mobilization of As with the organic nutrient as an electron donor is strongly associated with the As bound to Fe/Mn oxides, as well as the exchangeable As. During the incubations amended with glucose, 2–4% of the sediment Fe is released. The results suggest that the introduction of labile dissolved organic C into the yellowish sediment aquifers with As-free groundwater would reduce a significant proportion of the Fe(III) oxyhydroxides mediated by anaerobic bacteria respiration and increase groundwater As concentrations.     

Hydrogeochemical characteristics and its role in controlling arsenic mobilization in a shallow aquifer

The relevance of groundwater hydrogeochemistry to explain the occurrence and distribution of arsenic in groundwater is of great interest. The insightful discussions on the control of shallow groundwater (< 50 m) hydrogeochemistry in arsenic mobilization are known to be a viable tool to explain the arsenic menace in shallow groundwater. The present investigation emphasizes the hydrogeochemical driver and/or control over the reductive dissolution of Fe-bearing host minerals and thereby releasing arsenic into the shallow groundwater of the study area. The study suggests that hydrogeochemical evolution is mainly governed by carbonate minerals dissolution, silicate weathering, and competitive ion-exchange processes in the shallow aquifers (< 50 m). The present study also indicates the prevalence of carbonate minerals dissolution over silicate weathering. The emergence of Cl⁻ concentration in the shallow groundwater founds the possibilities of anthropogenic inputs into the shallow aquifers (< 50 m). The reducing environment in shallow aquifers (< 50 m) of the study area is evident in the reductive dissolution of Fe- bearing shallow aquifer minerals which absorb arsenic in the solid phase and mobilize arsenic onto shallow groundwater. The study opted for many statistical approaches to delineate the correlation among major and minor ionic constituents of the groundwater which are very helpful to understand the comprehensive mechanism of arsenic mobilization into shallow groundwater.

     

Naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater and identification of the geochemical sources in the Duero Cenozoic Basin, Spain

Arsenic concentrations surpassing potability limit of 10 μg/L in the groundwater supplies of an extensive area in the Duero Cenozoic Basin (central Spain) have been detected and the main sources of arsenic identified. Arsenic in 514 samples of groundwater, having mean values of 40.8 μg/L, is natural in origin. Geochemical analysis of 553 rock samples, assaying arsenic mean values of 23 mg/kg, was performed. Spatial coincidence between the arsenic anomaly in groundwater and the arsenic lithogeochemical distribution recorded in the Middle Miocene clayey organic-rich Zaratan facies illustrates that the rocks of this unit are the main source of arsenic in groundwater. The ferricretes associated to the Late Cretaceous–Middle Miocene siliciclastics also constitute a potential arsenic source. Mineralogical study has identified the presence of arsenic in iron oxides, authigenic pyrite, manganese oxides, inherited titanium–iron oxides, phyllosilicates and organomineral compounds. Arsenic mobilization to groundwater corresponds to arsenic desorption from iron and manganese oxides and from organic matter.     

高砷含水层沉积物含铁矿物特性及其对砷的水文地球化学作用

含水层沉积物中含铁矿物的特征与活性会影响砷的迁移转化行为。通过内蒙古含水层沉积物含铁矿物的溶解、还原动力学实验,研究了沉积物含铁矿物特征和活性及其与砷运移的关系。结果表明,沉积物中具还原活性的铁氧化物总量(m0)与岩性有关,细砂为52 μmol/g,黏土为45 μmol/g。初始还原速率k′均在10-5 s-1的数量级。表征活性均匀度的参数γ值介于合成铁氧化物矿物和表层沉积物之间。沉积物中Fe(Ⅲ)氧化物的还原活性主要介于人造纤铁矿与针铁矿的活性水平范围内。沉积物中可能存在两类活性水平不同的Fe(Ⅲ)氧化物。As更倾向于吸附在活性较强的Fe(Ⅲ)氧化物上。还原环境中,活性较强的Fe(Ⅲ)氧化物的还原性溶解,促进了沉积物中砷的释放。     

蒲阳河流域地下水水化学及同位素特征

保定西部山前地区位于太行山及华北平原交界带,为缓解极端气候灾害对生产生活的影响,维持地下水资源的可持续开发利用,开展相关的地下水水化学及同位素特征研究。研究区地下水化学类型以HCO3—Ca·Mg、HCO3·SO4—Ca·Mg及SO4·HCO3—Ca·Mg为主,区内地下水主要来源于大气降水,流域内地表水补给地下水;地下水中化学成分为Ca2＋、Mg2＋、HCO-3、SO2-4,主要来源于岩石风化作用,同时受到人类活动的影响,地下水中硝酸盐含量明显升高;由于受到褶皱构造的控制,流域的上游及平原区均出现年龄大于60年的地下水,多数岩溶水年龄较复杂,从现代水到大于60年的水均有分布。研究成果为流域内水资源的合理开发利用提供建议,区内岩溶地下水的开发将在一定程度上缓解极端天气的影响。     

The Differential Geochemical Behavior of Arsenic and Phosphorus in the Water Column and Sediments of the Saguenay Fjord Estuary, Canada

The distribution and partitioning of dissolved andparticulate arsenic and phosphorus in the water columnand sediments of the Saguenay Fjord in Quebec, Canada,are compared. In addition, selective and/or sequentialextractions were carried out on the suspendedparticulate matter (SPM) and solid sediments tocontrast their geochemical behaviors in this naturalaquatic system.Results of our analyses show that both arsenic andsoluble reactive phosphate are actively scavenged fromthe water column by settling particles. Upon theiraccumulation at the sediment-water interface some Asand P may be released to porewaters following thedegradation of organic matter to which they areassociated. The porewater concentrations are, however,limited by their strong affinity for authigenic,amorphous iron oxyhydroxides which accumulate in theoxic sediments near the sediment-water interface.The geochemical behavior of arsenic and phosphorusdiverge most strikingly upon the development of anoxicconditions in the sediments. Following their burial inthe anoxic zone, amorphous iron oxyhydroxides arereduced and dissolved, releasing phosphate and arsenicto the porewaters. We observed, however, thatporewater arsenic concentrations increase at shallowerdepths than phosphate in the sediments. The reductionof arsenate, As(V), to arsenite, As(III), and itsdesorption prior to the reductive dissolution of thecarrier phase(s) may explain this observation.Driven by the strong concentration gradientestablished in the suboxic zone, phosphate diffuses uptowards the oxic layer where it is readsorbed byauthigenic iron oxyhydroxides. In the organic-rich andrapidly accumulating sediments at the head of theFjord, porewater sulfate depletion and the resultingabsence of a sulfide sink for Fe(II), may lead to theformation of vivianite in the fermentation zone, apotential sink for phosphate. Arsenite released to theporewaters in the suboxic and anoxic zones of thesediments diffuses either down, where it is adsorbedto or incorporated with authigenic iron sulfides, orup towards the oxic boundary. Arsenite appears tomigrate well into the oxic zone where it may beoxidized by authigenic manganese oxides before beingadsorbed by iron oxyhydroxides present at the samedepth. Whereas, in the absence of authigenic carbonatefluorapatite precipitation, the ability of oxicsediments to retain mineralized phosphate is afunction of their amorphous iron oxyhydroxide content,arsenic retention may depend on the availability ofmanganese oxides, the thickness of the oxic layer and,its co-precipitation with iron sulfides at depth.     

High arsenic contents in groundwater of central Spain

The chemical and microbiological characteristics of groundwater from two provinces of central Spain were studied. In some zones of this area, the concentrations of As in groundwater exceed the guideline concentrations, set internationally between 10 g/l and 50 g/l, reaching levels over 100 g/l. A narrow correlation between the contents of arsenic and HCO₃^– was observed. These data suggest a possible mechanism of the As mobilization from aquifer sediments to groundwater: the bicarbonate ions could displace HAsO₄^2– adsorbed on aquifer oxyhydroxides. Sediments containing relatively high contents of adsorbed arsenic are deposited in surface water environments with low carbonate concentrations. Subsequently, the sediments become exposed to groundwater with highly dissolved carbonate content, and arsenic can be mobilized by displacement from mineral surfaces. In addition, the presence of Pseudomonas genera bacteria, which secrete siderophores (Fe chelating agents) could mobilize As adsorbed on Fe oxides through their dissolution. These combined microbiological and chemical processes might have increased the natural mobility of As.     

Arsenic Levels in Groundwater from Quaternary Alluvium in the Ganga Plain and the Bengal Basin, Indian Subcontinent: Insights into Influence of Stratigraphy

Late Quaternary stratigraphy and sedimentation in the Ganga Alluvial Plain and the Bengal Basin have influenced arsenic contamination of groundwater. Arsenic contaminated aquifers are pervasive within lowland organic rich, clayey deltaic sediments in the Bengal Basin and locally within similar facies in narrow, entrenched river valleys within the Ganga Alluvial Plain. These were mainly deposited during early-mid Holocene sea level rise. Arsenic was transported from disseminated sources as adsorbed on dispersed phases of hydrated-iron-oxide. These were preferentially entrapped as sediment coatings on organic-rich, fine-grained deltaic and floodplain sediments. Arsenic was released later to groundwater mainly by reductive dissolution of hydrated-iron-oxide and corresponding oxidation of sediment organic matter. Strong reducing nature of groundwater in the Bengal Basin and parts of affected middle Ganga floodplains is indicated by high concentration of dissolved iron (maximum 9-35 mg/l). Groundwater being virtually stagnant under these settings, released arsenic accumulates and contaminates groundwater. The upland terraces in the Bengal Basin and in the Central Ganga Alluvial Plain, made up of the Pleistocene sediments are free of arsenic contamination in groundwater. These sediments are weakly oxidised in nature and associated groundwater is mildly reducing in general with low concentration of iron (<1 mg/l), and thus incapable to release arsenic. These sediments are also flushed free of arsenic, released if any, by groundwater flow due to high hydraulic head, because of their initial low-stand setting and later upland terraced position.