Skip Navigation
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Use this QR code to view the newest version of this document
Use this QR code to view the newest version of this document

Your Environment. Your Health.

Publication Detail

Title: Arsenic in groundwater in private wells in rural North Dakota and South Dakota: Water quality assessment for an intervention trial.

Authors: Powers, Martha; Yracheta, Joseph; Harvey, David; O'Leary, Marcia; Best, Lyle G; Black Bear, Annabelle; MacDonald, Luke; Susan, Jolie; Hasan, Khaled; Thomas, Elizabeth; Morgan, Camille; Olmedo, Pablo; Chen, Rui; Rule, Ana; Schwab, Kellogg; Navas-Acien, Ana; George, Christine Marie

Published In Environ Res, (2019 Jan)

Abstract: Elevated exposure to arsenic disproportionately affects populations relying on private well water in the United States (US). This includes many American Indian (AI) communities where naturally occurring arsenic is often above 10 µg/L, the current US Environmental Protection Agency safety standard. The Strong Heart Water Study is a randomized controlled trial aiming to reduce arsenic exposure to private well water users in AI communities in North Dakota and South Dakota. In preparation for this intervention, 371 households were included in a community water arsenic testing program to identify households with arsenic ≥10 µg/L by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Arsenic ≥10 µg/L was found in 97/371 (26.1%) households; median water arsenic concentration was 6.3 µg/L, ranging from <1-198 µg/L. Silica was identified as a water quality parameter that could impact the efficacy of arsenic removal devices to be installed. A low-range field rapid arsenic testing kit evaluated in a small number of households was found to have low accuracy; therefore, not an option for the screening of affected households in this setting. In a pilot study of the effectiveness of a point-of-use adsorptive media water filtration device for arsenic removal, all devices installed removed arsenic below 1 µg/L at both installation and 9 months post-installation. This study identified a relatively high burden of arsenic in AI study communities as well as an effective water filtration device to reduce arsenic in these communities. The long-term efficacy of a community based arsenic mitigation program in reducing arsenic exposure and preventing arsenic related disease is being tested as part of the Strong Heart Water Study.

PubMed ID: 30261340 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Arsenic*; Dietary Exposure*/prevention & control; Environmental Monitoring; Filtration*; Groundwater; Humans; Indians, North American; North Dakota; Pilot Projects; South Dakota; Water Pollutants, Chemical*; Water Quality*; Water Supply; Water Wells*

Back
to Top