Arsenic Distribution in a Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) Water-Sediment Aquacultural Ecosystem in Blackfoot Disease Hyperendemic Areas

Arsenic (As) contamination of groundwater is a major environmental concern (Smedley and Kinniburgh, 2002). In Taiwan, high arsenic concentrations in deep well water have been verified to be associated with blackfoot disease (BFD), which was once common on the southwestern coastal area (Tseng, 1997). From 1999 to 2004, the Taiwan Sugar Company undertook a groundwater quality survey at monitoring wells in this area (Taiwan Sugar Company, 2004). The As concentration in groundwater was 0.30 ± 0.35 mg/L. At around 95 % of monitoring in wells, the As concentrations exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 0.01 mg/L. Nowadays, even though this well water is not directly ingested by most inhabitants in this hazardous region, it is still extensively provided to meet domestic, irrigation, aquacultural and industria