Spatial distribution of arsenic in groundwater of Iran, a review

Arsenic is one of the most important groundwater pollutants. Considering its wide distribution, identifying the spatial distribution of arsenic is a critical need. A regional/global map, showing the areas with high probability of As contamination is highly recommended. This is especially important for the related authorities, governors and environmental agencies in preventing consumption of arsenic-contaminated waters. The objective of this study is to review the reports on arsenic concentration in groundwater resources of Iran and to introduce hot-spots. Most of the measurements are reported for Kurdistan, East Azarbaijan, and Kerman provinces. The origin of most of the arsenic pollution is distinguished to be geogenic. The highest contaminated area was reported as the Kerman province with the mean concentration of 545 mu g/l, which is far beyond the WHO and National Standard limits (NSI).