Challenges

Arsenic contamination in drinking water and food preparations is a major public health crisis in many developing countries, particularly across South Asia and Africa. Chronic exposure to arsenic, especially through groundwater, leads to serious health consequences such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurological damage. The challenge is exacerbated by limited public awareness, improper water monitoring and management, and the lack of cost-effective removal technologies in low-resource settings. The sources and effects of arsenic contamination are multiple and its diffusion in natural resources including food and groundwater requires a multipronged assessment and appropriate policy initiatives for its mitigation.

These barriers significantly hinder progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) – 6 which aims to provide universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all and improve water quality by reducing pollution, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals. The goal also calls for integrated water resources management through trans-boundary cooperation and international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation- related activities and programmes.

Therefore, there is a pressing need for capacity building and transfer of low-cost and scalable technologies for remediation of arsenic from groundwater in the affected countries through South-South cooperation.

Toward a Solution

In order to address this pressing issue, the Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre), New Delhi, India (an Inter-governmental Organization) implemented a multilateral collaborative project titled “Reducing Arsenic Exposure from Food and Water in Developing Countries – A Roadmap for Technological Solutions for the Future” with partial financial support from the Perez-Guerrero Trust Fund (PGTF) of the G-77. The project aimed to cope with the serious consequences of arsenic contamination of groundwater in developing countries and provide a roadmap for low cost technological solutions for the removal of arsenic from groundwater in order to minimize the exposure of the people to this toxic element from food and water. The project was executed over a two year period (January 2022 – December 2023) and the progress of implementation was monitored by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), New York.

The project brought together experts, scientists, policymakers and water technology professionals from various countries, leveraging regional knowledge and best practices to develop arsenic removal technologies and strategies.

Implementation:

As a part of the Project, the NAM S&T Centre organized an International Workshop on “Water Purification Technologies, Arsenic Removal from Groundwater and Integrated Water Management” in partnership with the CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, India during 28-30 June 2022. 139 participants from 20 countries deliberated relevant issues including water purification technologies, integrated water management and the status of arsenic contamination of groundwater in developing countries including its sources, process development, technological interventions and impacts on the human health.

The second major activity was an   International Training Programme on “Low-Cost Technologies for Arsenic Removal from Groundwater”, organized during 5–6 September 2023 in Cairo, Egypt by the NAM S&T Centre in partnership with the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT), Egypt, which was attended by 158 experts and professionals from 14 countries. The objective of the programme was to facilitate exchange of knowledge and expertise on arsenic contamination of groundwater and capacity building in developing countries for transfer of low-cost technologies for removal of arsenic and other heavy metals from groundwater.

Project Outcomes:

These events not only enhanced awareness but also played a critical role in knowledge transfer, training of trainers and regional cooperation, laying a strong foundation for replication and adaptation of arsenic mitigation strategies in other affected regions. The participatory nature of the initiative was integral to its success. Each partner country played an active role, whether by hosting events, nominating experts or providing technical presentations.

In addition, the project led to the publication of a book through Springer International, Singapore, titled “Arsenic Remediation of Food and Water – Technological Interventions and Perspectives from Developing Countries” consisting of 22 chapters contributed by scientists and experts from various countries, exploring the challenges faced by developing nations in understanding and managing the risks of arsenic pollution in groundwater and the resulting contamination of food and water. The book was edited by Prof. Dr. Bhaskar Sen Gupta, OBE, Professor in Water Technology, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom; and Prof. Dr. Nadia Martínez-Villegas, Professor, Applied Geoscience Division, Instituto Potosino de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica (IPICYT), San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Innovation:

The G – 77 supported Project has been able to create sufficient awareness among a large section of policymakers and water management professionals of developing countries about the danger of arsenic exposure, and sustainable and low cost technologies and best practices for arsenic remediation from groundwater. The project has provided the developing countries with an understanding of the complexities of arsenic contamination of groundwater and its current status in their countries, and capacity building of their professionals through training and transfer of innovative technologies, such as the Subterranean Arsenic Removal (SAR) technology and other treatment methods for arsenic remediation.

The project enabled peer-to-peer learning and facilitated the cross-country transfer of knowledge and practices through deliberate discussions and collaborative efforts. The involvement of developed countries, like the UK, helped integrate additional technical expertise, ensuring that the solutions provided were evidence based and scalable.

Quantitatively, the project reached nearly 300 participants across two major events and led to the establishment of a regional expert network to support replication of technologies, trainer capacity-building in participating countries, and collaboration among developing countries. It directly supported SDG 6 by improving water quality and safety, and indirectly advanced SDG 3 through reduced exposure to hazardous contaminants. The project also boosted local technical capacity (SDG 9) and created channels for international partnerships (SDG 17).

Sustainability was built into the model through capacity-building, interactive peer learning, and knowledge retention via online platforms and published materials.

Key lessons and recommendations:

1. Urgent need to carry out surveys in various countries to detect arsenic contamination in groundwater; and introduce appropriate technologies for arsenic remediation wherever required in order to ensure public supply of water according to WHO standards.
2. Importance of cross-border collaboration to address complex, shared challenges.
3. Need for capacity-building of local water supply professionals in order to replicate the suggested technological solutions.
4. Scope of triangular cooperation by drawing the resources and expertise of both the Global South and North.