Tracing Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater Resources in Afghanistan

Abstract

Despite being a water-rich state in South Asia, more than 70% of Afghan communities currently lack access to safe and reliable drinking water. This deficiency is largely attributed to the presence of contaminants, e.g., arsenic, fluoride, nitrates, sulfate, boron, etc., in groundwater aquifers. This study aims to trace the concentration of arsenic in groundwater aquifers in major cities in Afghanistan. The findings suggest that among the tested water samples in Ghazni, Kabul and Logar—the last two provinces are characterized parts of Kabul River Basin—Herat and Bamyan provinces, 70, 7, 2, and 23% of the examined water samples, respectively, exceed the permissible arsenic limit set by the World Health Organization (10 μg/L) and the National Drinking Water Quality Standard of Afghanistan (NDWQSA) (50 μg/L). The elevated concentration of arsenic in these aquifers results from excessive agricultural pumping and industrial and urban waste discharge. Additionally, inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices coupled with the absence of waste disposal network systems contribute significantly to the heightened level of arsenic in these provinces. It is concluded that unless the government adopts sustainable strategies to reduce the elevated arsenic concentration in groundwater aquifers, environmental and human health crises will continue to escalate.