Arsenic in ground water is largely the result of minerals dissolving naturally from weathered rocks and soils. Arsenic has many industrial uses such as hardening of copper and lead alloys, pigmentation in paints and fireworks, and the manufacture of glass, cloth, and electrical semiconductors. Arsenic is also used extensively in the production of agricultural pesticides, which includes herbicides, insecticides, desiccants, wood preservatives and feed additives. Runoff from these uses and the leaching of arsenic from waste generated from these uses has resulted in increased levels of various forms of soluble arsenic in water.
Inorganic arsenic is highly toxic to mammals and aquatic species.
When ingested, it is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, the lungs, and to a lesser extent from the skin, and becomes distributed throughout the body. Recently, arsenic in water supplies has been linked to arsenical dermatosis and skin cancer. GSA's process of removing arsenic employs a modified zeolite mineral, chabazite, product code ZS500As. The modification involves exposing the zeolite material to concentrated ferrous aqueous solutions to form an iron-laden zeolite mineral, thereby greatly increasing the zeolites affinity for arsenic. When contact is made between contaminated water and the zeolites, the zeolites act as sorbents, chemically bonding with the arsenic, which is then removed.