IGCP-707

Origin, distribution, and biogeochemistry of Arsenic in the Altiplano-Puna plateau of South America

This is a 3 years (2020-2022) project funded by the IGCP-UNESCO. Using an interdisciplinary approach, this international collaborative research will investigate specific sites within the Altiplano-Puna plateau of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile to better understand (i) the origin of arsenic, (ii) its geochemistry and mobility, (iii) its distribution in the environment, and (iv) its effects in the local community and unusual biodiversity.

According to the World Health Organization (2018), approximately 140 million people from 50 countries are exposed to drinking water containing arsenic levels higher than the recommended limit (> 10 μg/L). In South America, the second highest plateau on Earth referred to as the “Altiplano-Puna”, which encompasses areas of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Perú, exhibits high As concentrations in water that could be affecting 3 million inhabitants.

Human health, the environment, as well as scientific insight will benefit from this research. Moreover, the results and interpretations of this research will have substantial applicability to other regions of the world that experience elevated aqueous arsenic concentrations.