Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater: A Comparative Study Between Sweden and Serbia

Sammanfattning

Groundwater is a critical resource for drinking water worldwide, yet it is vulnerable to contamination from naturally occurring elements such as arsenic (As). Arsenic occurs naturally in bedrock andsediments and arsenic contamination in groundwater is a well known environmental and public healthissue. The World Health Organization guideline value for arsenic in drinking water is 10 µg/L, however elevated arsenic levels are documented in regions worldwide. The aim of this study is to get a better understanding of arsenic contamination in Europe, by comparing two countries with different hydrogeological conditions, Sweden and Serbia. Differences in arsenic concentration, data availability and management strategies were examined to identify key differences between the countries. A comparative approach was applied, combining a literature review with a quantitative analysis of secondary data to examine spatial and temporal variations of arsenic. The results show that arsenic contamination above 10 µg/L occur in both countries. In Sweden,elevated arsenic concentrations appear more localized and are mainly linked to bedrock conditions, while in Serbia, especially in the region of Vojvodina, contamination is more widespread and associated with sedimentary aquifers in the Pannonian Basin. In Sweden, concentrations of arsenic above 10 µg/L are primarily associated with private wells, whereas arsenic contamination in Serbia is mainly observed in public water supply systems. No clear relationship between landscape wetness and arsenic concentration in Sweden was found, indicating complex hydrogeochemical processes. A key limitation of the study is the difference in data availability. Although limitations in data remainfor both countries, Sweden provides more detailed and accessible data, while data from Serbia is more limited. This prevented a direct comparison between the countries. Overall, the study highlights challenges related to arsenic contamination in both countries and the need for improved monitoring,open data and further research to support effective management in groundwater for both Sweden and Serbia. However, arsenic contamination in Serbia represents a more significant public health issue.