Detecting inorganic arsenic below WHO threshold limit; A comparative study of various sensors

ABSTRACT

The issue of heavy metals contamination of environmental segments is becoming serious day by day with industrial and electronic developments. Economic growth and environmental issue are parallel in many aspects. For instance, increased number of vehicles and rapid industrialisation are indicators of economic growth. Economic run is important and shall continue because it is associated with global needs while environmental pollution is otherwise. Necessary steps are required to be taken to control the release of unwanted chemicals including heavy metals and arsenic to the environment. Arsenic is present in water both in its organic and inorganic form. Among these forms inorganic arsenic (As(III) and As(V)) are very toxic. WHO has recommended a threshold limit for As(III) in drinking water i.e. 10 ppb (equivalent to 10 μg L⁻¹ or 133 nM). Sensing of arsenic has been made possible due to several techniques with a wide range of detection limit. Herein very recent As(III) sensors with detection limit below 10 ppb, mechanism of detection at certain instances, interferants during measurements and future goals have been discussed. Further, the review article covers literature mostly from 2015 to 2021.

KEYWORDS:

• As(III) sensors
• inorganic arsenic
• nanomaterials
• polymer nanoparticles
• composite-based sensors

Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges HEC, Pakistan for provision of funding under NRPU No. 1488 and 7327.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

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