Is arsenic a potential threat for human health in Indonesia?

Arsenic is a poisonous pollutant which could be a threat to human life. World Health Organization (WHO) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found that elemental arsenic and arsenic compounds cause cancer in humans. The exposure to human can be through food and water, primarily where the groundwater contains high arsenic. Arsenic can occur in two forms, organic and inorganic. The Earth’s crust is the main natural source of inorganic arsenic which is released through volcanic action and also present in ground water. Indonesia is a developing country with high population growth rate and intensive industrial activities. Usage of ground water as a source for drinking water is potentially exposing the population to inorganic arsenic. Disposal from microchip factories, mining and wood processing, agriculture activities using arsenic pesticides, and oil refineries are the human activities which potentially release inorganic arsenic. Deep drilling and drawing water from sediment containing arsenic in lowlands such as the eastern part of Sumatera Island, the northern part of Java Island and other areas in Indonesia might potentially contaminate those areas with arsenic. This paper reviews the available information on levels, potential sources and distribution of As around Indonesian Archipelago.