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1. Introduction
Arsenic is present in the form of inorganic arsenic and organic arsenic in ecological environments. The toxicity of arsenic is different according to the type, and inorganic arsenic is more toxic than organic arsenic, of these, trivalent arsenite is more toxic than pentavalent arsenate [1]. Inorganic arsenic is mainly derived from the environment, and organic arsenic is mainly consumed as food. Therefore, in the risk assessment, it is necessary to distinguish between inorganic arsenic and organic arsenic.
Arsenic exposure via drinking water is a very important public health concern worldwide. The severity of the health effects of arsenic in drinking water is constantly being reevaluated by various government agencies. Hyperkeratosis, hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation [2] are representative skin symptoms that are the first to be manifested by chronic arsenic exposure and are also used as clinical indicators of arsenic exposure. In addition, exposure to arsenic in drinking water has been associated with respiratory, neurological, and diabetic mellitus. It has been reported that chronic respiratory inflammation are caused by arsenic-induced respiratory diseases [3], and peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy, and polyneuropathy are caused by nervous system diseases [4]. An epidemiologic report on the risk of miscarriage and preterm birth in chronic exposure to arsenic during pregnancy [5], and the report of congenital anomalies [6] suggest that exposure to arsenic may cause reproductive and developmental abnormalities [7].
Furthermore, various harmful health effects due to exposure to low concentrations of inorganic arsenic have been reported in many studies [8,9,10,11]. In a recent epidemiological study, various health effects, including skin cancer, have been reported to be caused by exposure to low concentrations of arsenic (10 µg/L) via drinking water [12]. Some studies have also shown that well water samples containing arsenic concentrations of >1.0 µg/L were associated with skin cancer [13].
Therefore, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, World Health Organization, and the Food and Drug Administration have all lowed the international cut off for total arsenic concentration in drinking water from 50 µg/L to 10 µg/L [14,15]. In accordance with this global trend, Korea has also decreased the cut off from 50 µg/L to 10 µg/L in the 2007 [16].
All local governments under the Korean system are required to conduct water quality tests annually according to the law....