We propose that As anomalism in groundwater possibly resulted from the combined effects of organic matter-enriched lacustrine sediments, geological setting and topographical characteristics.
The effects of different concentrations of arsenic on spore germination and rhizoid and prothallium growth of Pteris vittata under aseptic condition were studied.
One of the former tip-workers I met told me it was later discovered that the soil in some of the places he worked was contaminated with " arsenic, strychnine, who knows what" .
But raw water can also be tainted with pesticides from nearby farms, contain arsenic that naturally occurs in soil, and harbor bacteria such as E. Coli and salmonella that can make people extremely sick.