This study presents an overview about the arsenic (As) contamination and its sources in two European countries. Arsenic is a highly toxic element in its inorganic form and it is carcinogenic to human seven in low concentrations. The occurrence of As in surface water, stream and marine waters, groundwater, bottled water, sediment, soil, mines, and seafood, its environmental origin, and its impacts on human health are discussed. The classes of Geoaccumulation Index for As in Greece ranges from practically uncontaminated to extremely contaminated, and in Cyprus varies between practically uncontaminated and heavily contaminated. In many cases, the As contamination reaches very high concentrations and the impacts may be crucial for the human health and ecosystems. Physicochemical properties, regional climate and geological setting are controlling the occurrence and transport of As. In Greece and Cyprus, the geology, lithology, and ore-deposits are the most important factors for the variation of As contents in water, soil, and sediment. The dominant As species are also determined by the location and the redox conditions. The findings of this paper may be useful for scientists and stakeholders monitoring the studied areas and applying measures for protection of the human and terrestrial ecological receptors (plants, avian, mammals).

中文翻译：

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希腊和塞浦路斯环境中的砷污染状况：概述

这项研究概述了两个欧洲国家中砷（As）污染及其来源。砷是无机形式的剧毒元素，低浓度对人7致癌。讨论了砷在地表水，溪流和海水，地下水，瓶装水，沉积物，土壤，矿山和海鲜中的存在，其环境成因及其对人体健康的影响。希腊的As地质蓄积指数的类别从几乎没有受到污染到极度受到污染，而在塞浦路斯则从几乎没有受到污染和严重污染之间变化。在许多情况下，砷污染达到很高的浓度，其影响可能对人类健康和生态系统至关重要。理化特性 区域气候和地质环境控制着砷的发生和运输。在希腊和塞浦路斯，地质，岩性和矿床是水，土壤和沉积物中砷含量变化的最重要因素。占优势的As种类还取决于位置和氧化还原条件。本文的研究结果可能对科学家和利益相关者监测研究区域并采取措施保护人类和陆地生态受体（植物，禽类，哺乳动物）有用。